A Richmond music festival is looking to create a lot of noise starting this Independence Day weekend – with noise music, no less.
Join/Die Fest, an ambitious three-day festival in its second year, aims to bring both local and out-of-town noise and experimental performances to the ears of Richmond residents at an affordable price.
Festival goers will experience music at a variety of different venues, with talent ranging from local RVA acts to artists from other cities like Philadelphia, New York City and Baltimore.
For fans of noise and experimental music, the festival could be a must-see.
The first day of the festival, July 3rd, will be held downtown at the 25 Watt. On Independence Day, the festival will be held at Sediment Arts, an artist-run gallery and store. Art installations are also planned for the Sediment event. And on the final day, an afternoon show will be hosted at a house in Church Hill, offering a more laid back finale that consists of an all-local lineup.
“I wanted to do like, two nights of something that was harsh and punishing,” said Xylon Otterburn, the primary organizer of the festival. “And then have a day where you could just come out at noon and like, day drink, and have something that’s very calming.”
Otterburn, who uses them/they pronouns, said they started getting this year’s event together about four months ago, but a lot of the event came together about a month ago after they played Ende Tymes Festival, another noise fest, in Bushwick, BK. They were asked to be a last minute addition to the NYC event where they networked their way into a number of the acts coming through Richmond this weekend.
Among the acts they’re excited to see play an RVA stage is Jason Crumer, a former member of Facedowninshit, who will be bringing his particularly harsh brand of noise to Sediment Arts on Monday.
As far as local RVA acts, Otterburn is pumped to see Coteries similarly take the Sediment Arts stage.
“[they are] the best project in Richmond and deserve all of the support in the world,” they said about the local group whose opened for notable national acts like Pharmakon, Hijokaidan, Sissy Spacek and Pedestrian Deposit. “His project is always just stunning to see perform,” they said.
Last year’s Join/Die fest was a smaller endeavor, with nine acts performing at a warehouse in Richmond’s Northside. This year’s projected turnout is estimated to be much larger, with multiple days and larger quantity of artists expected to bring more people.
“It’ll be interesting,” said Otterburn. “We’ll see how it comes out. I’m expecting at least 100, 150 across the weekend.”
Those who are interested in attending every day might want to consider getting a three-day pass which costs $20 and includes a Join/Die screen printed patch, a piece of artwork by artist Michael Mary Kate Duggan. Weekend pass holders will all receive a complete recording of each festival performance following the event.
Otherwise, the first two days are $10 at the door, and donations are encouraged for the final day.
The schedule can be seen below, keep up with the event on Facebook here.
::Offical Schedule for JOIN/DIE FEST 2016::
::July 3rd::
Stabbed in the Face(RVA)
10-56(RVA)
Fake Object (RVA)
Squid Squad (FL)
Gwand (FL)
Roy Wren (PHILADELPHIA)
Taphophile (CHICAGO)
Stress Orphan (BALTIMORE)
Scant (PHILADELPHIA)
Doors:8
Sounds:9
$10 at the door.
———————————————————————————–
::July 4th::
$10
Coteries(RVA)
Lacanthrope(RVA)
Suckling (NYC)
Malcriado (BALTIMORE)
Sapphogeist (BALTIMORE)
Red Army Ensemble (BALTIMORE)
Horoscope (NYC)
FFH (PHILADELPHIA)
Jason Crumer (PHILADELPHIA)
With installations by:
AIRPORT
Foreground and Neighborhood
Mitchell Craft
multiples by Michael Mary Kate Duggan
Unveiling of Installations: 5 pm
Sounds: 7 pm
21+ Cash Bar
$10 at the door.
—————————————————————————–
::July 5th::
Perfect Church
Curated by John Huggins of Foreground and Neighborhood
Gardener
Languish_Arts
Moira
Surfacing
Foreground & Neighborhood
Steve Ashby
Noon – 4 pm
$5-10 strongly suggested.
$20 3-day passes are available beginning this evening.
Edition of 50.
Including a Join/Die screenprinted patch, a multiple from Michael Mary Kate Duggan, as well as soundboards of sets from all three days.
Simply send $20 to paypal:absolomgrundy@gmail.com
along with your name for Will Call and the email you would like soundboards sent.
