#the fest

[autumnrevisited]

Thursday performing at The Fest in Gainesville, Florida. 10.29.23

Photos by Hannah Howells

[whitelightwildflowers]

my band is playing the gay venue at fest this sundayy

[hi-eichlers]

how we feeling about TMZ 🗣 & HELL 🔥❓❓❓

📸 by Rae Mystic

[modestevan]

into it. over it.

[zonecassette]

Torche The Fest 18, Gainesville FL 11/01/2019

I was told these make a good diptych, so making it its own post

[kesha]

[euterpesvoice]

The Fest 17

Photos by Miranda Jayne, long live Fest snake

When someone asks me what The Fest is and why it matters so much to me, I struggle to summarize the impact this weird punk rock family reunion has had on me over the past few years. So here’s the long version.

My first Fest was in 2012. I was 18 and tumbling through my second fall at Gainesville’s own University of Florida. All I really wanted was to surround myself with live music as much as I possibly could. I had recently joined one of the programming entities that brought concerts to campus and was regularly skipping classes to spend all day assisting with the shows we had coming in.  So when I heard about a huge music festival that happened every year just minutes from my dorm, I felt I had to be a part of it. I knew nobody else involved, had no idea what I was doing, and was very worried about not being taken seriously. But I went out on a limb and signed up to assist the stage manager at my favorite venue at the time.

Working that Fest remains one of my all-time favorite college memories. All the doubts I had lifted when I walked into the venue and found a welcoming crew of people who loved live music just as much as I did. I still have all the guitar picks and setlists the stage manager let me keep when we cleaned up the stage between acts.

Back then, I barely considered myself a photographer. I brought a disposable camera to take photos of La Dispute the following night and I don’t think I had any concept of where I would find myself a few Fests later.

This was my third year on Fest’s photo team. Our goal is simple: capture everything that happens during our annual three day Five Star Pizza and PBR powered gathering. It can be a daunting task considering our domain spans 20 venues and incorporates more than 400 bands, plus comedy acts, wrestling, and various other shenanigans. But we do our best.

I’m nothing short of honored to be able to work with and learn from a team of people so talented and passionate. I’ve found a place in a community that challenges me and allows me express myself as a journalist, as well as an artist.

Here are some of my favorite moments from Fest 17:

The Firewood Project

One of the coolest things I experience at Fest is the ability to meet people from all over the world. This year, I photographed bands from Brazil, Finland, Germany, the UK, France, and Japan in the same day, on the same stage. The Firewood Project came all the way from Tokyo!

Frameworks

From international to my backyard, here’s my favorite Gainesville band, Frameworks (sorry, Against Me!). I was first introduced to them back in college when they played a small show on campus. It’s been a special experience to be able to photograph them three Fests running.

Red City Radio

When I signed up for my assistant stage manager gig back at Fest 11, the headliners were a little band I’d never heard of called Red City Radio. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more out of the loop for not knowing a band and I will never forget the energy of working that set. They’ve now played every Fest I’ve been to. Seeing them is always like a cozy pat on the back, but seeing them play mainstage this time around was extra special.

Night Witch

If there were ever a time or place for a My Chemical Romance reunion, it would be at a Fest. Night Witch brought one of my favorite bands back to life for one night, and it was magical. Perched atop a tiny chair I was hoping wouldn’t break, I spent just as much time screaming along to this set as I did photographing it.

Just Friends

If you’ve listened to Just Friends, but have never seen them live, you’re not getting the full experience. I first photographed them last year upon recommendation from fellow Fest photographers and now they’ll forever be a must-see. They’re a very challenging band to shoot, given how crazy their sets can get and how many people they tend to squeeze on stage, but that’s what makes them fun!

The Get Up Kids

Fest has allowed me to photograph my share of punk royalty, including Against Me!, Superchunk, and now The Get Up Kids. This band has influenced so many of my favorite bands and it was an honor to photograph them!

War On Women

I first photographed War on Women at Warped Tour a few years ago and was blown away by their stage presence, honesty, and vulnerability. They are now a must-see for me and I also always enjoy interacting with their awesomely kind fans.

Aage Birch

Every year, I usually stumble upon an artist that I haven’t heard of before, but become a favorite performance of the weekend. This year it was a magical set by Onward Etc’s Aage Birch, accompanied only by an acoustic guitar and kick drum.

Masked Intruder

I love color and action in my photos and I can always count on plenty with Masked Intruder. Their set being at dusk this year made for some lovely light and almost too many good photos to choose from.

Riskee and The Ridicule

Alongside Ghouls, Riskee and The Ridicule participated in their first ever US tour down the east coast before landing in Gainesville for their first Fest. One of the most unique and poetic bands I’ve ever seen here, I’m hoping I’ll get to see many future performances from them. I love how open Festgoers are to new bands and it was wonderful watching the crowd let loose and welcome these guys to the family.

Ghouls

My first year as a Fest photographer, I popped into the Midnight to photograph whoever was taking the stage for one of their afternoon acoustic sets, and that turned out to be my favorite Fest discovery ever, Ghouls. Two years later, I was bursting with pride photographing this set in the middle of an at-capacity venue. To me, this kind of connection is what Fest is all about and I can’t wait to see the big things this band is going to continue to accomplish over the next few years.

Fun fact: Bassist Sam Muss played the whole tour for both Ghouls and Riskee and The Ridicule!

For more photos from the Fest photo team, check out our Flickr gallery.

Want an intro to the music of Fest? Wish you could just rewind time and go back? Either way, here’s a playlist to help.