The National

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The National’s fifth album, High Violet, was released on 4AD on May 11th, 2010. It was the first to be recorded at the band’s own studio in the Ditmas Park section of Brooklyn, with mixing by long time associate Peter Katis at his Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Pulses and impulses pull against each other creating a balance of tension. Let’s call it musical tensegrity: engineered to stand up in unlikely ways, the album is a triumph of sonic architecture; adorned with

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  • News

The National Announce Full Album Playbacks at HOMECOMING FESTIVAL 

The National, are poised to return to their hometown with the Homecoming Festival the weekend of September 15-16!

  • Preview
  • Festival
  • News

The National's Homecoming Festival Returns to Cincinnati 

For the first time since its inaugural 2018 edition, The National’s Homecoming Festival will return to Cincinnati on September 15-16.

  • Feature

The National’s Homecoming Festival Announce Daily Lineups 

On May 8th and 9th The National’s Homecoming Festival will take place at Smale Park on the Cincinnati waterfront! MusicNOW, will be returning to Cincinnati May 8th through May 10th. 

  • Feature

Tom Jenkins Best of 2019 

In a decade that changed music so much it’s hard to discuss what was the most important music of the past 10 years. From the psychedelic juggernaut Tame Impala taking over the charts, to the affirmation of Kendrick Lamar’s genius, to the return of Outlaw Country, to women like Courtney Barnett, Phoebe Bridgers, and the supergroup boygenius taking over rock music. 

  • Festival

The National Curate Hometown Music Festival 

The National announced yesterday the inaugural festival 'Homecoming’ in association with MusicNOW, taking place April 28 & 29 right here in Cincinnati! Curated by The National, the event will feature over 20 artists across two stages at Smale Park, in addition to other venues throughout the city.

  • Interview

Interview: Founder of MusicNOW Bryce Dessner 

We sat down with Bryce Dessner, founder of MusicNOW and of the band, The National prior to the festival next weekend! Check out a full preview of this year's event HERE! Enter to win a pair of passes to MusicNOW HERE!  With MusicNow in its 11th year, the festival seems to be constantly...

MusicNOW Marries Classical, Bluegrass, and the Avant-Garde 

Unlike most festivals, MusicNOW has institutional memory. Each spring, founder Bryce Dessner (best known for his work in The National) continues an ongoing story, building on prior performances rather than presenting one disjointed slate of acts after another. In addition to carefully curated...

  • Review

Album Review: EL VY – Return to the Moon 

EL VY, the new project from Matt Berninger (The National) and Brent Knopf (Ramona Falls, Menomena) recently released their debut album, Return to the Moon. The album is a welcome surprise. We see a funnier and lighter side of Berninger than we have seen before with The National.  Some of the...

The National Releases Track to Viewers of "Mistaken for Strangers" 

The National have announced that viewers who rent or buy the critically acclaimed documentary film "Mistaken For Strangers" via the digital distributor VHX, will receive a free download of the never before released song "Sunshine on My Back". The track features the vocals of Sharon Van Etten and...

CincyMusic.com’s Complete Guide to MusicNOW 2015 

When Bryce Dessner of The National started MusicNOW in 2006, it was a small two-night event held at the Contemporary Arts Center. Over the past decade, it’s become a landmark annual affair, internationally renowned for commissioning new works by classical music’s most innovative...

#MusicMonday Must Haves :: 3/9/15 

Each week we do our best to shine some light on a few songs that we feel should be on your radar. All of these songs will be added to our #MusicMonday Must Haves playlist on Spotify, so follow along & click play when you need to find some inspiration!  "April" by Pianos Become The...

CSO Announces Details of MusicNOW Festival Collaboration 

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Music Director Louis Langrée announce exciting new details surrounding the second annual groundbreaking artistic collaboration with the MusicNOW Festival and Artistic Director Bryce Dessner. On Friday, March 13, 2015 (8 p.m.), the CSO opens the...

The National, CSO, Sufjan Stevens & more at MusicNOW 

The tenth anniversary of Cincinnati's MusicNOW Festival is nothing short of amazing. This year the festival will feature The National, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Caroline Shaw, Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner, Daníel Bjarnason, Will Butler, So Percussion, Mina Tindle, Perfume...

Heartless Bastards Coming Home for Bunbury 

Bringing Ohio-bred talent to its various stages has been one of Bunbury’s hallmarks since it began in 2012. Since then, local bands such as Bad Veins, Guided by Voices, The National and many others have graced its lineup card. One of the bands carrying on that tradition this year is Heartless...

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Bryce Dessner Interview - MusicNOW 2014 

MusicNOW Festival kicks off its ninth annual weekend of music this Friday March 20th at 8 PM in the historic Music Hall. This year’s festival features a convergence of classical music and contemporary music with performances and collaborations by Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly, David Lang, Louis...

MusicNOW 2014 Announced 

MusicNOW will be March 21-22 at the Cincinnati Music Hall. This year MusicNOW has collaborated with Louis Langree and the CSO to present a unique program of exciting new music. The festival will feature the solo electric guitar talents of Bryce and Aaron Dessner (of The National) performing...

Rock Documentary Brings Brothers Closer 

“Mistaken for Strangers” is making its Cincinnati premiere during the Cincinnati Film Festival! The rock-doc will be shown at Memorial Hall, Friday, September 6th.  In 2010, rock band The National were about to embark on the biggest tour of their career.  After ten years as a band, and five...

Bunbury Music Festival Offers Something for Everyone This Weekend 

This weekend, Bunbury Music Festival returns to Sawyer Point & Yeatman's Cove with headliners Fun., MGMT, and The National. Last year was the first year for Bunbury and it impressed many fans of local and national music alike. The festival is sure to satisfy any music fan with over 80...

#MusicMonday Must Haves :: 6/17 

Each week we do our best to shine some light on a few songs that we feel should be on your radar. All of these songs will be added to our #MusicMonday Must Haves playlist on Spotify, so follow along & click play when you need to find some inspiration!  "I Will Steal You Back" by Jimmy Eat...

CincyMusic Spotlight Podcast is Live! 

Earlier this week we aired our first CincyMusic Spotlight on The Project 100.7 / 106.3 with hosts Venomous Valdez and Joe Long! The podcast for the show can be downloaded here now! The playlist is below: Walk The Moon "Anna Sun"DAAP Girls "Kate"Public "I Need You"Foxy Shazam "I Like It"The Tillers...

Local Natives play Madison Theater tonight! 

If you’re bummed that the Animal Collective show got postponed until July, I know what you can do to alleviate your frustration.  You can go see Local Natives tonight at the Madison Theater.  Seriously.  Don’t believe me?  Here’s why this makes total sense: Pitchfork likened Local...

Bunbury 2013 to Bring Fun., MGMT, The National, & more 

The Bunbury Music Festival is coming back this summer with three more days of riverfront performances headlined by Fun., MGMT, and The National. Those of us that were in attendance last July have been eagerly awaiting today's announcement of the 2013 lineup. The festival takes place this July 12-14...

The National to Headline Brooklyn's Barclays Center 

As if Cincinnati needed more proof that our homegrown artists are doing well, Cincinnati's The National just announced that they will be headlining a show at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on June 5. Jay-Z just opened this brand new Arena a few months ago and the building has been hard at work firing a...

MusicNOW Festival announces 2012 dates 

MusicNOW Festival has announced that their 2012 festival will be held March 29 - April 1.  Since it's inception in 2006, MusicNOW has brought Cincinnati artist such as Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird, The Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear, St Vincent, and many others right before they broke. The festival...