Echo And The Bunnymen bring All Tomorrow's Parties to a close

Echo And The Bunnymen and Modest Mouse, the US indie outfit that numbers Johnny Marr among their ranks, brought the inaugural ATP Vs The Fans festival at Butlins Minehead on Sunday (May 20) night.

The former guitarist's band played songs including ‘Float On’ and ‘Spitting Venom’ in a 75-minute set that concentrated on songs from the band’s new album, ‘We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank’.

Ticket holding fans were given the chance to vote on the weekend’s bill, which also included Battles - who serenaded a packed Centre Stage with songs including ‘Atlas’ from their new album ‘Mirrored’ - and Brighton’s The Go! Team, who played a host of songs including ‘Wrath of Mikey’, ‘Titanic Vandalism’, and ‘Grip Like A Vice’ slated for their forthcoming album for Memphis Industries, ‘Keys To The City’, due late Summer.

“It was about half and half today, between stuff that was on the first album and the stuff that we’ve written since,” explained the band’s Ian Parton. “There’s a fistful of properly new ones, and a few older new ones.” He also paid tribute to ATP’s spirit of independence.

He said: “It’s almost like, festivals are a excuse to get a load of kids together in a field and charge them five quid for a Tennents. This is more pure, you don’t feel like you’re getting fucked over as a punter.”

Also playing the three-day festival were Patti Smith, Mogwai, Wilco,Subtle, Bat For Lashes, and Slint.

Echo And The Bunnymen tickets: