All Tomorrow’s Parties

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Atmos // ATP 2009

Butlins holiday camp in Minehead was overrun for two weekends this month as All Tomorrow’s Parties came to town. The first weekend  (May 8–10) was labelled The Fans Strike Back, and saw festival goers choose part of the line-up. The second (May 15–17) was curated by The Breeders. Keep clicking for exclusive shots from both weekends. Pic: Danny North

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Dance punkers !!! played the Friday night of The Fans Strike Back ATP (May 8) to a packed-out Centre Stage. “Go home and tell your friends that !!! killed it this weekend,” frontman Nic Offer urged. Pic: Danny North

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ANDREW WK // ATP 2009

Andrew WK was one of the first acts on at the Fans Strike Back ATP festival this month. Many missed his “party hard” set due to Friday night traffic on the motorways, but those that made it saw him play piano to a backing track to rapturous reponse. Pic: Danny North

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The Jesus Lizard // ATP 2009

Jesus Lizard’s David Yow was topless and crowd-surfing by the first song during their ATP set. In fact, he dived into the audience three times in as many songs. Pic: Danny North

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Sleepy Sun // ATP 2009

San Franciscan psych-rockers Sleepy Sun brought the West Coast freaked-out vibe to ATP: The Fans Strike Back on May 9. For an exclusive video interview with the band and a free MP3, head over to the Daily Download blog at nme.com/blogs. Pic: Danny North

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Grizzly Bear // ATP 2009

Blog darlings Grizzly Bear were perhaps an inevitable choice for the fan-curated first All Tomorrow’s Parties. Their barbershop indie went down a treat in the early afternoon big top. Pic: Danny North

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M83 // ATP 2009

M83 kicked off Friday night’s proceedings at the first All Tomorrow’s Parties weekend in Minehead with an ethereal electronic rave-up that culminated in eight minute epic ‘Couleurs’. You can grab the track for free on the Daily Download blog at nme.com/blogs. Pic: Danny North

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Atmos // ATP 2009

This year both ATP festivals took place at Butlins in Minehead, a seaside town next to a long sandy beach where the tide is forever miles away from shore. Pic: Danny North

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ANDREW WK // ATP 2009

With a line-up that ranges from stoner rock to electronica, post-grunge, metal and math-rock, All Tomorrow’s Parties draws a variety of punters to its seaside shindig. Pic: Danny North

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Atmos // ATP 2009

The main stage at All Tomorrow’s Parties is a huge big top, a tented building the residents of Minehead can see for miles around. Inside it houses a Burger King, Pizza Hut, huge games arcade, several pubs and nightclubs, and numerous movable bars that pop up whenever the demand arises. Pic: Danny North

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Atmos // ATP 2009

Festival goers relax on the carpeted floor of Butlins’ big top. The venue hosts a variety of events across the year: returning ATPers could enjoy a show by George Sampson, the ‘X Factor’ losers, or perhaps just come for “The ‘80s Experience”. Pic: Danny North

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Health // ATP 2009

Health bring the noise to All Tomorrow’s Parties: The Fans Strike Back (May 8–10). For a full report on both weekends, including more pictures, video interviews and free MP3s, head over to nme.com/blogs. Pic: Danny North

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Bingo // ATP 2009

Some fans take a break from “striking back” at the first ATP. The festival is quite a unique experience; you get to stay in a chalet alongside all the bands and you can go for a swim, ride the flumes or play mini golf during the day. Pic: Danny North

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Harvey Milk // ATP 2009

Grunge stalwarts Harvey Milk bring the slow chord progressions to All Tomorrow’s Parties: The Fans Strike Back on May 9. Grab this week’s NME magazine for a full review of the weekend. Pic: Danny North

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Future Of The Left hit ATP in Minehead on May 9. The band’s new album, ‘Travels With Myself And Another’, is out on June 22. Pic: Danny North

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DEVO // ATP 1009

Legendary post-punkers Devo grace ATP’s main stage during The Fans Strike Back. The band ran through their usual routine, stripping out of yellow boiler suits before running through the likes of ‘Whip It’ and ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ and throwing bouncy balls into the audience. Pic: Danny North

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Errors // ATP 2009

Scotch math-rockers Errors ran through a glitchy set in Butlins’ Reds bar during the Fans Strike Back weekend. The bemused bar staff looked more accustomed to stand-up gigs and bingo evenings. Pic: Danny North

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Atmos // ATP 2009

ATP fans relax on Minehead’s beach under gunmetal skies. The next UK ATP weekend will be curated by My Bloody Valentine on December 4-6. Pic: Danny North

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School Of Seven Bells were one of the bands picked by punters for the first ATP (The Fans Strike Back) weekend. They played a captivating set to a packed-out Centre Stage bar. Pic: Danny North

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The Breeders were chosen to curate the second All Tomorrow’s Parties festival last weekend (May 15 –17), the latest in a long line of legendary bands picked to oversee things. Mogwai chose the line-up for the first ever ATP (which evolved from Belle & Sebastian’s 1999 Bowlie Weekender) in 2000, and since then Tortoise, Shellac, Autechre and loads others have got involved. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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“I’m old and retarded,” joked Throwing Muses’ Kristin Hersh as she messed up the intro to one song. It’s been a while since UK fans of the veteran alt.rock outfit were treated to a live show, and an old-stuff heavy set including ‘Bright Yellow Gun’ and ‘Bea’ didn’t disappoint. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Ferocious, precise and funny as ever, punk pioneers Shellac cracked out classics like ‘Canada’ and ‘The End Of Radio’, and still found time for the odd hand of poker with fans. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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CSS pulled a surprisingly large crowd at the usually indier-than thou festiva,l and made up in energy what they lacked in timing. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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The Breeders’ Kelley Deal explained to NME.COM their reason for choosing pop act CSS for their ATP festival: “We just got to know them and what they did when we were doing so many festivals last summer, and we kept seeing them around,” she said. “Same with Foals.” Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Bon Iver aka Justin Vernon’s choral-pure voice and tales of lost love and log cabins held many a punter rapt on the Friday night of the Breeders-curated ATP (May 15). Pic: Tim Cochrane

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They might have been rambling characteristically between songs, but the Deal sisters were on top musical form for their Saturday set (May 16), breaking out early classics like ‘Fortunately Gone’ and ‘Metal Man’ as well as the inevitable, awesome ‘Cannonball’. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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The Bronx bring the ungodly noise to the second ATP festival (May 15–17). Head over to nme.com/blogs for a full report from the weekend. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Snack food reigns supreme at the ATP festivals. Burgers, pizza, chips and sweets are available in abundance. Anything else you need to bring yourself. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Almost too much of an adrenaline rush for a Sunday afternoon, Blood Red Shoes were clearly enjoying themselves at the Breeders-curated ATP (May 17). “We used to come here ourselves,” said Laura-Mary Carter, “so we’re really excited and nervous.” It didn’t show. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Blood Red Shoes storm the second ATP. From Matt Groening and Sonic Youth in the US to Slint, Portishead and Explosions In The Sky in the UK, Pitchfork has invited many luminaries to help curate their events. This one was the work of The Breeders. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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