Students from Berklee's Heavy Rotation Records Perform at Summer Festivals Including Lollapalooza and Osheaga

Boston, MA, July 13, 2015. For the fifth consecutive year, an artist from Berklee College of Music’s student-run Heavy Rotation Records (HRR) will perform on one of the main stages at Lollapalooza through an ongoing partnership between the college and the iconic festival. A new partnership with Montreal’s Osheaga Festival also gives an HRR act the opportunity to perform there for the first time.

This year’s HRR Lollapalooza artist, seven-piece R&B/funk group Kyle Thornton & the Company, was chosen because of the enthusiastic reception they received for their high-energy performance at the release concert for HRR’s Dorm Sessions 10 compilation, where they brought the crowd to its feet. Lollapalooza 2015 – July 31-August 2 at Grant Park in Chicago – is headlined by Paul McCartney, Metallica, and Florence & the Machine, and also features Berklee alumna Verite.

Berklee’s partnership with Lollapalooza goes beyond the stage, and also includes scholarships for musicians to attend the college. Read about the 2015 Berklee Lollapalooza scholarship recipients.

Indie pop/electronic/world group Cordelia & the Buffalo will perform at the 10th annual Osheaga Festival– July 31-August 2 at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal. Cordelia & the Buffalo will appear alongside The Black Keys, Alt-J, and Charlie XCX, among others. The group was also chosen at the Dorm Sessions 10 concert.

“Picking 10 artists from more than 300 submissions for the HRR album is a daunting task. Choosing who is going to Lollapalooza and Osheaga can be even more difficult,” said Jeff Dorenfeld, Berklee professor and advisor to HRR who initiated partnerships with both festivals. “All of the artists have great songs, but I’m looking for something unique that will stand out on the festival stage. Both Kyle and Cordelia had a special presence and delivery.”

The opportunity is life-changing for the students. “I recall the day our first Lollapalooza artist, Julia Easterlin played,” added Dorenfeld. “When she walked off stage, she said, ‘I can do this!’ That defines how important this relationship is. Performing on a large festival stage builds confidence. Every artist has come off the stage better than when they went on.”

A third Dorm Sessions 10 act, folk rock group Grey Season, made the trip to Manchester, TN, in June for the Bonnaroo Festival, where they performed on the same stage as fellow Berklee alumni BettyWho. Grey Season will also appear at Boston Calling in September.

Kyle Thornton & the Company at Lollapalooza Friday, July 31, 12:50 pm on the Pepsi Stage

Kyle Thornton & the Company aim for a fresh new sound grounded in the passion and honesty of the blues. R&B, soul, gospel, and blues permeated the Thornton household, giving Kyle the inspiration and foundation he took with him from his humble church choir to Berklee. Equipped with both acoustic and electric guitars, Thornton writes emotional songs drawing from his own experiences of love and loss. His influences include Ed Sheeran, Al Green, Frank Ocean, and others. The band recently released a single, “Lemonade,” and is currently working on its debut album.

Cordelia & the Buffalo at Osheaga Sunday, August 2, 1:35 pm on the Valley Stage

Cordelia & the Buffalo is an electronic indie rock band led by Berklee student Cordelia Vizcaino, a Mexican-American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. The Texas native draws her musical inspiration from Mexican Indian tribes and Native American cultures. She formed the band in 2011 with classmates Yusuke Sato (guitar), Rodrigo Gramitto (guitar), Diego Diaz (drums), Dan McCallum (bass), and Dag Hanken (percussion/synths). The band’s vibrant sound is a fusion of explosive beats, exotic instruments, powerful lyrics, and soothing melodies.