I AM Fest Returns! (and so do we)

Oh hai, Merry Picnic! It's been a while... sorry.

But since one comeback deserves another, we're just in time to preview the triumphant return of New London's I Am Festival.

I Am Fest developed a steady following over it's first five years, drawing in such acts as Jay Reatard and Girl Talk in earlier incarnations, but consistently improving lineups year to year saw headliners such as Deerhoof, Mates of State, and We Are Scientists.  This is not to mention a veritable stable of up and coming local and national acts such as M.T. Bearington, The Hempsteadys, EULA, The Drums, Free Energy, and more who have appeared onstage.  After taking a hiatus in 2011, this year will be no different and better than ever.

Making the move from the pier to the heart of New London, the festival broadens signifcantly this year, with more music, more venues, more vendors, more restaurants, more parking.  Vendors will be set up at Parade Plaza and beer and wine will be for sale at Hygienic Art Park.  Smaller venues include The Telegraph and The Oasis Pub, both a stone's throw from the main stages.  Full information on parking, et al, is available at www.iamfest.org

But on the reason we're all going, the music!  The headliners are no strangers to CT, having headlined at BAR New Haven and opened up for Wild Flag at Toad's within the past year.  Hospitality brings their dichotomous twee pop with a distinct harder edge to the main stage at Parade Plaza.  I've always described the band as 'Belle & Sebastian with a killer guitarist', and these tracks prove my point.  Check out our previous post on key tune "The Right Profession" http://bit.ly/RT8j9h, and dig the lead-off track ("Eight Avenue") from their self-titled debut.

Here's the full schedule from the I Am Fest page, including stages and addresses.  Our itinerary is in bold; we'll at least check out a couple songs from these bands.  Also, if M.T. Bearington is playing too late for you (it's way too late for us), you can catch them tonight at The Outer Space in Hamden.  The show is only $5 and features openers Great Elk and Goodnight Blue Moon (my new favorite local band).

CT.com Stage at PARADE PLAZA
1:00 - 2:00 Frank Lo & The Fly Ones present The Nu Lo Order
2:30 - 3:15 Sidewalk Dave

4:00 - 4:45 The Hempsteadys
5:30 - 6:15 Sean Bones
7:00 - 7:45 Bearstronaut
8:30 - 9:15 Dom
10:00 - 11:00 Hospitality

HYGIENIC ART PARK (79 Bank)
3:15 - 4:00 Modern Merchant
4:45 - 5:30 Math The Band
6:15 - 7:00 Shake The Baron
7:45 - 8:30 Suicide Dolls
9:15 - 10:00 Bear Hands

OASIS PUB (16 Bank)
6:15p - 7:00p Ferocious Fucking Teeth
7:45p - 8:30p Fake Babies
11:00p - 11:45p Graverobbers
12:00a - 1:00a MT Bearington

THE TELEGRAPH (19 Golden)
1pm Haunt the House
2pm Sister Mary
3pm The Sea The Sea
4pm Sam Perduta of Elison Jackson
5pm Jesse Stanford of Heirlooms
6pm Street People