We might see a few showers on Saturday, according to The Weather Channel, but that’s not going to stop the fourth annual Picnic Music and Arts Festival from happening at Lincoln Park in Portland. It runs from 11 A.M. to 6 P.M.
“It’s totally a rain or shine event,” Noah Defilippis, one of Picnic’s organizers, said in an e-mail. “We have people from around the U.S. coming here. We’ve done our fair share of craft shows in the rain.”
Though the festival is largely focused on the hundreds of tables and tents featuring local and independent makers of sorts, music has been an important aspect from the beginning. This year, Hilly Town is curating the lineup like they did for Picnic’s winter event last year.
“As far as the music goes, it’s just a part of the festival that we really enjoy,” Defilippis continued in the e-mail. “It gives the indie music scene a place to play. There are plenty of other festivals and their music just doesn’t do anything for me.”
Before we all go out to brave the beginning of Irene this Saturday, lets sit back and prepare ourselves for the bands we’ll see. Here they are in the order they’re playing:
Mango Floss (11:15 A.M.)
Photo by Dylan Martin.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Mango Floss in action, but I remember liking what I heard and saw. It’s easy-to-chew indie pop music with quirk and some shoegaze qualities in the background, and if I remember correctly, there was a whole lot of dancing at the show I attended. Lets hope for more in two days.
Mouth Washington (12:00 P.M.)
Photo from Mouth Washington’s Facebook page.
I love vocals that have a certain amount of discord to them, and Max Hansen’s is perfect for the abrasive punk rock of Mouth Washington. There have already been some good reports of the band’s live show, so I have high hopes for their performance on Saturday. Maybe someone will get beaten up? Probably me.
The Toughcats (1:30 P.M.)
Photo by Stephanie MacDonald.
I was absolutely blown away by The Toughcats when I saw them play at Arootsakoostik last month, and I can predict the same will happen for all who attend Picnic this Saturday. I never considered bluegrass my jams, but the band has an accessibility unlike any other band I’ve heard in the genre, finding credibility among snobby hipsters and family audiences alike. Their songs are great, but you need to experience their live show — if just for their insane, hollering drummer.
Butcher Boy (3:00 P.M.)
Photo by Dylan Martin.
Without a doubt, Butcher Boy is a young punk band to be reckoned with. Armed with a banjo, trombone and some conventional punk instruments on the side, the band blends an old punk sensibility with the aesthetic and songwriting styles of a folk group. Their performances are electric and often reckless, yet the music remains cohesive enough to create some explosive, wailing moments.
The Outfits (3:45 P.M.)
Photo from The Outfits’ Facebook page.
As far as I can tell, this is The Outfits’ debut performance. Just from listening to their demos on Soundcloud, I get an immediate riot grrrl vibe from them. They have the noise, the angst, the cats. What else can we expect? Guess we’ll find out Saturday.
The Outfits Demo by The Outfits
Sunset Hearts (5:00 P.M.)
Photo by Dylan Martin.
You can call them a throwback 80′s band all you want, but Sunset Hearts does it right with a wide, colorful palette of songs and a tight arrangement of instruments with Casey McCurry’s great singing voice. They still need to get a little more comfortable on the stage, but for a band a year in the making, they’re doing just fine.
Other bands:
There are also three traveling bands playing from NYC: Weird Children (12:45 P.M.), Bandana Splits (2:15 P.M.), and Clouder (4:15 P.M.).
Here’s a music video of Bandana Splits that premiered on Stereogum not too long ago:
Drop some knowledge.