Michigan Hardcore Fest this Summer

I have been thinking about organizing a fest for this summer, probably in July. I'm talking a real fest with food, vendors, etc. Not just a show called a fest. Record store distros, comic book distros, art vendors, tattoo shops, whatever.

There is a park in Mt. Pleasant that has pavilions for rent, I played a show there in 2004 and it went well.
My idea is to keep everything DIY and local. (Bands and Vendors from Michigan, etc.) The food would be all vegan, with stuff for barbecuing, salads, sweets.
I have talked to a few friends already who said that they would help.

I'm thinking Noon - 10 pm (or whenever the outdoor sound ordinance ends. That gives enough time for about 20 bands playing 20-25 minute sets.

Mount Pleasant is centrally located. People from Traverse City / Northern Michigan, Grand Rapids / Western Michigan, Saginaw/Flint/Bay City, Detroit / Southeastern Michigan, would all share relatively similar drive times.

I know in the past, similar things have been attempted. Some have went over well, some terribly. But I feel like Michigan Hardcore is getting somewhat more united than in the past few years, and something like this can work awesome if everyone does their part.


Thoughts?

This would be amazing. All vegan....ugh. Life would rule. I'll help!

Great idea, but I think it will go better indoors.

Comic book vendors? what kinda nerd shit are you tryin to pull?

I already told you I'm in....just keep the comic book guys away from me

jessicahunt wrote:This would be amazing. All vegan....ugh. Life would rule. I'll help!

Awesome! When I get everything sorted out, I will hit you up! Thank you!

jaybird wrote:Great idea, but I think it will go better indoors.

Yeah I'm split on this. I think that indoor shows are usually a lot better, but I can't think of a place that would be perfect at the moment.
Jamestowne Hall is Saginaw is ok, but the parking and the store next door are all problems. Jamestownefest used to be fun but I don't think there is room there for the way I want this fest to be.
Outdoor shows can be a great time. I used to love the outdoor shows that Bryan Ripped Heart used to throw in Bay City.

XrambeauX wrote:Comic book vendors? what kinda nerd shit are you tryin to pull?

I already told you I'm in....just keep the comic book guys away from me

Maybe I'll try to get a ladies footlocker vendor for you or something. ha.

just be careful. 99% of fests have a 99% chance of failing miserably and fucking everyone involved. provide your own staff if possibly, avoid venue supplied staff

Id help out.

I'd like to encourage you to not choose just local bands. I'd suggest a zine distro, too. Also organized spin the bottle in the style of Michigan Fest 2002 (or whatever year that was) loljk. I vote for an indoor venue, also.

Renting out a VFW Hall wouldn't be bad. You would only have to pay a price for renting it up front so there isn't a percentage you have to give them. Also, you get it for the whole day and they pretty much give you free roam to do whatever you want.

I don't really like outdoor shows, but I'm down for the fest idea.

chrisspeer wrote:just be careful. 99% of fests have a 99% chance of failing miserably and fucking everyone involved. provide your own staff if possibly, avoid venue supplied staff

Yeah I've been to some disasters before. I really want to think this one through before hand. Thanks for the tip.
I want it to be a community/friend-run thing, definitely with no venue-supplied/non-hardcore community help.

Kim Day wrote:I'd like to encourage you to not choose just local bands. I'd suggest a zine distro, too. Also organized spin the bottle in the style of Michigan Fest 2002 (or whatever year that was) loljk. I vote for an indoor venue, also.

Zine distros are definitely wanted/needed.
I'm thinking that just after posting this, within 3 hours the vote is generally for an inside venue, so I will probably go that route.
I will probably try and get one or two bigger names, but I don't want to have to pay out a bunch of money. I think it would be sweet to have a reunion too. (Coalition, anyone?)

I'm down for Spin The Bottle haha.

ericlauder wrote:Renting out a VFW Hall wouldn't be bad.

I'll be looking into this soon.

rorik, come on. we're brothers. so... make it saturday or sunday or else.

We almost set up something like this in Seattle a few years ago. Rad Idea. I'd schedule my summer around it if this went down!

I really hope this fest happens.

drugfreechaz wrote:I really hope this fest happens.

thanks for your input. It was appreciated

there will, of course be, like..non vegan food right? ill be honest ive tried alot of vegan food and hated it.

xxtimmaze wrote:there will, of course be, like..non vegan food right? ill be honest ive tried alot of vegan food and hated it.

Maybe you should make that your job for the fest instead of asking other people to cater to you.

JacuzziMarcus wrote:

xxtimmaze wrote:there will, of course be, like..non vegan food right? ill be honest ive tried alot of vegan food and hated it.

Maybe you should make that your job for the fest instead of asking other people to cater to you.

or it was more or less me asking if its ok to bring hot dogs and burgers.

xxtimmaze wrote:

JacuzziMarcus wrote:

xxtimmaze wrote:there will, of course be, like..non vegan food right? ill be honest ive tried alot of vegan food and hated it.

Maybe you should make that your job for the fest instead of asking other people to cater to you.

or it was more or less me asking if its ok to bring hot dogs and burgers.

Haha this will work out well.

I think the idea rules. I'm a minority in this idea but I really like the outdoor idea. Granted, every outdoor fest besides Warped Tour has been jam bands and not hardcore bands but outdoor fests are bad ass regardless. I think renting an acre or two would be awesome, as well as giving the opportunity for everyone to bring a tent and stuff to kinda camp out and hang. I dunno, maybe I'm getting a little too outrageous but I've been to Bonnaroo and it was one of the best times of my life, so I think something like that would be awesome for everyone. It'd give everyone a place to have their own comfortable place to chill and if they'd rather chill and see only a couple bands, they have a place to go. I don't know, like I said, my idea's probably be outrageous but I think it would rule.

thomasthestd wrote:

xxtimmaze wrote:

JacuzziMarcus wrote:

xxtimmaze wrote:there will, of course be, like..non vegan food right? ill be honest ive tried alot of vegan food and hated it.

Maybe you should make that your job for the fest instead of asking other people to cater to you.

or it was more or less me asking if its ok to bring hot dogs and burgers.

Haha this will work out well.

I think the idea rules. I'm a minority in this idea but I really like the outdoor idea. Granted, every outdoor fest besides Warped Tour has been jam bands and not hardcore bands but outdoor fests are bad ass regardless. I think renting an acre or two would be awesome, as well as giving the opportunity for everyone to bring a tent and stuff to kinda camp out and hang. I dunno, maybe I'm getting a little too outrageous but I've been to Bonnaroo and it was one of the best times of my life, so I think something like that would be awesome for everyone. It'd give everyone a place to have their own comfortable place to chill and if they'd rather chill and see only a couple bands, they have a place to go. I don't know, like I said, my idea's probably be outrageous but I think it would rule.

Backed

Yeah, tents and shit does sound a bit crazy and unrealistic, but it would be incredibly cool. Any kids have family with a bunch of land somewhere with no neighbors? Yay on out of state bands and zine distros (any exist in michigan?) boo to hating on comic books.

I knew some people that started a zine distro a few years ago but it kind of fell apart when the one person moved to Chicago. You could probably ask here: http://community.livejournal.com/zine_scene/profile

XrambeauX wrote:

drugfreechaz wrote:I really hope this fest happens.

thanks for your input. It was appreciated

Rambeau is too old for fests.

Are there really 20 MI hardcore bands worth playing this?

I can think of maybe 12 or so

13 if iron zombie accepts the rez

And also can me and Tim lead the fat man non-vegan table?

Cause vegan food makes me have athsma attacks

And I think its yucky

Actually we should just have iron zombie play like a 6 hour set

I could think of nothing cooler

JacuzziMarcus wrote:

xxtimmaze wrote:there will, of course be, like..non vegan food right? ill be honest ive tried alot of vegan food and hated it.

Maybe you should make that your job for the fest instead of asking other people to cater to you.

not everyone in hardcore is vegan.

Kim Day wrote:I'd like to encourage you to not choose just local bands. I'd suggest a zine distro, too. Also organized spin the bottle in the style of Michigan Fest 2002 (or whatever year that was) loljk. I vote for an indoor venue, also.

Dude I will totally organize the spin the bottle! Although this year instead of us being 16, we cane totally make out with 16 year olds! Cougars unite!

Jeremy Goss wrote:

JacuzziMarcus wrote:

xxtimmaze wrote:there will, of course be, like..non vegan food right? ill be honest ive tried alot of vegan food and hated it.

Maybe you should make that your job for the fest instead of asking other people to cater to you.

not everyone in hardcore is vegan.

I know not everyone in hardcore is vegan, including me. I was just saying that if you
want there to be non-vegan food there, bring it yourself.

leedolin wrote:Are there really 20 MI hardcore bands worth playing this?

I can think of maybe 12 or so

13 if iron zombie accepts the rez

And also can me and Tim lead the fat man non-vegan table?

Cause vegan food makes me have athsma attacks

And I think its yucky

Actually we should just have iron zombie play like a 6 hour set

I could think of nothing cooler

There are a lot of good hardcore bands in Michigan, it's just that no one gives a lot them the time of day. I made a list, but it is going to shorten a bit, and also I want to have a few out of state bands, etc.

And yeah, if you want a non-vegan food table, then put one together. That is what needs to happen. DIY.
People can bring whatever they want, as long as its not drugs/alcohol/weapons.

Jeremy Goss wrote:not everyone in hardcore is vegan.

Yeah, I know. My thoughts are just that if food is provided at a show (and the food will be good. I don't like eating shitty food either), why not partake in eating it?
But yeah, like I said, if someone wants to set up another food table, more power to them.



Lee and Tim, I don't know what you guys have tried before that is Vegan, but it sounds like maybe you ate some fake meat shit like Boca or something. Trust me, there is plenty of amazing vegan food out there.

amyswanson wrote:

Kim Day wrote:I'd like to encourage you to not choose just local bands. I'd suggest a zine distro, too. Also organized spin the bottle in the style of Michigan Fest 2002 (or whatever year that was) loljk. I vote for an indoor venue, also.

Dude I will totally organize the spin the bottle! Although this year instead of us being 16, we cane totally make out with 16 year olds! Cougars unite!

did not, will not. woof.

leedolin wrote:
Actually we should just have iron zombie play like a 6 hour set

I could think of nothing cooler

Quoting for truth.