It’s hard to call 4Knots a proper festival, and that’s what I love about it. It forgoes huge names and obtrusive branding opportunities and instead gives fans a few hours in the sunshine with a bunch of bands who would normally play during the worst slots — that is to say, bands you normally see in sweaty clubs where you have way more fun. It’s free, it’s exceptionally chill and it doesn’t require blocking off more than a day to do. The festival has absolutely found its sweet spot, offering a day’s worth of punk and garage to people of all ages who just want to catch a little music. It’s the perfect way to spend a Saturday, and we greatly look forward to the next one. We love you, 4Knots. Never change.
The Setup: As mentioned, the festival is only one day and it’s free. You can waltz in and check out the bands (which, by the way, do not overlap more than 15 or so minutes) on one of the two stages and waltz out without feeling guilty. It’s amazing.
The Food: The food options around South Street Seaport are a little rough, which is why the festival brings in food trucks every year. There’s pretty much all the standard food truck fare, from arepas to burgers, and it’s always better than going to a Pret a Manger.
The Weather: It was a beautiful, if a little windy, day this year. Luckily it wasn’t so hot your beer buzz evaporated from you within minutes. I hate that.
Not Your Festival If: Do you dislike guitar rock and some serious pounding drums? Are you more of an EDM person? Then maybe you should steer clear of the completely garage/punk rock festival. Just some friendly advice.
Biggest Bummer: The sound was a little too quiet all day long on the main stage. For a festival that needed to amp things up to Dinosaur Jr. levels, it was a disappointment that my ears never got pounded the way I hope for when I’m listening to music that’s supposed to be all the way up to 11.
Most Intensely Awesome: Viet Cong absolutely lit up the main stage with fiery energy that was completely captivating. I couldn’t tear myself away from the entire set, and when I came home, I immediately threw their album on just to listen to it again — definitely one of the VIPs of the fest.
Most Badass: Those Darlins are a force to be reckoned with, and with their set they further cemented themselves as a band to be watched. Their perfect mélange of swaying vocals and dirty riffs is everything that was missing in my life.
Most Feverish Fan Base: I totally get why Mac DeMarco is awesome. I do not, however, get why he has such an intensely feverish set of fans. Then again, it could be that the sound was so quiet where I was for his set that I heard more of the front six rows screaming than I did anything that he played.
Worst Construction Issues: Construction of the pier next door (sorry, I don’t know the numbers) forced the second stage across the street, making it hard to run from set to set. That, coupled with the fact that I was so enamored with basically every band on the main stage, meant I caught very little of the bands on the other.
Hardest Rockers: Is there even a doubt at this one? Dinosaur Jr. have been rocking a long time and they show no signs of stopping. Their headlining set was just as energetic and enrapturing as all the younger, greener acts — long live this incredible band.