Heineken City Arts Festival 2011 - Preview

Male Bonding play Chop Suey, October 22 w/ Unnatural Helpers, Virgin Islands and Fucking Eagles

The 2nd Annual Heineken City Arts Festival kicks off Thursday night, featuring headlining sets from Robyn, Crystal Castles, The Long Winters, The Felice Brothers and Allen Stone. I'm hobbled a bit, recovering from a torn calf muscle, so I'll be picking one venue and sticking with it, as the distance between venues is more than my limp and I are comfortable with. Since Allen Stone appears to be off limits and Crystal Castles has some overly constrictive photo requirements the winner tonight is The Long Winters (joined by the School of Rock, scroll down for video of rehearsal for event) at the Showbox, with Campfire OK and Cobirds Unite (all bands I've shot previously, which is unfortunate, but love all the same).

Friday night features headline performances from Ryan Adams, Built to Spill, Shabbaz Palaces, Fences and Pickwick. I'm even further constricted this night by another previous engagement (living room show with SF's Roem Baur), but I hope to test out the leg walking between Built to Spill at the Moore, Pickwick at the Crocodile and Sons of Warren Oats at the Rendezvous.

Saturday features my favorite lineup at a venue for the whole event, with one of my current favorite bands in the world Male Bonding playing at Chop Suey with my favorite underrated local band opening, in Virgin Islands. After VI's much talked about performance at Occupy Seattle this past Sunday, perhaps more know about this act, but I bet it's still nowhere near enough. The other bands on the bill are nothing to sneeze at either -- Unnatural Helpers (!) and the Fucking Eagles.

Other highlights from Saturday are The Hold Steady, Mudhoney, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, Man Man, Ozomatli... but you know what? I'm going to stop right there, because I CAN'T ATTEND ANYTHING SATURDAY NIGHT! My wife unit is working a great fundraising event all night, so I'll be at home with my kids for the duration (unless someone finds me a babysitter whose both available and CHEAP).

Here's a good preview of Thursday's Long Winters set, with Seattle's School of Rock lending a hand.

The Long Winters & School of Rock from Adam Pranica on Vimeo.