No Fun Fest

Profile

A few years back, No Fun Fest chief Michael Bernstein would have been hard-pressed to spot someone he didn’t know at his multiday noise-rock bash. But last year’s fest, highlighted by sets from Merzbow and Thurston Moore, was a breakthrough. And in the relative terms of the tiny scene, this year’s incarnation is down-right huge: No Fun Fest will leave the comfy digs of Red Hook for downtown’s Knitting Factory. Moore’s back, and co–Sonic Youth–er Lee Ranaldo will pop up as well, but look out especially for killer sets from ASTRO and the Haters. The three days, two stages, and 50 acts worth of knob-twiddling, feedback-amplifying, brain-cramping rock punishment is already selling out, so get tickets now. — Amos Barshad

Friday, 5/16 - ASTRO (Hiroshi Hasegawa), Tony Conrad + MV Carbon, White Out,Burning Star Core Thurston Moore + Nancy Garcia, Dinosaurs with Horns, Randy Yau, Sickness,Damion Romero Handicapper Hornz, Greg Kelley, Jason Crumer, Failing Lights, Sewer Election, Black Quarter,Workbench, DJs Ning Nong and Howard Stelzer

Saturday, 5/17 - CLUSTER, Religious Knives, Demons, Carlos Giffoni, The Skaters, Keith Fullerton Whitman, Nautical Almanac, Nevari Butchers, Hair Police, Tovah Olson and The Jasons, Alvars Orkester, Emeralds, Cornucopia, Baby Cobra Headsz, Eskimo King, Pax Titania, Afternoon Penis, DJs Pieter S.(Wierd Records) and C.G. Warrior

Sunday, 5/18 - The Haters, Consumer Electronics, Illusion of Safety, Lee Ranaldo: Blind Piece #2, Lasse, Marhaug + Dror Feiler, Sudden Infant, Edwige, Werewolf Jerusalem, John Wiese Cleanse, James Plotkin, Alan Licht, FFH, Ahlzagailzehguh, Halflings, The Cathode Terror Secretion, Shallow Waters, DJs Kai Parviainen(Enema Syringe) and Tommi of Finland