Autechre, Simpsons Creator To Curate All Tomorrow's Parties

Matt Groening, famous as the cartoonist/humorist behind The Simpsons, will curate All Tomorrow's Parties 2003 in the U.S. In the UK, experimental electronic duo Autechre will curate. "Both will have excellent lineups that is reflected in years of digging good music," ATP Director, Barry Hogan wrote Neumu in an email regarding his curatorial choices.

Negotiations with artists picked by the curators are already underway — several have already been booked — but no names will be announced for several months. Hogan wrote that he expected the Autechre lineup to include "a wide range from hip-hop to avant-garde to techno, along with some surprises." As for the Groening-curated U.S. event, Hogan wrote that "Matt's list has some classic artists that veer more towards guitar orientated music." He added, "But both will not disappoint."

Groening, a graduate of the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., known for its dynamic, independent music scene, will curate ATP in Los Angeles in mid-June 2003, most likely at the University of California - Los Angeles campus. Said Hogan, "David [Sefton, Director of UCLA Performing Arts] from UCLA and myself chose Matt Groening because of his great taste in music, and I remember seeing a [Captain] Beefheart documentary where Matt was talking with great passion about his love for Trout Mask Replica. Seeing that was one of the reasons that inspired us to invite him." Beefheart's 1969 album is considered one of the most original of rock's first 50 years. Groening is also said to be a fan of the late Frank Zappa.

Autechre, from Yorkshire, England, is actually Sean Booth and Rob Brown. Their most recent album, 2001's Confield, received raves from some electronic music critics. Neumu's Philip Sherburne wrote that it "is the most accurate take on 'Intelligent Dance Music' yet to be released. ... In moving even closer to creating a music of sentient computers, Autechre have stood the genre on its head, stripping it of its four-bar certainties and patching it directly — ominously — into the unreadable soul of the machine."

The duo will curate ATP-UK over two consecutive weekends (March 28-30 and April 4-6, 2003), each with a different lineup, at Camber Sands in East Sussex. "I chose Autechre because they are one of my favourite acts and felt their lineup would be very diverse from what Shellac had picked," wrote Hogan. Famous Chicago-based analog producer Steve Albini's band, Shellac, curated the 2002 event at Camber Sands. "I loved what Shellac picked, but feel we should keep the event exciting and give it a new, fresh angle every time."

The idea for the first UK All Tomorrow's Parties festival was sparked by Belle and Sebastian's 1999 "Bowlie Weekender," featuring artists chosen by the group. "They approached me about putting on a festival in a holiday camp, as [Belle and Sebastian singer] Stuart Murdoch used to work in one," Hogan told Neumu last January. "I think it would be fair to say the idea was initially brought in by them and developed and executed by myself." Hogan imported the event to the U.S., which he did for the first time in April 2002 in Los Angeles, on the UCLA campus.

Sonic Youth curated ATP's first U.S. event, which took place earlier this year at UCLA. "The whole thing was a blast for us, to basically curate this festival from our self-created wish list," said Sonic Youth guitarist/singer/writer Lee Ranaldo. "It looked good on paper and came off even better in the flesh — we couldn't have asked for a more exciting, smoother-run show if we tried. A very exciting four days.

"There were so many good sets played," Ranaldo continued. "Tony Conrad's set in the small 'chapel' — droning violin strings — was beautiful and very moving. I'd have to say the new Boredoms was most interesting — that this group keeps shifting and changing, evolving its sound to such a degree, always with such a high quality, is amazing. For ATP they were sporting their 'drum circle' set, three drummers with trap kits all facing in to the center, plus Eye on synth and vox — truly unique and mind-bending."

Hogan wrote that for him the most exciting thing at the UK fest was seeing Shellac play. What did he enjoy least? "I wish we never booked Cheap Trick because it was like a retirement home Christmas party when they played," he wrote. At the L.A. fest Hogan enjoyed "seeing Black Dice rock the spot, hearing Sonic Youth play 'White Cross' and watching the Boredoms blow my mind."

Both 2003 events are expected to sell out. At ATP-LA 2002, curated by Sonic Youth, 3200 out of 3800 Friday day passes, 3500 out of 3800 Saturday day passes and all 2200 Sunday day passes were sold. At ATP-UK the first weekend sold out, with 3000 three-day passes sold. For the second weekend, 2000 three-day passes were sold.

Among music festivals, ATP is unique. "I think what sets it apart is the artist-curated aspect, which makes it a very valuable document of whichever artist is in charge," said Ranaldo. "Having artists in charge instead of promoters is a great idea. The UK version of this festival is really the one, though, that has it all in place... Having the shows at the Camber Sands holiday camp, where audience members get cabins-for-four with their tickets, makes it a really special weekend.

"Also the fact that the ATP head honcho, Barry Hogan, is NOT interested in growing the festival to the point that it is overrun and overly large," continued Ranaldo. "His determination to keep it of managable size is admirable. It means the music stays first and is never eclipsed by too-large crowds, which is the problem at so many festivals these days."

For more information visit the ATP Web site. — Jillian Steinberger [Tuesday, June 18, 2002}