BLED FEST 2016 Festival • Page 2

Sad to report that Against the Grain had to drop because of some family stuff that came up, but our buds Tidal are stepping into their 4:10 slot on Stage C!

 

Do not miss Hot Mulligan. Saw them tonight in Milwaukee and they blew the roof off the place.

 

This year's vendors list!

DIME Detroit
Wax Bodega Records
Impact 89FM
Punk Talks
Have Fun Records
Eternally Nocturnal
Counter Culture
Celebrate Recovery
The Road Community Church
Nearly Dead
Road Soda Records
Little Elephant
Six Feet Over
Flannel Gurl Records
Craig Horky
Little Heart Records
Punk Out
The Crofoot
Fusion Shows
Common Ground Festival
Flint Local 432

 

Pretty bummed RFC won't be there

 

Sadly, Pentimento and The Illustrator both had to cancel. Pentimento due to vehicle issues, and The Illustrator due to family stuff. Both send their regards! Please do us a favor and send them some positive vibes, as I know both really wanted to be here with you today!

 

Bummed about Pentimento. Aaron West ruled. Probably leaving after Kevin Devine. Attendance looks terrible this year, and there are barely any vendors this time around. Pretty disappointing.

 

Did anyone else see Ryan from State Champs today?

 

I saw Aaron West, Sorority Noise, Somos, and Citizen before my girlfriend thought she had gotten her money's worth (I would have stayed for Old Gray and All Dogs but was also satisfied with the bands we saw). Was also really looking forward to Pentimento, so that was a bummer. Best crowd was Sorority Noise, nice to see. Overall, it did seem smaller scale than the previous few years, or lacking something.

 

Yesterday was awesome. Bummed about Pentimento but every set I saw was great

 

Another year in the books! We'll have some photo galleries here shortly, over the next few days, but I just wanted to check in and thank everyone for what's become one of the more friendly festivals on the planet. I choose the word "friendly" very carefully, as it, for the most part, has become populated by a group of people that are particularly sweet, inclusive, and supportive. I'm not talking about my staff, who I'm super proud of this year, but of the general attendees. The vibes were so, so good, and short of a few a-holes, I can't even begin to explain how great it feels to see 2000+ people gather in a space with no major issues, no broken things, no fights. It's not perfect, it never will be, but it's ours, and it's good enough.

We appreciate you all, for being the ones that took care of everything without being asked. For standing up and showing with your actions that the few clowns that were there weren't welcome to bring negativity to your happy place. For picking up trash that others threw down. For picking up your own trash. For watching out who you stage dove on top of. For helping someone up when they fell. For being accepting and inclusive and generally great people.

I had a great day. Physically, it's personally one of my hardest days each year, a long day of set up followed by 18 hours on my feet, which is hard for someone who's probably carrying 75 extra pounds on his frame and is 10-20 years older than most of you, but the way you guys all pitched in to make the day great, I forgot about how much my body hurt, and focused on how happy my heart felt.

Music is everything to me. Not just music, but seeing people's reaction to music as it's performed in a live setting. It is my drug of choice, and to be able to bring you this event each year, in a place where from the outsider's perspective, doesn't make sense at all, that's all on you guys. You came from 5 miles away or 5 states away. And you joined together and sang back to the bands. You supported cool local acts with smaller followings. And you just straight up made this festival something that's truly special.

I appreciate you all, and I hope that we can do it again next year.

I would absolutely love to hear about your experiences from the day. Post them in the comments below, and maybe, we'll give away some tickets to some upcoming Fusion events.

Nate
Talent Buyer / Event Producer / Whatever
Fusion Shows / Bled Fest

 

Last weekend was great! I watched Hot Mulligan, Watermedown, Aaron West, Sorority Noise, Kevin Devine, Chase Huglin, Citizen, Old Gray, Free Throw, Tiny Moving Parts, The World Is..., Second Best and Knuckle Puck.