Pitchfork

After being forced to cancel his European tour with Holy Shit (due to heightened airport security), Ariel Pink is heading deep-- way deep-- into the heart of the American South this weekend to play a show at Bogalusa, Louisiana's Centennial Year Music and Arts Celebration.

What brings L.A.-based Pink to rural Louisiana? Is this the beginning of some ironic backwoods tour? Actually, according to his publicist, the avant-artist is venturing to Bogalusa to help promote his step father's campaign for mayor. Because nothing wins votes like skinny dudes with long hair and art-damaged schizo-pop.

Pink headlines the Saturday, September 2 bill as the lone "rock and roll" act in a lineup of country, jazz, blues, gospel, and inspirational music. It's safe to assume the Centennial Celebration will be the only time he'll share the stage with the likes of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Choir or local gospel singer Gloria "Lori" Kates. According to the oh-so-charming Bogalusa Daily News, an L.A. film crew will capture the weekend's festivities, accompanying Pink to Louisiana in order to film a documentary about him.

The Daily News also wrote, "Everybody is invited to put aside their chores for a time on Saturday and Sunday to join in the celebration of the city's anniversary, its recovery from Hurricane Katrina and Labor Day." In addition to live music and Ariel Pink's antics, the fest will feature "water slides, arts and crafts, a silent auction that includes items from Beverly Hills"-- as well as members of the U.S. military "with big equipment and recruiting." (All great ideas for the next Pitchfork Music Fest, if you ask me. Well, except for the whole recruiting thing.)

Once he's had his fill of sweet tea and polished off his grits, Pink will embark on an Australian tour:

08-12 Hyeres, France - Midi Festival
09-27 Melbourne, Australia - East Brunswick Club
09-29 Newcastle, Australia - Sound Summit Festival
10-01 Sydney, Australia Spectrum
10-03 Melbourne, Australia - Missing Link Records