Now in its third year, Raleigh, North Carolina’s Hopscotch Music Festival has quickly become one of the country’s best. Its structure is not unlike our own Northside Fest, with three nights of programming spread out over 15 venues, centralized in a walkable geographic locale. With a overflowing lineup of 175 bands in such close quarters, and a friendly couch to crash on (I’ve written a few things for Hopscotch and the Independent Weekly, the alt-publication that puts it on), it seemed like exactly the right time for a late summer road trip (or, if you prefer, Roooooooooaaaad Triiiiiiip!).
Click through for a report on Thursday night’s stacked start featuring Liars, Screaming Females, and more. Check back for a ludicrously jammed recount of nights two and three early next week.