Last year’s American iteration of the “I’ll Be Your Mirror” festival, curated by Portishead and All Tomorrow’s Parties, was by far my favorite musical experience of 2011 (and for that matter one of my favorites, ever). This was in no small part because of the opportunity to see Portishead perform twice, (and Public Enemy, and The Horrors, and many others) but even beyond that was the pitch perfect vibe of the weekend where one’s senses were only assaulted aurally, not by corporate tie-ins / promos or talkative festival goers there for all the wrong reasons.
The venue was perfectly shabby, the summer-camp-in-September-for-music-nerds aura was amazing, and the sense of community was unlike any I’ve experienced at a festival. It exists as a festival by music lovers/musicians for music lovers/musicians. I’m a bit big-brother-protective about that pristine experience, to be held again on Asbury Park, NJ’s boardwalk, because I don’t want to see it ruined. I want to be back there right now. As if the music wasn’t enough, the available fare included the best pizza-by-the-slice I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a few slices of pizza.
This isn’t to say that I haven’t had a great time at Coachella, Lollapalooza, and their ilk; I have. I’ve had great times, in fact. But, IBYM exists without the numerous hassles and riff raff that diminish those experiences. And while it is pretty much impossible to top what occurred last year — and Portishead in particular — this year’s edition looks to be sweeter than boardwalk cotton candy as well.
Greg Dulli of the The Afghan Whigs is this year’s curator, and the announced lineup is already impressive, with more yet to be announced. Here it is:
Friday 21st Curated by ATP
Saturday 22nd Curated by Greg Dulli
- The Afghan Whigs
- Louis C.K.
- The Roots
- José González
- Mark Lanegan Band
- Dirty Three
- The Antlers
- The Dirtbombs – Performing Ultraglide In Black
- Scrawl
- Sharon Van Etten
- Emeralds
- Vetiver
- Quintron And Miss Pussycat
- Charles Bradley And The Extraordinaires
- DJ Questlove
- Reigning Sound
- + more TBC
Sunday 23rd Curated by ATP
- The Make-Up
- Hot Snakes
- The Magic Band
- Autolux
- Thee Oh Sees
- Factory Floor
- Death Grips
- I Break Horses
- + more TBC
