at 5am to see the entire pub singing along to Shellac's 'Prayer to god' with their pints lifted aloft. I shed a tear. Maybe.

seemingly manning the mini-golf, where the clubs were from and him telling me........then seeing playing drums for Tortoise later.

That and every Shellac show.

wearing just a pair of swimming shorts and a giant novelty crocodile rubber ring walking towards the beach.

Discussing the cultural importance of TV on the Radio with David Sitek over a 99p cheeseburger.

Talking to people from bands and thinking they were in other bands, and them thinking exactly the same about you whether you are in a band or not.

Shouting "fuck off park somewhere else!" as I was unloading the car, only to realise it was John Peel trying to park.

Buying a hotdog from a guy called Phil Collins.

stood watching a band talking to Jerry Busher (French toast/Fugazi) and dying to ask him if Fugazi were going to make another album...but I was far too drunk to ask. Also watching some guy trying to ask Mark E Smith if he could buy him a pint but he was sat right next to the karaoke and was totally immune to him.

uuurrrggghhhhh.

Making a complete dick of myself in front of Kim Deal.
The "party" in 400 Blows chalet with the Mars Volta, Subtitle and about 50 other people.
Making a complete dick of myself in front of Krist Novoselic.
Laughing at Mark E Smith and then feeling a bit scared.
Loads more music related ones that I'll probably think of later...

at Thurstons Nightmare before Christmas, drinking dirty pints that were left in Crazy Horse, listening to nothing but abrasive noise music in the freezing cold, and then not being able to afford to get home.

during the last band of each night at atp vs the fans, in particular falling asleep whilst standing up during do make say think. because of this i didn't do any partying. i simply slept.

les savy fav at the same weekend was amazing.

my girlfriend blagging us into the second sonic youth set of the weekend at the nightmare before christmas was another highlight.

i'm dead siked about may now.

and it being one of the most transcendetal experiences of my life.

Seeing Dinosaur Jr for the first time about an hour afterwards and that also being one of the most transcendetal experiences of my life.

I don't have many ATP CELEBRITY STORIES, but: I got totally zinged by Nick Cave at the Dirty Three one, and I made Lou Barlow laugh ("you stole my hairstyle!") at the second weekend of United Sounds. Both were pretty rad.

Okkervil River -> Wilco at Vs The Fans was incredible, and totally worth missing Les Savy Fav and Battles for.

Just... everything. I love ATP. I love the settings, I love the vibe, I love the crowds. It's a wonderful institution and, while it's worse for my bank balance than a crack habit would probably be (these two coming up are my sixth and seventh, and my first was May 2006 - factor in that I end up spending about £400 on each all told, that's a substantial amount of cash really) I can't see myself not going to one for the foreseeable future. I just love it THAT much.

dontknow why that was so good. think i was on drugs.

The "how many people can we fit into one chalet" party that occurred till 8am on Monday morning at the Portishead weekend. The journey home wasn't pleasant mind.

Watching Metallic Falcons at the Devendra Banhart day in front of about 30 people and being absolutely incredible. Had never heard of them before that day.

The Liars / Blood Brothers duet at the YYYs day.

Discovering Afrirampo and Magik Markers at the Gallo weekend.

Peaches at the Gallo weekend - one of the most electrifying performances I've ever seen.

Sonic Youth introducing Lightning Bolt: "if you turn around you can see Lightning Bolt" - CUE LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE CORNER OF THE ROOM.

The crowd at the Slint weekend, despite the pish line-up it was probably the most fun I've ever had at the festival. And it snowed!

God I love ATP.

Being at my first ever aged only 17 and seeing Shellac perform "Didn't we deserve a look at you the way you really are". Amazing.

Hugging Josh Pearson, panicking, saying "Are you Josh Pearson?" and him saying "No, I'm his Dad." Then, later, HE HUGGED ME!

Playing a game of pool next to three people who looked EXACTLY like Low, excitedly criticising Alan Sparhawk's game to my friend, and then hearing the Low-looylikes open their mouths and talk in broad Scouse accents.

Meeting and aggressively hugging Dave Pajo and Matt Sweeney in the pub.

The guy with the cape and shorts at the Dirty Three one.

Hanging out playing cards with Akron/Family at approx 8am whilst eating a cornetto

Having a lengthy discussion with Syd Butler about the merits of gig going in Nottingham city centre. Then he sold me a cut price t-shirt. Nice guy.

Sharing a coach with Daniel Johnston.

Walking past a chalet, doing a double and realising it was Johnny Marr sitting watching television.

My friend groping Todd Trainer.

Sitting on a wall smoking and drinking Echo and the Bunnymen's beer while my friend interviewed them.
The beach at 7am with a bottle of rum, and Magic Andy.
This guy who called himself 'Bojack' who had quite obviously nicked someone's coat, taking a camera out of the pocket and shouting 'how'd ya work this phone?' before throwing it on the floor in disgust. Then, when we questioned him about it, replying 'I'm from oop North, I'll take anything that's not nailed down' (by the way if these items were yours we handed them in).
Ahhhh so many...cups of tea in the wee hours after walking round and watching the sun rise...

sitting on the camber sands playground boat
missing bands to go back to watch the eastenders omnibus to see little mo sent down
posting abusive notes through john peels window (regretable with hindsight)
some bands and stuff
david cross

black facepaint sharing in the moshpit

realising it was the most indie place on earth as me and joemahone entered a chalet party where everyone of about 100 people was singing along to range life

watching silver mt zion stood next to joanna newsom

patti smith and lenny kaye walking past as we queued to use the bumper cars

bingo

crap quiz

jumping jaks

scrumpy

singstar duet with sarkyfox to complicated

2am einstürzende neubauten

josh t pearson

the fact that neil young's 'on the beach' is on the playlist of the mixcd that plays over the speaker system in all the toilets and restaurants

singing along to crap britpop compilations in the sports bar

etc
etc
etc

ATP weekends are the highest concentration of Converse All-Stars anywhere in the world.

True fact.

that I'm yet to go.

Nightmare Before Christmas this year is so on....

was the best festival i've ever been too.

if only i could pikc one stand out thing.

maybe afx playing last rushup 10

it's AT LEAST A WHOLE YEAR till I'll go to another ATP, and a year since the last one I went to :(

My first ATP was United States which was good, and my second was Vs The Fans which was one of the best weekends I can remember. I don't think I had any crazy celebrity brushes but the bands, the people and the way it turns into a massive funpark for indie kids are just so wonderful.

Stop it!
I'm too excited as it is.

during Spoon, and then tripping over the stage, almost landing in the next band's equipment. As I regained my composure and looked up, there were about 20 people from bands I like(d) staring at me. I looked behind me and a few of Spoon were doing the same. I then proceeded to run upstairs to take photos of Matmos, then as I took my first photo, realised I hadn't covered the flash on it. Cue angry looking Matmos, and a swift removal from the photo pit. I pretty much had to beg the security guy to let me stay indoors.

That was a good time. IN OPPOSITE LAND.

Or something.

- Nick Cave holding the door open for a lady in a wheelchair

- Beard cricket

- Watching any football going in the bowling alley

- Toast and watching snooker at 4am

- And some music

did i open this thread? now i want to go to both May ones...

i've only been to NBC so: braving the fearsome wind to walk into town for a lovely, warming cream tea with friends.
dancing badly to the 2nd aphex set.
other good things.

singing "steve albini is a ukulele" at about 5 in the morning. Musical instruments appearing as if by magic.

Getting drunk with Jon from wolfeyes :D

on the last night of Dirty 3

first. the slint atp. deciding to carry on playing pool instead of going to watch slint.

second. the mars volta atp. late on sunday. playing the arcades. my friend produces three quarters of a pill that she found in her room, we took a quarter each and headed to the room where nobody was djing. he finished and the guy from the jai alai savant (are whatever they are called) played proper bangers (dead prez/dr dre etc) and we jumped up and down an awful lot. :)

drinking lucozade&vodka with Jai-Alai-Savant.

talking about Ring Of Honor with Subtitle.

Nearly suplexing Damo Suzuki off stage after he jumped into my arms for a hug,and him following on by hugging the entire front row.

watching einstrudenze neubaten next to a girl that looked absolutely petrified.

DJing infront of about 25 people.

To members of Butlins staff enquiring about The Adam Brown whilst DJing.

A DiS members arguement with Warren Ellis, and playing Lordy (and singing aloud badly) after it.

having a couple of drinks with Andrew (of the johnstons) without realising it was him.

watching spiritualized acoustic mainlines with a spicy pepperoni pizza.

lots of other tings.