Best. Festival. Ever.

April 9, 2003 11:01 AM

Best. Festival. Ever.The Field Day Festival is taking place on June 7th and 8th in Riverhead, NY and the lineup is amazing. Yesterday, there was an image of the band lineup, but it has been removed. There will be an official announcement on Monday. In the meantime, here is a partial list of bands to whet your appetite: Radiohead, Belle & Sebastian, Spiritualized, Beth Orton, The Streets, Sleater-Kinney, N.E.R.D., Beastie Boys, The Strokes, Sigur Ros, Blur, Flaming Lips, Interpol, The Rapture and Tortoise.
posted by capndesign (35 comments total)

Here is the complete lineup:

June 7th
Radiohead
Underworld, Belle & Sebastian, Sasha & Digweed, Spiritualized, Thievery Corporation, Beth Orton, The Streets, Sleater-Kinney, Groove Armada, N.E.R.D., Lee Scratchy Perry, The Raveonettes, The Music, My Morning Jacket, Jason Mraz, Layo & Bushwacka

June 8th
Beastie Boys
The Strokes, Sigur Ros, Blur, Flaming Lips, The Transplants, Royksopp, Interpol, Liz Phair, Le Tigre, The Rapture, Tortoise, The Polyphonic Spree, Ben Lee
posted by capndesign at 11:02 AM on April 9, 2003

It's a really good mix of bands, but I wouldn't say there are that many in the line-up (imo) that really blow me away. But I'll wait until the official, full line-up is posted on the site before I cheer/poo-poo it...
posted by stifford at 11:12 AM on April 9, 2003

Can't wrap my head around how bad the traffic will be.
posted by machaus at 11:19 AM on April 9, 2003

Beth Orton is very cool...

(I'd link to her site, but warning: it features a very un-Beth intrusive browser resize and relaunch in a new window...)
posted by Shane at 11:24 AM on April 9, 2003

Good lord I'm old and out of touch. Other than the Beastie Boys, I don't recognize many of those bands.

Anyway, Falcon Ridge is the Best Festival Ever.
posted by bondcliff at 11:25 AM on April 9, 2003

Traffic will suck, but it will be good practice for the Bonnaroo NE festival which is going to be going on in August in Riverhead.
posted by stifford at 11:26 AM on April 9, 2003

With the exception of Ben Lee, this is the coolest mix of bands I have ever seen at a single event. Wow.

Does the festival take place every year? I just moved to NYC -- is it going to be ridiulous and mud-slinging or nice to hang out at?
posted by josh at 11:26 AM on April 9, 2003

What a great post. Field Day site has front page, no image (or list) of bands, no other sites or cites of festival, no history. Oh, but we know where Riverhead, NY, is now. Thanks!
posted by msacheson at 11:32 AM on April 9, 2003

Best. Festival. Ever.

Not. Even. Close..

Dislaimer: I wasn't alive for the first two and lived too far away for the third but just on lineup alone, they get the nod.

This seems to be a collection of alt-band-of-the-moments, some has-beens, a few decent bands, and Perry and N.E.R.D. as a sop to "diversity." Alan Freed's Brooklyn Paramount shows had more diversity, for pete's sake.

This should be interesting, a bunch of white college kids staring at their shoes and drinking Red Bull.

I hate to admit it, but I think rock and roll as a cultural force may actually be dead.
posted by jonmc at 11:37 AM on April 9, 2003

Yeah, not alot of content there, is there?
But, I guess it's a nice heads up anyway.... I'd love to attend.
posted by Espoo2 at 11:37 AM on April 9, 2003

The Coachella Festival in Southern (eastern) California has had a consistent, amazing lineup for the past couple years.
posted by mathowie at 11:41 AM on April 9, 2003

First: yes, the link was poor but I wanted to get the info out there since I think this is a great festival. Second: Although it may not appeal to everyone, this is some of the most interesting upcoming performers working today. And in regards to Coachella, yes. It is also amazing. I guess this is the East Coast equivalent.
posted by capndesign at 12:05 PM on April 9, 2003

I wonder if you can get there from the ferry from Connecticut? Cause that seems like the only reasonable way to avoid the heinous traffic. They do realize it's the summer and the Hamptons are out there, don't they?
posted by smackfu at 12:11 PM on April 9, 2003

The mix of bands I love passionately and bands I hate even more passionately is enough to make my head explode.

I gotta say though, the first Lollapalooza was pretty special to me. Especially considering that the first date was in my hometown.
posted by padraigin at 12:14 PM on April 9, 2003

well, sounds great and all but if there's nothing on the website how exactly are you getting the information?
posted by jeremias at 12:17 PM on April 9, 2003

Yeah I will never go to this, but it sounds awesome.
Rock n' roll is still alive, although you kinda have to look to find it nowadays. The bonnaroo music fest seems to top it. Sounds like a dirty hippy fest, but there are a lot of good bands there. I just hate camping.
posted by dig_duggler at 12:19 PM on April 9, 2003

Smackfu: You have 2 ferry options. Bridgeport CT to Port Jeff. Or, better, New London to Orient PT. 2nd is better because it dumps you at the end of the north fork. You may need reservations for the ferry though.
Have fun.
posted by a3matrix at 12:23 PM on April 9, 2003

Also in New York this summer, the 2nd annual Adirondack Mountain Music Festival. Dates are May 30,31, and June 1. I attended the first last year, and it was a hell of a time. Beautiful campgrounds, lots of hippies (and "festies"), good music, and friendly people. They raised the tickets to $90 this year, but it covers two nights and three days of camping.

the highlights in the lineup (for me, clearly)
Ween
Soulive
The Session featuring John Medeski, Charlie Hunter, DJ Logic, Skerik, & Joe Russo
Sound Tribe Sector 9
El-P
Israel Vibration
Amon Tobin
DJ Logic
Aesop Rock
posted by pinto at 12:41 PM on April 9, 2003

The Raveonettes? I'll be damned!
posted by soundofsuburbia at 12:41 PM on April 9, 2003

Festivals are no fun. Too crowded and too expensive. The appeal of seeing a lot of great bands in one place is tempting, but I suggest you catch them individually at your local club.
posted by corpse at 12:43 PM on April 9, 2003

I'm gonna second the Coachella fest as tip-tops this year. The lineup's more diverse and more likely to contain surprises and enough of the bands playing both to head West. If nothing else, because the Stooges reunion should be a glorious trainwreck.
I stood outside the venue and listened to Polyphonic Spree at this year's SXSW and thought "now that would be a grreaat band to listen to while laying on the grass on a sunny day."
posted by chandy72 at 12:55 PM on April 9, 2003

I gotta say though, the first Lollapalooza was pretty special to me

I went to the Southern California show that first year and I agree. The highlight was seeing the Rollins band for the first time, the rest were all long-time favorites, and seeing Jane's Addiction's amazing stage show. Also, when I was taking a piss during Sioxuse and the Banshees, Ice T walked up to the stall next to me and used it, which was odd (what do *you* do? ask him for his autograph? wait until he's done? check out his equipment? -- I just sort of stood there amazed he was walking among the spectators and left).

Though every big summer concert after became a 15+ band festival, and they're usually not the best ways to enjoy bands (esp. when there are three stages, two of which you want to see, and when getting to/from the event takes hours in traffic).
posted by mathowie at 12:58 PM on April 9, 2003

Well, someone emailed me a link to an image on the site which is now gone. The image listed the lineup and the dates. There was no other information. I also got some info from Green Plastic, a Radiohead site.

Another good festival is All Tomorrow's Parties, which is in NY, LA and the UK. It is curated by different people every year. LA is curated by Matt Groening and is June 19-22, NY is curated by Stephen Malkmus and is in September.
posted by capndesign at 1:03 PM on April 9, 2003

ATP UK 2003 is curated by Autechre.

*faint*
posted by Satapher at 1:13 PM on April 9, 2003

"It" will be my festival this summer. Yeah yeah, I know some people don't like Phish, but, for me it's no queston: Limestone, Maine again and reduced capacity this time. I'm going to sell my Bonnaroo ticket to go. Although, I do hate to miss a chance to see James Brown.

Are there any other festivals that have a quasi-story that unfolds over the course of the event? Phish does a pretty good job of this with theirs. I'm hoping "It" will have more of this symbolic story dimension. I'd bet that's something that would be tough to do with more than one band.
posted by mblandi at 1:46 PM on April 9, 2003

Jeez. The last decent international band who came to South Africa was the Smashing Pumpkins in 2000. It's been a long time. Well at least the beers cheap.
posted by PenDevil at 1:53 PM on April 9, 2003

Anyone want to plan on riding together from NYC?
posted by bshort at 2:00 PM on April 9, 2003

From The Strokes's webpage (click on News): "The Strokes will NOT be playing The Field Day Fest in NY on July 8th. This is only a rumor!"
posted by donth at 3:54 PM on April 9, 2003

Besides the Coachella , previously mentioned,in So. Cal. there is also the Hootenanny in Early July.
Stray Cats reform , Blasters etc Saturday ; Social Distortion , Little Richard etc Sunday. Tons of bands !!
Cool posters as well . If you go though it is usually hot as hell !!!
posted by stuartmm at 4:12 PM on April 9, 2003

The lineup is tentative, but it's brilliant. I really hope it happens. And didn't I hear Beck was involved?
posted by ghastlyfop at 8:18 PM on April 9, 2003

Yes, Beck is involved. (June 7)

*keeps fingers crossed for Underworld and Radiohead on the same day*
posted by chules at 8:41 PM on April 9, 2003

Underworld, Belle & Sebastian, Sasha & Digweed, Spiritualized, Beth Orton, The Streets, Sleater-Kinney, Lee Scratchy Perry, My Morning Jacket, Sigur Rós, Blur, Flaming Lips, Liz Phair, Le Tigre, Tortoise

=

Hell yes (especially to the MMR, because I've not heard them live and I hear it's raucous and wonderful)! Not the only great festival, as people have mentioned (ATP, Bumbershoot, Ladyfest Midwest, etc) but very promising/exciting. It seems a good mixture of "this-person-changed-my-life-with-their-contribution-to-art-of-record-X" musicians (oh Liz Phair, and hi Lee Perry) and "effing-superhuman-live" (Sigur Rós, Spiritualized, Sleater-Kinney) performers. And people who put on fun-as-hell shows too, like the Lips, with bands people will be excited to see live as they're relative newcomers. Digging the considerable nod to electronica and sort-of-hip-hop, too.
posted by ifjuly at 11:08 PM on April 9, 2003

Best.Festival.Ever.

to sell drugs at.
posted by wrench at 11:30 PM on April 9, 2003

Now it's official:

June 7
Radiohead, Beck, Underworld, Spiritualized, Thievery Corporation, Beth Orton, Dashboard Confessional, Interpol, Liz Phair, Tortoise, Thursday, The Raveonettes, Ben Lee, My Morning Jacket, Gemma Hayes, 22-20s

June 8
Beastie Boys, Sigur Rós, The Roots, Blur, The Streets, Elliott Smith, N.E.R.D., Peanut Butter Wolf, Blackalicious, Le Tigre, The Music, The Polyphonic Spree, Luna, The Sea and Cake, Particle, Ours, Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
posted by chules at 10:58 AM on April 14, 2003

Ooh, the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players..."They are brilliant (in both the English and American usage of the word “brilliant”). They are nothing if not love itself. They are the embodiment of everything I just wrote about. They are a father and a mother in their thirties, and a daughter, about eight. They tour the country in their mini-van (which is hand-painted in many colors... why not?) They put on shows. They go to estate sales and buy the old slides of various strangers and then write songs using the slides, in random order, as a guide. One of their songs is called, “Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959,” and that’s exactly what the slides and lyrics represent. The father plays guitar or piano. The mom runs the slide projector. The daughter plays drums. Father and daughter sing the funny lyrics. And they kick ass. Jesus, the closest I ever got to something like that was when my sister and I turned off the lights, stuck flashlights under our chins, and read “The Tell-Tale Heart” to our humoring mom." - David Cross, My America
posted by boost ventilator at 11:44 AM on April 14, 2003