ATP Melbourne’s Halloween themed music festival, Release The Bats, kicks off tomorrow across two venues in St. Kilda.
But with just one day’s grace, another artist has pulled out of the festival lineup while two more bands have been drafted in at the last minute.
The sold out event is taking place at The Palais and Prince Bandroom tomorrow, Saturday 26th October, after downgrading from its originally scheduled site at the Westgate Entertainment Centre and Grand Star Reception in Altona, and has already announced the set times for the lineup, featuring The Breeders, performing their album Last Splash, and Television, playing their own 1977 masterpiece, Marquee Moon.
One act that will no longer be on the timetable however, is British electronic artist Forest Swords, real name Matthew Barnes, who issued a statement to ATP organisers today.
“Due to unforeseen health issues I’ve been forced to pull out of both ATP Release The Bats and Pitchfork Festival Paris next week. I’m upset I won’t be getting there this time around, but looking forward to returning to those cities in 2014,” writes Barnes, who would have arrived off the back of his newly-released album Engravings.
Despite the eleventh hour cancellation of Forest Swords, Release The Bats have already organised not one, but two replacements. “I’m upset I won’t be getting there this time around, but looking forward to returning to those cities in 2014.”
Melbourne’s slacker guitar pop masters Twerps have been revealed as the ‘Secret Band’ that were pegged for an hour-long set in the early afternoon at the Palais, acting as a replacement for The Jesus Lizard, who pulled out of the festival last month “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
Twerps will warm the main stage in the afternoon before Pop Crimes, a live tribute to Birthday Party guitarist and ‘Prince of St Kilda‘ Rowland S. Howard, takes the stage, followed by Television performing Marquee Moon, a rollicking set from Aussie legends The Scientists before British noiseniks Fuck Buttons and the headline slot from The Breeders.
Replacing Forest Swords over at the Prince Bandroom is (fittingly) Prince Rama. The sister duo of Taraka and Nimai Larson will bring their swirling synths, pulsing guitars, and fluttery vocals to the ATP audience in the early evening ahead of sets from intensely noisy twosome Lightning Bolt and stoner rock pioneers, Sleep.
Halloween costumes is also encouraged for Release The Bats, with those “dressed as something to do with one of the bands” eligible for some unique prizes, while wristbanded ticketholders will also be able to enjoy a free ride at nearby Luna Park during the event.
The one-day Release The Bats is designed as a spiritual sequel to the success of the two-day I’ll Be Your Mirror festival co-curated by The Drones earlier this year, which had our Tone Deaf reviewer raving: “Was it all a dream? Bizarrely it wasn’t… a weekend of impeccably selected music, food, film, and culture.”
The extracurricular highlight of I’ll Be Your Mirror, Pricasso, will also be returning to Release The Bats to paint some special Halloween portraits in his own inimitable style (hint: he doesn’t use his hands).
A note from ATP Melbourne organisers reads: “Stage 1 at The Palais is big enough for all of our attendees, but attendees should note that Stage 2 at the Prince Bandroom cannot hold the full festival capacity all at once, and so should arrive early if they don’t want to possibly miss something there. More details on the event including FAQs will be emailed to all ticketholders very soon.”
You can view the full set times below, while enjoying a special ATP-curated, hour-long mixtape (that you can download for free) to help get you in the Halloween spirit for the inaugural Release The Bats.
ATP Melbourne 2013 Release The Bats Set Times
October 26th 2013
Stage One – The Palais
Doors: 12.45pm
The UV Race: 1.30pm – 2.15pm
Twerps: 2.45pm – 3.45pm
Pop Crimes – The Songs of Roland S. Howard: 4.15pm – 5.15pm
Television perform Marquee Moon: 5.45pm – 6.45pm
The Scientists: 7.15pm – 8pm
Fuck Buttons: 8.25pm – 9.15pm
The Breeders perform Last Splash: 9.45pm – 10.45pm
Stage Two – Prince Bandroom
Doors: 12.00pm
White Walls: 12.45pm – 1.30pm
The Spinning Rooms: 2.15pm – 3pm
Hoss: 3.30pm – 4.15pm
Total Control: 5.15pm – 6pm
Prince Rama: 6.30pm – 7.15pm (replacing Forest Swords)
Lightning Bolt: 7.45pm – 8.30pm
Sleep: 9pm – 10pm
Info at http://www.atpfestival.com
