“Austinites’ ACL Fest 2009 Picks: Jan Mirkin, General Manager of Justice Records”

With so many stages and bands, ACL Fest can be overwhelming.  That’s why we’ve asked some of our favorite musicians, music bloggers, venue owners and other folks related to the Austin music scene for their ACL Fest 2009 Picks.  Each day for the next two weeks, we’ll be featuring their ACL 2009 selections.  Sure, you could just wait for the mainstream media to publish their picks, but would it be as fun.

Jan Mirkin, General Manager of Justice Records

Launching the series is Jan Mirkin, General Manager of Justice Records.

Home to legendary acts like Willie Nelson, Daniel Ash and Ian Moore, as well as new comers like nelo and …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, Justice Records wants to create a different type of record label, one focused on artists’ rights.  You can see that in their mission for Artist Empowerment:

• To us it means the freedom to explore the artistic boundaries without fear of label intervention.
• To us it means our artists own the art that they create and the copyrights that allow the to control the destiny of their art.
• To us it means that with each new album our artists create, it is their choice to honor us with the right to work with them.
• To us it means no longer being bound to long term contracts that reduce them to the life of an indentured servant.
• To us it means JUSTICE.

Pretty cool! Here’s what Jan has to say about ACL:

RoA: What band are you looking forward to seeing most, and why?

JM: Of course my priority is seeing  Justice recording artists, Nelo and …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead.  Outside of those bands, The Soul Stirrers are legends. This is the group that launched Sam Cooke’s career, one of the greatest soul singers of all time.

RoA:What’s your fondest (or not so fondest) ACL memory?

JM: I have attended and enjoyed every ACL festival, but seeing  Al Green at ACL was one of the most moving performances for me.

RoA: Anything else?

JM: At the risk of pissing off a lot of people, I am not a big Pearl Jam or Dave Matthews Fan, but there are a lot of great bands and a good variety styles–and that always makes for an interesting and fun festival.  To me, the most exciting part of the line up this year is in the middle and early evening  of each day: Thievery Corporation is always great; Them Crooked Vultures, I am looking forward to seeing; Andrew Bird; Walter “Wolfman” Washington – another great living legend; Artic Monkeys; Spearhead – you can’t help but enjoy their set; White Lies; the Decemberists – brilliant new CD…should I go on?

Check out Jan’s picks programed in the schedule, or scroll down to see a simple list. Print them out and take them with you! Thanks, Jan!

Jan Mirkin’s ACL Fest 2009 Schedule Picks

Jan Mirkin’s Picks, Simple List, by day:

Friday, October 2nd:

• nelo
• Asleep At The Wheel
• The Parlor Mob
• Walter “Wolfman” Washington
• K\’Naan
• Thievery Corporation
• Los Amigos Invisibles
• Kings of Leon

Saturday, October 3rd:

• The Soul Stirrers
• Mute Math
• Grizzly Bear
• …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
• The Levon Helm Band

Sunday, October 4th:

• White Lies
• Arctic Monkeys
• Michael Franti & Spearhead
• Ben Harper and Relentless 7
• The Dead Weather