So, most of the time we ignore overseas festivals, mostly because if we didn't we'd be here all day attempting to update you on everything from SXSW to Primavera, Lollapalooza to Roskilde, Coachella to Latitude, we could go on and on... and on.
HOWEVER, we're excited to learn that after resurfacing last year to play a small number of low key shows in the US, Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Mangum is playing a trip to this side of the Atlantic, in order to curate one of All Tomorrow's Parties' "uber-cool" festivals at Butlins in Minehead, Somerset.
Since the Louisiana cult indie rock band made little mark before their awesome 1998 album 'In The Aeroplane Over The Sea' was reissued by Domino in 2005, long after their split in 1999, this will be the first opportunity for many NMH fans to see Mangum perform live in the UK. As well as performing more than one live acoustic set at the festival, which takes place from December 2nd to 4th, Mangum will be choosing an appropriately off-kilter and obscure line up of 40 bands to play across the event's three indoor stages.
Already confirmed for ATP are Tuareg stars Tinariwen and post-punk pioneers The Raincoats, who will be playing their 1979 debut album in full, along with the following:
Superchunk
The Olivia Tremor Control
Young Marble Giants
The Magic Band
A Hawk And A Hacksaw
The Apples In Stereo
A limited amount of early bird tickets go on sale tomorrow morning, Friday February 18th, the price of which includes accommodation in private apartments for the duration of the weekend. For more info visit www.atpfestival.com.
