Spain -- a beautiful, diverse land full of exquisite architecture, mouth-watering tapas, and badass giant bats that eat charming Disney-like songbirds for dinner. (This is true! I just read about it on the internet when I Googled "fun facts about Spain.") It's the European nation closest to Africa, the land that gave us conquistadors (no matter what you think of these land-takin', heavy armor wearin' tough guys, everyone can agree that the word is fun to say!!!), and beautiful, beautiful Penelope Cruz. And now they have yet another amazing thing that we non-Spaniards cannot ever have -- no, not with such flair, such panache. I am speaking, of course, about the Tanned Tin 2008 Festival.

Taking place in Castellón, a picturesque Catalan town I can't afford to visit, Tanned Tin consists of five affordable days of awesome tunes. A ticket for all five days will cost you a cool 75 euros, or you can buy individual day passes. But can you really put a price tag on strolling underneath the sultry Spanish sun? Sharing a leisurely meal with friends late into the night? Gloating to your more impoverished, non-European friends about how you posed for pictures with Mount Eerie in front of a gothic cathedral?

Well, maybe you can, but with a lineup featuring Agent Ribbons, Arms, Audrey, Balmorhea, Barzin, Beach House, Benjamin Wetherill, Cass McCombs, Come, Dälek, Deer Tick, Doveman, Eric Chenaux, Fern Knight, Jana Hunter, Jeniferever, June Panic, La orquesta del caballo ganador, Mahjongg, Mary Hampton, Mom, Monkey Cup Dress, Mount Eerie, Munch Munch, Nacho Vegas, Neptune, P.G. Six, Paul Marshall, R.G. Morrison, Radar Bros., Retribution Gospel Choir, Sam Amidon, Sr. Chinarro, Tara Jane O'Neil, Thalia Zedek Band, The Declining Winter, The New Year, The Strugglers, The Wave Pictures, Voice of the Seven Woods, and Zu, consider the bang successfully gotten out of your buck

11.12.08-11.16.08 - Castellón, Spain - Teatre Principal and Casino Antiguo