Siren Festival 2008!

On July 19, most of the music-loving population of the New York City Metropolitan area descended on Coney Island for some fun in the sun: Siren Festival 2008. Each year for the past eight years, the Village Voice newspaper has thrown this all-day party in Coney Island. For free.

Yes, just one of many reasons why I love New York City in the summertime.

In the past several years, Siren has become a sort of tastemaking festival. The bands that perform are usually up-and-coming ones you haven’t heard too much of yet, but you know it’s going to be interesting and worth the trip. I remember that after my first visit to Siren, I had so many new favorite bands it wasn’t even funny, and throughout the following year I heard them everywhere I went.

Unfortunately, this year’s festival may have been the last year we all get to gather together in the shadow of the Cyclone to listen to music for free. It’s (at least) the second year that the city and developers have threatened to shut down Coney Island in order to redevelop it. Personally, I think that it needs it – Coney is a bit of a dump. Fun, but still in need of help. I also don’t believe for a moment that the redevelopment would fail to provide a space for a festival of this size. It’s such a revenue and attention generating event for the neighborhood, they would do well not to lose it. For some of us, it’s the only time in the year we ever get out there.

Still, the year was fraught with a touch of nostalgia, and no one really knows if we’ll be able to show up again next year. Here’s hoping.

Photos from a couple of the bands that played will be posted soon.