As many probably know, All Tomorrow's Parties is a sponsorship-free music festival, in which a band or a musician gets their favourite acts together to play in the one spot, generally an isolated holiday village or summer camp. It is, in the words of Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, "the ultimate mixtape". That mixtape sensibility carries over into this documentary, which follows the festival from its inception up until last year's effort. (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' curatorial stint at Mount Buller from January this year didn't make it in. Boo.) Footage was gathered from bands and fans and organisers alike, and so the doco views like a loud, boozy patchwork of bootleg video – and it works. Its haphazardness matches the anti-commercial ethos of the festival, and the energy of the performances comes right off the screen. Standout spots include Grinderman, Grizzly Bear, Seasick Steve, Animal Collective and Patti Smith.
Three-and-a-half stars.
Watch the trailer here
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