4knots Music Festival at the South Street Seaport

The Village Voice's sixth annual 4knots Music Festival returned to the South Street Seaport today and, perhaps more importantly to area music fans, returned to free admission. Participants gathered at two music stages and one DJ stage under a cloudy, forbearing sky to listen to new and old indie, funk, hip hop, electronic  and garage rock. Attendees were also treated to free snacks and soft beverages from several promotion booths.

Electronic musician Roger Sellers from Austin, Texas, who goes by the singular name Bayonne, performed solo at the Fulton Street stage, singing, tweaking his rhythmic synths and hitting his percussion for a lively performance.

From Agoura Hills, California, Shaun Fleming has taken on the name of Diane Coffee. Coffee has drummed for Foxygen, but is also a singer-songwriter and guitarist. The androgynous Coffee and crew adopted naval attire and performed indie-rock songs at the Fulton Street stage.

Car Seat Headrest is originally from Leesburg, Virginia, but is currently based out of Seattle, Washington. Led by vocalist/guitarist Will Toledo, the band performed bright indie-folk songs on the Fulton Street pier.

Mild High Club is from Los Angeles, California. Led by guitarist/vocalist Alexander Brettin (pictured above), the band performed mellow indie pop on the Fulton Street stage.

Protomartyr, hailing from Detroit, Michigan, injected blistering postpunk energy with vocals by Joe Casey (pictured above) that recalled Pere Ubu and Hüsker Dü at the Fulton Street pier.

Girlpool, a duo comprised of guitarist Cleo Tucket and bassist Harmony Tividad of Los Angeles, California, provided perhaps the most subdued set of the day combining raw, indie folk punk with girl-gang harmonies at the Fulton Street stage.

The Strumbellas, who hail from Ontario, Canada, performed Lumineers-style roots music that ranged from folk rock to alternative country at the Fulton Street pier. The vocals by Simon Ward (pictured above) enhanced the six-piece band's earthiness.

From Dayton, Ohio, led by vocalist (and sole original member) Robert Pollard (pictured above), indie-rock veterans Guided By Voices reunited yet again in 2016 after breakups in 2004 and 2014. Headlining the Fulton Street pier, the band performed an impressive 27-song set that included a few songs from Pollard's other music projects, Boston Spaceships and Ricked Wicky.