As the average indie-lover, when you ride the subway to the South Street Seaport, you tend to feel out of place. You see businessmen in suits carrying their fancy briefcases, tourists anxiously hoping to wait two hours for an over-priced meal, and then there's you. This weekend, however, you would have found yourself exactly where you belong; at an alternative musical extravaganza (the second annual 4-Knots Music Festival, presented by The Village Voice, to be specific).

Picture it: You get off the subway and walk east until the crowds thicken and you see the mast of The Peking, a massive sailboat docked in Pier 16. You've made it.





The mix between historic, nautical and musical themes is truly remarkable. The air is clean, the sun is hot, and the music is good. . . what can go wrong? (Well, the neighboring pier did have a slight fire scare but with no injuries and only a half-hour delay.)

One of the most remarkable things about the festival is the opening bands seemed to be just as popular as the headliners. The goal of any festival is to create a community to collectively celebrate music, and there's no doubt 4Knots succeeded.