Red Bull is returning to the United States for the first time in ten years with their incredibly unconventional, unpredictable, and simply exciting SoundClash concert clash. Consider it a mix of Verzuz and a good old-fashioned battle of the bands, akin to the 2014 Drake vs. Lil Wayne tour. The 2021 event will be held in Atlanta, Houston, Nashville, and Chicago, and before we go any further, it’s vital to grasp the SoundClash site’s quite bizarre rules for this function:
The game’s rules are simple: compete in order to throw a one-of-a-kind party and earn ultimate bragging rights. Over the course of four rounds, each band or artist will perform covers, remake one of their competitors’ songs, and perform three of their own songs in a new manner that pushes them out of their comfort zone (Folk? A capella? Isn’t it electro pop? Why not? ), and then pull out all the stops in the wildcard round. (Improvisation? Are there any special guests? Antics on stage? Almost anything can be played with.) The audience will vote to choose the victor at the end of the night, but no one will leave without having a wonderful time.
Does that make sense? Two acts on two stages, with a crowd-chosen winner in each of the four cities. Here’s who’s fighting who and where they’re fighting:
Shelley (aka DRAM) and Westside Boogie, both signed to Love Renaissance, will compete in SoundClash Atlanta on November 30th at The Eastern.
On December 2nd, SoundClash Nashville pits “Queens of Gulf Coast Soul” against each other at the Bayou Music Center in a battle between Tank and the Bangas and The Suffers.
On December 9th, SoundClash Houston will have a showdown between Bren Joy and an unnamed opponent at Marathon Music Works.
On December 16th at Radius, DC’s Rico Nasty will face off against Detroit lifer Danny Brown in SoundClash Chicago, which could be the wildest of them all.
