The Village Voice are currently going through a staff crisis at their Bowery
headquarters. Two senior editors have left the publication after being told to
'lay-off five (out of 20) staff' members. It's not all fun and games in the East
Village, but for one day only The Village Voice can surrender their revenue
pressures to enjoy music. 4Knots Music Festival is now in its third year. It
oversaw the rise of Doldrums at last year’s festival, with popular acts such as The
Drums taking centre stage. Situated in the glorious South
Street Seaport, this year’s 4Knots will again be a blast.
Parquet Courts will show off their Brooklyn
punk rock sound. Last year's Light Up Gold was a splendid
half-hour of simple punk for a modern audience. If that stint of punk rock
isn't enough, then The Men are certainly ready to plug in the chord for a noise
filled afternoon. Likewise, last year’s New Moon bolstered quality tuned
down punk rock with an influence of roots rock. Also from Brooklyn, The Men
have released four albums in as many years giving them plenty of material to
play on the main stage. The Village Voice have kept with the same genre
and the same area of New York City for this year’s festival. Hunters descend as
an exciting up and coming band. After releasing an invigorating EP back in
2011, the quartet now signed to Mom + Pop are ready to release their debut album and the stage is set for what
will be a powerful performance.
Downtown New York will for one day cancel out the noise of construction with
the noise of fast paced punk. Vancouver, Canada's White Lung will emit the
loudest and high shrieked of noises. Their sophomore album Sorry is only
20 minutes long but has a long-lasting effect on listeners who more than likely
listen back to back. In contrast, a melodic newcomer will unearth the psychedelic
rock and shoegaze roots of New York City's underground scene. Heliotropes who take a major
influence from American 60s psych and 80s British space rock are releasing
their debut album A Constant Sea this June, just in time for 4Knots.
4Knots isn't all about the electric guitar, and though it does feature the
best female artist to shred a guitar in decades, it does however feature an eclectic
line-up. Texas rapper Fat Tony is a hotly tipped artist to break through the
hip-hop barrier this year. His eccentric performance is bound to receive a few
glancing looks from passers-by. Likewise will The Babies, a garage rock band
from.... Yes you guessed correctly, Brooklyn. Their sophomore album wasn't
quite as tasty as other indie pop / garage rock releases, however it's good
enough and suits the South Street Seaport winds and public sunglasses. Another garage
rock / 60s influenced artist Reigning Sound
will take the stage. their 50s / 60s sound is a little out of fashion, but has
been coming back in recent years thanks to a surge in bands such as The Drums
and Allah-Las.
Marnie Stern is sure to create an atmosphere with her math rock /
indie rock sound. This years The Chronicles of Marnia is a
standout album not just in name, but in sound. She has lost drummer Zach Hill
but makes up for it in her spectacular guitar structures. She is one artist not
to be missed, especially when you're not paying for it - don't waste this
opportunity to see Marnie Stern in New York City, without an enclosed roof in
the sun. This year’s 4Knots festival is headlined by Kurt Vile. The indie
rock / experimental musician who used to front The War on Drugs released his
fifth solo album this year Wakin on a Pretty Daze. His blend of indie
rock fuzz and lo-fi experimentation is a blessing that has taken the music
world by storm in recent years. The past three Kurt Vile studio albums have all
been positively received and include fabulous material. Backed by The
Violators, Kurt Vile's enigmatic live performance is one not to be shunned for
something else happening in New York City that night.
With these free summer events, the community of New York City comes together
to appreciate the city, the culture and the audience that come out to participate
in the festivities - you can't put a price on New York City. The Village Voice
may be facing an exodus, but they’re thankfully putting on a day festival with
top bands from across the USA. There will again be two stages at South
Street Seaport. If you're planning on coming down, it starts at 1pm on 29 June,
ending at 8pm that very night. All ages, I’m sure Fat Tony has been warned.
~Eddie