Be Angry 

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your band?

A: Our music is technical and free. It’s very technical because on my end I use a turntable through guitar effects and I use a lot of new extended techniques.  As far as turntablism goes it’s kinda technical, not necessarily high skill but it’s a lot of techniques that nobody else uses. Then on Chris’s end, he uses fruity loops with lots of sampling. It’s not really something I understand, but from my perspective, it seems very similar in that it’s technical. Our sounds kinda mesh in a way that is a sound collage essentially. But, I would also say it’s very free in the fact that when we make the music we try to encapsulate the energy that’s happening while we make it instead of some predetermined energy from lyrics or a melody. 

Q: What are you most excited about for Farmers Ball this year?

A: The recording session was really great, but everything after that I don’t think I’m really part of it. I made the music and I had my fun. It’s time for other people to have their fun.

Q: What is something underrated that you think deserves more attention?

A: This is what I’ve been thinking a lot about lately, super underrated, Kool-Aid Bursts. It’s Kool-Aid, but it’s made for kids’ lunches. It comes in these little plastic bottles. Because their aesthetic is that new sort of vaporwave George Clanton sort of aesthetic that is coming out. Like if you look at their packaging and everything it’s sorta like that. But then the bottles themselves there’s no logos or anything on them. It’s just straight-up Kool-Aid and it’s clear. But you can also draw on them since there’s nothing on there. So I’ve been doing drawings on my little Kool-Aid Bursts Bottle. 

The Velvet Futon Club

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your band?

A: We are an indie/psychedelic band that likes to have fun.

Q: What are you most excited about for Farmers Ball this year?

A: I’m excited that we get to make videos of our own. That gave us a great opportunity to film and give everyone a taste of our live sound.

Q: What is one song that you wish you wrote yourself?

A: One song that I wish I wrote myself is “Althea” by the Grateful Dead.

The Whips

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your band?

A: We are a funk, groove, soul almost collective. We have a different artist or singer on every song, so we have a lot of diverse songs. On our newest record, coming out in early June, every song has a different singer. Our whole thing is about collaboration and getting to give artists a platform to get out there more like we wish we had when we were just starting. We started playing music together in high school. We’ve gone through a ton of different styles of music, like all the stuff you do as a cover band. We spent nights and nights arguing over what our name was going to be and it was originally Whiplash. Once we found out that that was already an 80s metal band we changed it to The Whips because it’s what my [Quinn’s] mom used to call us at shows. 

Q: What are you most excited about for Farmers Ball this year?

A: Craftin’. We’re looking forward to craftin’. We want to be the first band that gets to the end and defeats the Ender Dragon. That’s how you win, right? 

Q: Who would your dream opening band be? 

A: Vulfpeck. That’d be kind of disrespectful though. We would have made it forever if that happened. We would all simultaneously combust. If we’re talking from a more realistic perspective, I think getting any Lawrence musician to open for us would be great because we’re all about collaboration. 

Elliotfox

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your band?

A: Elliotfox began as kind of a fun little hobby project that was inspired by my love for electronic music and obscure artists. It has turned into an identity and personality that I really resonate with and it helped me realize who I was and become more comfortable with being non-binary and being open about it. What I try to convey is just honesty and how complex everything can be in a micro-sense, like emotions and how you feel, and in some cases identity. The name Elliotfox came from stumbling into the wrong house party and playing the piano. Someone there asked me who I was so I gave them what I thought was the coolest name I could think of. 

Q: What are you most excited about for Farmers Ball this year?

A: I get to learn how to make a Minecraft skin. That sounds fun. If the last year has shown us anything it’s that there is a lot of value in social interaction, even if it is just in a virtual space. I’m excited to see where this goes from here and having it be a virtual event allows even more people to come and listen. The openness and availability are really exciting. 

Q: What artists have you taken inspiration from? 

A: There are a few. The Presets, who are this Australian band that I adore and they came to Lawrence once and it was amazing. Capsule, this Japanese group who kind of goes for the same kind of pop/dance aesthetic but a little bit sharper. A little bit of M83 because they are so good at this little glossy, very ethereal sort of electronic music. I would add a little dash of Nine Inch Nails in there for their grungy-muddy aspect. Modern pop is also always an influence just because it is so prolific. 

H Novaria 

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your band?

A: I’ve played in a bunch of bands over the past 7 or 8 years that I’ve been in Lawrence. I’m usually the drummer, but I have been writing my own music for a long time, many years. Mostly I just sit in my basement and play by myself. Hopefully trying to do more as things open back up.  

Q: What are you most excited about for Farmers Ball this year?

A: The virtual format is pretty cool. I personally like that cause I am an introvert so going to shows is really exhausting for me. So it will be cool to get to share my performance with a bunch of people, especially since it’s not cost-prohibitive. I really appreciate that aspect of it that everyone can tune in and see a bunch of cool bands and do so from the comfort of their own homes. 

Q: What is something underrated that you think deserves more appreciation?

A: I’m gonna say pitbulls. They do not get enough love. I’ve got two of them and they’re just the sweetest little dudes. I want everyone to know they are wonderful dogs and there are too many of them that need homes. 

Deegan Poores

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your band?

A: This is more of a solo project than a band for the time being, mostly because of the pandemic. I hope in the future to have a more stable lineup and have more collaboration in writing and recording the material. I have been playing music since 3rd grade and started writing and recording songs in middle school. I released my first project in my freshman year of high school. I’ve also worked in other genres aside from indie rock/pop, like Celtic folk music, country, hip-hop, and experimental electronic music. 

Q: What are you most excited about for Farmers Ball this year?

A: I’m excited that people outside of just Lawrence will be able to experience Farmer’s Ball, even though it’s much different than any Farmer’s Ball in the past. I’m excited to see the other bands’ videos as well. 

Q: What is one song that you wish you wrote yourself?

A: I wish I’d written “Me & You Together” by The 1975. It’s such a simple but bright and happy love song, with funny lyrics that aren’t super typical for the theme. These past few weeks I’ve been kind of trying to write a song with a similar feel. 

The Headaches

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your band?

A: Our names are Gio, Jay and Will. We were all just mutual friends in the music world. Our sound is kind of punk rock with a bluesy vibe. The name The Headaches predates everyone but me [Gio], The Headaches started about six months before the pandemic with two other individuals who had moved on and pursued other musical opportunities. I [Gio] decided to take over because I thought it was a cool name, why put it to waste? 

Q: What are you most excited about for Farmers Ball this year?

A: I [Gio] think just getting our music out there. It’s been pretty stagnant over 2020. It’s nice to get out there and do something. I’m excited about Minecraft, I’m curious. 

Q: Who would your dream opening band be? 

A: The Foo Fighters. Play after The Foo Fighters. 

Flash Floods 

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your band?

A: Okay, so the three of us, me [Pher], Frank, and Zach, we’ve kind of been playing music together with different instruments since we were kids. We all grew up in Lawrence. We started playing in bands together in like seventh grade. But in the bands that we played in as kids, I played drums and Frank played guitar. And it wasn’t until about, I don’t know, six or seven years ago, I started trying to play guitar and trying to write songs. And yeah, we ended up just kind of switching. And that’s how it’s been ever since. And I guess, I don’t know how I would describe us, kind of like indie alternative rock, maybe kind of a folk mix, maybe like a little Southern vibe. I don’t know, it’s kind of hard to describe.

Q: What are you most excited about for Farmers Ball this year?

A: Just honestly, being able to play again, it’s been so long. It’s been over a year since we played a show, which is like the longest we’ve gone since we started playing in this band. And I’ve always wanted to play in Farmer’s Ball. I mean, it’s been around for I don’t even know how long and the venue is really cool. I’ve never been in that room before at the LIED Center. It was it was awesome.

Q: Who was an artist that at some point you might like to play a show with that you may not have played with before?

A: I mean, there are so many bands that come to mind. I’ve been listening to a lot of Charlie Crockett lately. I love the Avett Brothers too. They’re some of my favorites, the Strokes, Kings of Leon, a lot of those bands. As far as locally, I don’t know. I’ve been listening to Mickey P, her music. I don’t know if you’ve heard of her. She’s really good. “Yes, you are”, they’re a great band from Kansas City. We played a few shows in Omaha with a band called “Lifeline”, they were really good. I would love to play another show with them. 

TRUE LIONS 

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your band?

A: True Lions is a fun “flosspunk” (our word for our genre) band from KC consisting of myself (Alison Hawkins), Elizabeth Kosko, Teri Quinn, KuJo, Adee Rocket Dancy, Yona DeWalt, Aryana Nemati, Miki P, and Claire Adams (though- Miki and Claire were not in our Farmer’s Ball videos.) Our music confronts sexism and homophobia in the music scene, and we intentionally create a music space for ourselves that is free from mansplaining. And we all love flavored soda water.

Q: What are you most excited about for Farmers Ball this year?

A: We’re excited to participate—this is our first-ever Farmer’s Ball! Some of us have never participated in any ‘battle of the bands’ event. We’re thrilled to be included in the Lawrence scene and share our newest songs. This Friday, April 9,  we’re releasing a much anticipated full-length album, titled The Fempire Strikes Back. 

Q: What is one song that you wish you wrote yourself?

A: I wish I wrote “Modern Love” by David Bowie. I love the keys, horns, guitars, call-and-response vocals, everything. He’s a genius and I can’t get enough of his music.

Camp Childress

Q: If you could describe your sound to someone who maybe hasn’t listened to you before? What are some phrases or key terms that you would use to describe your sound?

A: Usually whenever I tell somebody what kind of music I make, I say I just make just crappy bedroom pop pretty much. So I tell them just music I’m making in my bedroom and I hope somebody likes it.

Q: How long have you been making music?

A: Well, I’ve been playing bass guitar since I was in fifth grade. And then recently, probably like two years ago, I started just putting tracks together and making my own music, like full songs.

Q: What are you excited about with Farmers Ball?

A: Honestly, just being a part of it, I’ve been just excited to be a part of it. Even if I don’t win, I still got to be a part of it and that’s exciting to me.

Q: If you could play with any artist, past or present, who would it be?

A: If I could play with any artists, like of my choosing? I would probably say, like Still Woozy. He’s been like one of my favorite influences.