First timer this past year and I'm a convert. So for next year…

I attended this year's festival as a first timer with my friend Lee Gardner (who is part of the Essential Tremors crew — see Joe Boyd's Nick Drake Selector Series, and forthcoming podcasts recorded with Ian Lynch, Victoria Shen, etc.), and I'm in 100% for as long as I'm able to go. He'd been cajoling me to do so for years, and I am SO glad I did.

No! you don't get to see everything you want to. I missed Beth Gibbons, and Yo La Tengo, and Tortoise, and couldn't manage Explosions out of sheer exhaustion on Sunday. But if you give in and trust that you're gonna' see some awesome stuff you aren't disappointed.

We (my partner and I) drove down from Bmore on the Tuesday night so we could be fresh and ready for the Weds events that aren't part of the fest-proper (like the one linked above at the Pilot Light.) We brought bikes, which I thought would be this novel idea but was pleasantly surprised that everyone does so, and happy that there were plenty of lockup spots. I typically record the Essential Tremors Selector Series events that happen monthly, and was stoked that so many people came out to the one linked above. We were lucky enough to stay with friends on the west side of town.

I had to work Thursday which put some kibosh on a lot of what I'd hoped to see, but we managed to catch Alan Sparhawk, and William Tyler, but that kind of set the tenor for the whole experience. Friday I committed and saw a TON of stuff. Saturday was batshit, but I was able to see MOST of what I'd hoped to. And Sunday was mellow but an early to bed situation and a lot of "let's go to book and record stores and have nice lunches" with our crew. We drove home Monday evening after I worked the whole day.

So next year…

1. I would do the Tuesday evening arrival thing again. I think being able to get situated without needing to worry if you have time to get to downtown is smart.
2. Weds events are awesome, and I would be involved with one again in a heartbeat, but you gotta' keep 'em early so you can get the sleep you need to ensure maximum readiness for the actual fest. The above Selector Series event was ideal. I could've handled maybe a little bit more DJ action afterward, but the fact we were asleep by midnight was awesome.
3. Just take the effing time off. Working at all was sporadic, and while I was productive it was still brain-draining enough that I didn't manage to see all of what I'd hoped to on the Thursday. Commit to it, you will be rewarded.
4. I will bring a better camera than just my phone (which is awesome), and try to get a photo pass.
5. What if there was a dedicated venue somewhere in the fest-zone with an open set of decks and a Serato interface, and attendees or artists could just sign up for a half hour to 90 minute slot to DJ for like $5? Would you do it?
6. BRING A BIKE! But also, bring a decent enough bag (messenger, etc.) that you can store what you need to for shows, etc. comfortably.
7. Pre-planning is fine, but for real, being able to commit to MAX three things you want to see as don't miss, and just letting the day unfold is what's up. I caught so many things that opened my eyes to new stuff. Jeremiah Chiu? Wouldn't have caught it had I not just gone with a friend who said "this is up your alley, hit it with me" instead of going with the rest of our group to something they all struggled to get into anyway.
8. Bring SNACKS!!!! For real. High-protein, low-carb. You're going to eat out with people, and it's great for the town to get some of our hard-earned food bucks, but if you're running between six shows you will NOT have time to keep yourself from experiencing disruptive hanger.
9. I wish they'd have a few larger, outdoor, tented pavilion-style spots like Mill & Mine has with tables and outlets and couches and what not that is just kept open for the duration of the fest. Someplace to post up as a bit of a basecamp where you can bring food from elsewhere and chill with your group. We sat out Michael Rother in the above style spot and listened/watched him on a monitor between BEAK> and Lankum (the monitor is a great thing too), and I ran by bike to the Falafel joint on Walnut and delivered it back to our group so we could eat and rest. And that honestly made it so we could all make it to Water Damage without being exhausted.
10. Pick one show a day to NOT take pics or video of. Let your friends do it for you and you do it for theirs. Be 100% in it. I did for Water Damage and it was the best way to experience that set. But def take pictures of other stuff!

So who do I want to see next year?

• Grails (and associated acts since they'd all be there, this means Lilacs & Champagne, Holy Sons, Ilyas Ahmed, Zombi, Majeure, etc.)
• DisFig, Jesu, The Bug, The Body (in their various collaborative forms)
• FACS
• YHWH Nailgun
• Grouper
• Do Make Say Think
• Holydrug Couple
• Moor Mother
• Hania Rani
• Jessy Lanza
• Svaneborg Kardyb
• Dawn of MIDI
• Nils Frahm
• Daniel Higgs
• Khanate
• Insect Ark

Who do YOU want to see?