Athens Community Music Festival is This Saturday!

The 17th annual Athens Community Music Festival is this Saturday. Poster by Jason Frederick

This Saturday, August 15th is the 17th Athens Community Music Festival with 30 sets on 6 stages all around Athens, Ohio including Casa Cantina and both sides of Jackie O’s starting at 8pm, Donkey beginning at 7pm, and various ARTS/West 10th anniversary celebration events happening starting at 11am. Lots of great Athens music everywhere including J.D. Hutchison, The D-Rays, Weird Science, Hex Net, Supernobody, Blond, Water Witches, The Summoners, The Teardrops, The Bronzies, and more. $5 a venue or $8 for a pass for everything, the ARTS/West events are FREE, and all proceeds benefit The Gathering Place, ARTS/West, Athens Rock Camp for Girls and The Bryan Winland Memorial Arts & Music Scholarship.

2015 SCHEDULE:

CASA
8pm- Teardrops
9pm – Supernobody
10pm – Weird Science
11pm – Hex Net
12am – Unmonumental
1am - Water Witches

JACKIE Os (Public House)
8pm- Laura Nadeau
9pm- JD Hutchison
10pm- Summoners
11pm- Whole Hearted Halfwits
12am- Dad Arm
1am- Dysfunktional Family

JACKIE Os (Brewery side)
8pm- Touchy Feelys
9pm- Dox City
10pm- Bright At Night
11pm- Blond
12am- The Bronzies
1am- The D-Rays

DONKEY
(sets from 7pm-9pm)
Jason Weimer
Emily Jones
Alexa Gornall
Tony Xenos
Ampersand

ARTS/West (these events are FREE – no cover!)
Performance Space (upstairs):

11 am – 12 pm: Open House with refreshments

12 – 1 pm: Hot Dog eating contest sponsored by O’Betty’s

1 – 2 pm: OVST Summer Theater Camp performance

2 – 3 pm: Yang Miller’s Kids’ Digital films & Ellie Olin’s Belly Dancers

3 – 4 pm: SATB Choir performance

4 – 5 pm: Laura Nadeau

5 – 6 pm: Local teen band

6 – 7 pm: Brick Monkey Theater Ensemble

7 – 8 pm: Music with Charlie & Celia Lewis

8 – 9 pm: Music with the OU Jazz Ensemble

9 – 10 pm: Community Music Fest presents The Gatherers

Basement:

10:30 am – 12:30 pm: Open House with refreshments

12:30 – 1:30 pm: Cheryl Cesta offers a demonstration of Dakini Yoga

1:30 – 2:30 pm: Laura Nadeau presents family music

2:30 – 3:30 pm: Local band (name TBA)

3:30 – 4:30 pm: Belly Dance demonstration

4:30 – 5:30 pm: Music with Brian & Janice Evans

5:30 – 6:30 pm: TBA

6:30 – 7:30 pm: TBA

All Day: Refreshments; Archives in Room 8; Kid’s Activities in Room 6/7; Patty Mitchell and her balloon hats

ARTS/West 10th Anniversary All Weekend: Films by Brian Wiebe + Noise Show on Sunday

As if the 17th annual Athens Community Music Festival wasn’t enough, ARTS/West on the beautiful Westside of Athens, Ohio is celebrating 10 years this weekend with a whole slew of free events for the community on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Aquabear is helping with the festivities on Sunday, August 16th from 4pm-7pm with a special screening of some films by longtime Legionnaire Brian Wiebe (Brian’s doing an Indiegogo campaign for his upcoming feature A Good Person, which you should give your money too, more info below) including a few videos made for fellow Athens ex-pat and current Austinite Adam Torres, a few short films, and a trailer and teaser for his upcoming feature A Good Person. After the films are done it’s time for a Noise Show “reunion” of sorts with a whole bunch of experimental and improv music from the folks who did that same thing for years at ARTS/West beginning in 2005. Music from Kid Panda Hands (rare reunion set), Dinner of Swords, Scott Hedrick, Aaron Michael Butler, Weedghost, and more plus poetry from Wendy McVicker and some dance too? And it’s a potluck, so bring some food to share, especially popsicles for Andrew.

Filmmaker Brian Wiebe and Aquabear go way back, like literally all the way back. Currently based out of Chicago, Wiebe was a resident of Athens and Yellow Springs for years, and the ‘Bear is excited to screen some of his amazing work. Right now, Brian is raising money on Indiegogo to help him submit his upcoming feature A Good Person to film festivals all around the world and help get this thing out there. You can get all sorts of great stuff for supporting the campaign including posters, DVD’s, and more and for ONLY $3 you can watch the film right on your device of choosing when it comes out.

Here’s a video for “Dusty Wing Spirit” by Adam Torres from Brian Wiebe:

Athens Community Music Festival: 32 acts on 6 stages THIS WEEKEND!

The 16th annual Athens Community Music Festival is this Saturday, August 9th. 32 Athens bands will perform at 6 stages around town.
The 16th annual Athens Community Music Festival is this Saturday, August 9th. 32 Athens bands will perform at 6 stages around town.
The 16th annual Athens Community Music Festival is this Saturday, August 9th. 32 Athens bands will perform at 6 stages around town.

I am a bit biased, but Athens Ohio has an incredible community of musicians. Folks who have spent decades and years writing and playing music in our little town, but also putting on shows, putting up posters, and making things happen. One of the countless examples of that is the annual Athens Community Music Festival, each August tons of Athens bands play all around town for one night. This year ACMF turns sweet 16 on Saturday, August 9th in uptown Athens! 32 local acts play at 6 stages including The Union, Casa Cantina, Donkey Coffee, Smiling Skull, and two stages at Jackie O’s in the Public House and the Brewery side. Pay only $5 per venue, or $8 for an all venue pass and see some of the best music around right up the street. Plus you can join us all for the Aquabear Legion Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, August 10th from 1pm-3pm at UCM at 18 N. College Street in Athens. Here’s the schedule!

(“all venue passes” available at each of the participating venues, night of show.)

Proceeds benefit The Gathering Place, Arts/WEST, Athens Rock Camp for Girls and The Bryan Winland Memorial Arts & Music Scholarship.

2014 ACMF SCHEDULE
(schedule subject to change)

DONKEY COFFEE

7pm- Alayna Locke

7:45- Valerie Mash

8:30- Ragamuffin

9:15- Intermittent Animals
____________________

THE UNION

7pm- JJ Reed

8pm- JD Hutchison

9pm- Super Nobody

10pm- Speaking Suns

11pm- Blam Blams

12am- Sportfishing USA

1am- Blond
_____________________

JACKIE O’s (Public House)

8pm: Corbin Marsh

9pm- Paranormals

10pm- Night Sweats

11pm- Whole Hearted Half-Wits

12am- Zapple Pie

1am- Bright at Night
______________________

JACKIE O’s (Brewery side)

8pm- The Curd Jergihns Vocal Group

9pm- Steve Zarate

10pm- Fever Dream

11pm- Watch Them Rot

12am- Unmonnumental

1am- County Pharaohs
_______________________

CASA CANTINA

9pm- Laura Nadeau

10pm- Summoners

11pm- Coal Cave Hallow Boys

12am- Fathers of The Revolution

1am- Dox City
_________________________

SMILING SKULL SALOON

9pm- Dead Hand of Man

10pm- Pegasister

11pm- Red Feathers

12am- Weird Science

1am- Slut Castle

15th Annual Athens Community Music Festival is THIS SATURDAY!

acmf2013
The 15th annual Athens Community Music Festival is this Saturday in Uptown Athens! 36 bands at 6 venues for $8!

The 15th Annual Athens Community Music Festival is slated for THIS Saturday August 10th in Athens, Ohio at Casa Cantina, Donkey Coffee, Jackie O’s (Public House and Brewery side), The Smiling Skull Saloon and The Union. This year’s festival features 36 diverse local acts on 6 stages all over town. Don’t miss it! $5 will get you into any venue of your choice – OR – you may purchase an $8 all access pass at any of the participating venues (day of show). All proceeds from A.C.M.F. benefit Arts/WEST, The Gathering Place, and The Bryan Winland Memorial Arts & Music Scholarship. Please come out and show your support for LOCAL live music in Athens Ohio!

DONKEY COFFEE
6:30 – Bingxin Huang
6:55 – Winter Wilson
7:20 – Austin McGrath
7:45 – Cory Love
8:10 – Aubree Riley
8:35 – The Geek Girls

THE UNION
1- Fathers of the Revolution
12- Unmonumental
11- County Pharaohs
10- Hex Net
9P- Rattletrap
8P- Adam Remnant
7P- The Dead Hand of Man

JACKIE O’S PUBLIC HOUSE
1- The Porters
12- Burning River Ramblers
11- Lennon Orchestra
10- Shamantis
9- Paranormals
8- Joey Hebdo and his drum
7- Leah Nairn

JACKIE O’S BREWERY
1- Black Spyral Dancer
12- Dysfunktional Family
11- Controlled Folly
10- Appalachiam Hillside Revolution
9- JJ Reed
8- Bad Castle

CASA
1- Weird Science
12- Princess
11- Wrongzai
10- Corbin Marsh Band
9- Dad Arm
8- Laura Nadeau

SMILING SKULL
1- Method Air
12- Little Blind “Lightnin” Millie Jinkins & Her Litterbox Wranglers
11- Night Stalker
10- Slut Castle

Athens Community Music Festival is THIS SATURDAY: Full Schedule

The 14th annual Athens Community Music Festival is THIS SATURDAY, August 11th and features 35 local acts on 6 stages, one of the best nights of the year down here so don’t miss it.  The participating venues include Donkey Coffee, Casa Cantina, Jackie O’s (both rooms), The Smiling Skull and The Union. Only $8 for a full pass to all venues or $5 a venue. Proceeds for this year’s festival will again benefit ARTS/West and The Bryan Winland Art & Music Scholarship Fund. Follow us over on Twitter for live updates, photos and more all night long, and tag your ACMF related stuff with #acmf12 and we will re-post. Full schedule for the night below…

Donkey Coffee
5pm- Liz Pahl
530 – Aggie and Tommy
6pm- JJ Reed/Corbin Marsh
6:30- Leah and Adam
7pm- Laura Nadeau

The Union 
6pm- Aaron Michael Butler
7pm- Goodbye Goats
8pm- Wrong Hands
9pm- County Pharaohs (Chickenpussy)
10pm- The D Rays
11pm- Dropdead Sons
12am- Hellnaw
1am- Hex Net

Jackie Os Brewery
6pm- The Paranormals
7pm- Johnny Wayne Knievel & The Better Days Band
8pm- Melk
9pm- Hippie Grinder
10pm- The Revulvas
11pm- Whip and Tickle
12am- Dysfunktional family
1am- Black Spyral Dancer

Casa Cantina
9pm- M.O.P.
10pm- Corbin Marsh Band
11pm- Scubadog
12am- Wheels on Fire
1am- Weird Science

Jackie Os Public House
10pm- Broken Ring
11pm- Lennon Orchestra
12am- Stella
1am- The Porters

Smiling Skull
10pm- Sothoros
11pm- Watch Them rot
12am- Controlled Folly
1am- Acer Negundo

Due to the nature of nature and the inevitable hiccups in fest planning/band scheduling, this line-up is subject to change.

$5 for any one venue / or $8 for an all venue pass

Here’s the event on Facebook, attend and then share.

14th Annual Athens Community Music Festival is August 11

Every year one of the best things about summer in Athens, Ohio (besides the quiet and numerous public parking options) is the annual multi-venue Athens Community Music Festival, which celebrates its 14th year on Saturday, August 11. The night is a sampling of Athens music of all varieties, so get a good nights rest and drink a lot of coffee because there is a lot of stuff to see.

This year’s ACMF will feature 35 acts on 6 stages, including Donkey Coffee, Casa Cantina, Jackie O’s (both rooms), The Smiling Skull and The Union. Proceeds for this year’s festival will again benefit ARTS/West and The Bryan Winland Art & Music Scholarship Fund.

The schedule is still be sorted out (and we will have it here when it is announced!) but the lineup so far features:  Stella (original line-up!), Wheels on Fire, Hellnaw, Scubadog, The D-Rays, Hex Net, Weird Science, Goodbye Goats, Black Spyral Dancer, Dropdead Sons, Leah & Adam, Laura Nadeau, The County Pharaohs, Broken Ring, Dysfunktional Family, The Corbin Marsh Band, M.O.P., Acer Negundo, Hippie Grinder and tons more to be announced!

$5 for any one venue / or $8 for an all venue pass

And.. Jason Frederick (native Athenian musician/artist now living in Chicago) designed and printed this year’s poster! This summer Jason’s work was featured on the cover of the Chicago Reader for their Pitchfork Music Festival edition, and the ACMF poster is awesome as well.

Check out the Facebook event and spread the word!

13th Annual Athens Community Music Festival is August 20, Schedule Announced

The 13th annual Athens Community Music Festival is Saturday, August 20th and features over 30 bands at 6 venues!For the past 13 years Athens has celebrated its diverse and talented music community with the annual Athens Community Music Festival and this year’s takes place this coming Saturday, August 20th. Over 30 bands (all Athens!) at 6 different venues all day and night. The festivities kick off at Donkey with a performance from one of my favorite songwriters Mr. Mike Elliott at 5pm, and things continue all night long at The Union, Casa Cantina, Jackie O’s Brewery, Jackie O’s Public House, The Smiling Skull Saloon, and Donkey Coffee.

This has always been one of my favorite nights of the year.  Big thanks goes out to Scott Winland for making this thing happen every year. Full lineup and schedule after the jump!

Athens Community Music Festival is THIS SATURDAY, August 21!

From the fine folks at Athens Community Music Festival:

The 12th annual Athens Community Music Festival will take place Saturday, August 21st, featuring over thirty-five local acts at seven uptown venues. All proceeds go to grant opportunities for local musicians and music education. Admission is $10 for an all-venue wristband or $5 per location. Tickets will be available the day of the event at the Smiling Skull Saloon, Donkey Coffee, The Union, Jackie O’s, Salaam and the Casa Cantina. Visit myspace.com/athensmusicfest for a complete schedule. Please come out and celebrate the local music of Athens Ohio!!!

Full schedule for all venues after the break!

PREVIEW: 11th Annual Athens Community Music Festival this Saturday

One of my favorite nights of the year is coming up this weekend, the 11th annual Athens Community Music Festival. This night is Athens’ own version of SXSW with 38 Athens bands playing at 6 venues around town. Other weekends of music throughout the year in Athens have wonderful music (Blackoutfest, Nelsonville Music Festival, and of course the Aquabear County Fair), but this night is ALL Athens, while all of the other mentioned bring regional and national acts in as well. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but there is something special about all of that great live music happening in one night. And seriously, a wristband for all venues all night is ONLY $10 or you can go one venue for $5 and passes and tickets are available at each venue. Proceeds go towards helping local musicians in need and music education.

In fact there are far to many bands and amazing musicians playing it is impossible not to write an article like this and be able to mention everyone, just pick some at random to see or do my preferred method of bouncing from venue to venue as quickly as possible.

Full schedule and more preview after the break…