Their first album is called Slow Dance in the Cosmos, and that’s what you’ll feel like doing (somehow, you’ll find a way) when Porches opens the Dillo Day main stage.
Mayfest will round out its Dillo lineup with the synthpop band, a project by musician Aaron Maine. Their second album, Pool, was lauded by critics, earning a coveted spot on Pitchfork’s best albums of 2016 list. Porches played sets at South by Southwest and Pitchfork Festival last year, and has toured with musician Japanese Breakfast (who performed and spoke at NU in the fall). With a sparse touring schedule this summer, Porches will open two dates for alternative pop band Belle and Sebastian alongside folk musician Andrew Bird (Music ‘96).
“Frontman Aaron Maine and his band have a mellow synth-pop sound that adds a different color different to our lineup and is definitely something that avid alternative fans can look forward to,” Mayfest said in a press release. “Porches’s music translates well to festival settings and it’ll be great to hear them out on the lakefill.”
The mainstage artists will perform in the following order: Porches, rapper-singer and daytime headliner D.R.A.M., rapper Little Simz, electronic dance producer Gramatik, and alternative-electronic duo and nighttime headliner MGMT. Student DJ duo onnij x ouyang will perform a set before Gramatik after winning Mayfest’s Battle of the DJs, and the winner of Battle of the Bands will also join the main stage. The second stage performers, presented by WNUR, have yet to be announced.
Student and guest wristband registration is open on the Norris Box Office website. Dillo Day, the largest student-run annual music festival in the country, takes place May 20 on the Lakefill.