Central Florida’s premier alternative rock radio station FM101.9 threw their annual end-of-year showcase last week at Orlando Amphitheater, which again featured a smattering of rock’s biggest names. Headlining the event were English pop-rock titans The 1975, whose cool blend of new wave, glitchy electronica, synth-pop, and lo-fi rock n’ roll dazzled audiences. Frontman Matt Healey was as buoyant and charismatic as ever, bringing his dry tongue-in-cheek humor and rapturous stage presence to a show brimming with shimmering lights and on-point backup dancers.
Rounding out the bill were Omaha reggae-rock purveyors 311, Arizona pop-punk/emo legends Jimmy Eat World, New Orleans roots rockers The Revivalists, rising D.C. indie-pop trio Shaed, and English folk pop/blues musician Barns Courtney.
