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One of the great things for budget-conscience hipsters in the New York City area is the plentiful amount of free shows. This year's Siren Festival, curated by the Village Voice, was a chance to see a who's who of the ubiquitous next-big-thing and to take in indie mainstays (Malkmus, anyone?). The big questions looming in on the Siren Festival was not whether or a not the free festival would survive in its current home at Coney Island. Sadly, it would meet its demise.


Annuals bringing North Carolina's indie-pop best | Photo: Chris Castellani


Helio Sequence's Brandon Summers | Islands' Nick Thorburn | Photo: Chris Castellani


Ra Ra Riot shake things up | Photo: Chris Castellani

Soaking in the ex-Pavement frontman and indie rock's Pied Piper, Stephen Malkmus's set on the main stage, then rushing over to see closing act Broken Social Scene on the opposite stage was the last Coney Island was to see of its sirens. Though the Canadian supergroup's founder, Kevin Drew, hoped that the band would not be the last to play Siren, the deal was sealed; they're making condos.


Stephen Malkmus preaching to the choir | Photo: Chris Castellani


Beach House's Victoria Legrand | Film School's Krayg Burton | Photo: Chris Castellani


Islands break out the strings | Photo: Chris Castellani

Despite the impending gloom of cranes and high rises taking over, the festival gave proper exposure to such acts as the garage-rock Ohio natives, Times New Viking, local art-rockers Parts & Labor, and the eclectic Canadian experimental-pop rockers (and former members of The Unicorns), Islands, to a welcoming crowd of NYC fans.


On half of indie's break-out duo The Dodos | Photo: Chris Castellani


Parts & Labor's B.J. Warshaw | Times New Viking's Sarah Lipstate | Photo: Chris Castellani

—Chris Castellani
All photos by Chris Castellani
07.23.08

Visit Chris' NY-based blog, Music Snobbery here.