It's probably a good sign when you are tired after a music festival. Nobody is ever tired after having a boring time. Such is the case the day after FUSE Fest 2012. We're very tired.
There were a lot of cool moments this year: Being moved by the rock of Sparklejet. Discovering Alana Hill has an amazing voice. Seeing Kat Jones reconnect with her Fresno fans. People tripping out on the robot that is Collecto. Light Thieves wowing F55:
Werebear tearing it up the Lampost:
People on Iron Bird Loft balconies enjoying Blake Jones:
Our last Fresno Urban Sound Experience 'post takeover' is the biggest. A special Bandgeek with all the info you need to enjoy the festival this weekend with links to the venues and band websites.
Come out early and stay late. It's a total geek-out for fans of live and local music. It's FUSE FEST!!:
TICKETS
Festival Pass is $20 (gets you into every venue and stage for both days).
Day Pass is $15 (gets you into every venue and stage for one day).
Venue Pass is $5 to $10 (Fulton 55), depending on venue. Good for one venue.
Tickets will be available at the Fulton 55 box office starting now. BRING CASH! They will also be available at most venues throughout the festival…did we mention to BRING CASH! You want to have some cash for band merch too!
PARKING
There is free street parking throughout the Cultural Arts District (or
Mural Town!! if you prefer) and at city lots around the Fulton Mall.
(Parking meter spots are free on weekends and evenings)
Check the Facebook event page and invite some folks! There's a lot of samples from FUSE Fest artists poping up there too.
FOOD Eating at FUSE Fest is recommended at Iron Bird Cafe, Tokyo Garden and Fresno Brewing Company. Dusty Buns will be on the Fulton Mall (in front of Fresno Brewing Company) on Saturday night.
DRINKING On Friday: Fulton 55 and The Lamp Post. On Saturday: Frank's Place, Fresno Brewing Company and Tokyo Garden. Iron Bird Cafe both nights for excellent coffee and tea.
GET THERE EARLY! The set times aren't like normal set times that are "suggested". It STARTS at 7pm on Friday and 4:30 on Saturday (Music Gods willing).
The Central California's biggest LOCAL music festival. Come out and kick ass with everyone.
FUSE Fest 2012. It all starts tonight with a festival pre-party happening at The Hashtag on Wishon Row. See various FUSE Fest artists doing hella short sets, plus get your festival passes for Friday and Saturday along with FUSE Fest merch.
You can also get a sweet program you can use to start planning your festival routing. It's music nerd stuff and it's fun as hell. If you don't get a program you can start planning with this.
Get hyped by listening to all the pre-festival podcasting:
Back again with another special edition of Flowing With Famous: Flowing With FUSE 2012.
Josh and Mikey talk about some highlights from the past five years of the Fresno Urban Sound Experience. Plus, breakdown what they’re looking forward to this year, all with FUSE Fest music flowing in and out.
Musician and festival organizer, Cristobal, from animal-punk band Werebear and Spanspek Music & Arts Festival, visits Dorktown and helps the gang talk about stuff like:
Dove season in Fresno.
Is it okay for Dorktown to drink something other than Tioga Sequoia beer?
If you're a beer snob then you may have heard of a thing called a 'tap takeover'. It's when one brewing company takes over all the taps at a bar or restaurant for the whole night.
So we're taking that idea and bringing it to the blog world. This week on The Fresnan, all the posts will be Fresno Urban Sound Expierience related. In other nerdy words: FUSE Fest is doing a 'post takeover' here at The Fresnan.
First up, it's maybe the most important of all: the schedule is out for this weekend's FUSE Fest. You can check the site, or check it right now here:
Just in time for Fresno Urban Sound Experience #5, Restaurnaut is getting way ready for his FUSE performance (6:30 at Fresno Brewing Company, Saturday Sept 8th) by releasing a special FUSE inspired EP called "Friendcore Applecore Horseycore Forevermore".
He just sat down with a mic the other night and did it. Go download it for a hidden track here:
Hope you'll be in town September 6th-8th. It's going to be a fun weekend in Fresno. Fun because that's the weekend for the Fresno Urban Sound Experience. It's the 5th year for FUSE Fest and while it may be a bit bigger, the ideals are the same as year one: Showcase Fresno's diverse and talented music scene while featuring relevant venues in Downtown Fresno.
So. The big stuff. The reason there is a festival at all. Let's take a look at the lineup for Fresno Urban Sound Experience #5! Because FUSE Fest has no headliners, this is in no particular order:
That's a large helping of Fresno music. Lineup is supject to change (such is life). But it's looking damn special so far and we cant wait to see it all in Downtown Fresno, Friday and Saturday September 7th and 8th.
The dates have been decided, local music festival the Fresno Urban Sound Experience is happening September 6th, 7th and 8th this year!
Like last year, there will be two nights (and some day time stuff too) of music. There is also a new third night, a special preview night, during September ArtHop (that's Thursday night the 6th).
There will be a nice mix of new and returning venues this year. Frank's Place at Warnors will return as will Fulton 55 and Tokyo Garden. And there is a nod to year-one as the old Milano's (now the Fresno Brewing Company) returns, plus a couple new spots you'll find out more about later.
Gettin' pumped already. What bands do you want to see play this year?
Best of Fresno times for us, Friday and Saturday night. The 4th Fresno Urban Sound Expierence happend with Fresno's music community, supporters of Downtown and the arts, and just regular dudes, all coming together to have a good time, showing how fun Fresno actually is.
Highlights
>As with all of the FUSE Fests, the walking around, bouncing back and forth between all the venues was cool. Folks were starting to get the hang of it on Saturday as nice groups of Fresnans were roaming to and from the Ironbird Lofts and African-American Histroy Museum stage as each set ended and the other began.
>Festival goers that couldn't tell you what the diffrence is between Rademacher and Azazel but went and had fun anyway.
>The festival within the festival "Eli Fest" at Club One. Drummer Eli Reyes drummed for five bands straight through the night, and didn't die or nothin'. The room was mostly packed all night too.
>Downtowners that happen to be walking by and getting a free show at Iron Bird and AAHM and really enjoying the music.
>All the bands seemed to have a blast no matter how big or small their crowd was.
>Musicians from different genres checking out other band's sets, being impressed and saying "how good these guys are" even though the music wasn't there thing.
Lowlights
>Not enough festival goers getting over to see the Downtown Club venue. Great Fresno spot and good music that was missed for the most part. Certainly the last second venue change had something to do with that.
>On Saturday there were two stages outside Iron Bird Lofts. Most of the lofts have a balcony and those that live on the East and South sides could watch and listen to said stages to their hearts content. Nobody did ... except for one dude that came out to have a smoke then went back in. What the hell? You have a freaking music festival happening outside your balcony and you don't hang and check it out? Ya don't have a party during the festival and jump down, listen to some music, jump back up and keep partying? Sorry Iron Bird Loft people but you're fucking lame.
>Nobody shows up to the bands playing early. Not sure if that's a Fresno thing or what. You guys missed out on Sounds & Sciences, they kick core ass.
>There are a lot of local bands, good bands, with NO following. No regulars that come to see a show of their favorite Fresno band, regardless of where they're playing. Yes, there are a few that have that, but more don't than do. Kinda weird to us but whatever.
Buzz Bands
Bands or sets that we saw that we were impressed by or ones we heard folks talking a lot about were the Sunburns, Kevin Hill Blowout, Dia Del Astronauta, Distrito Torre, B-Rawcity, Westerns, Let's Go Bowling, College Kids, Lezayr, The Dirty Stomp, It'll Grow Back, Abigail Nolte, Boxcar Figero and pretty much everyone that played at Hero's - upper tier musicianship right there.
Something To Take With You
One thing to remember Fresnans for next year and when you go out to enjoy bands around town in general: Crowd the stage. Yeah, we get not doing it when it's something mellow or whatever. But mostly this is a sign of respect to the bands and a way to experience the music more intensely. Fresnans are notorious for sitting in the back of the room and nodding.
Guess Fresnans need to get educated. Maybe we'll learn that before FUSE 2012.
Every week Bandgeek is about promoting what's happening in Fresno's music scene over the weekend. This weekend we're letting FUSE Fest take over, because it's the bestest, because we're involved with helping it happen and because there's no time to post anything else.
Much respect to Audie's Olympic, The Bel-Tower, the CYC, Starline, Babylon, Kuppajoe's, Full Circle Brew, Club Retro and many others, who week after week, support the scene. But this weekend is all about Downtown Fresno for us.
UPDATE: For online ticket buyers, Will Call is at Fulton 55 for FRIDAY AND SATURDAY!
TONIGHT! It's the South end of Downtown with: (names in red are new editions or have changed venue)
Friday September 30th
JOE’S STEAKHOUSE (All Ages) 6:30 Werebear 7:30 Dale Stewart Band 8:30 Marlson Bruegen 9:30 Brian Kenny Fresno 10:30 The Dirty Stomp
DOWNTOWN CLUB (21+) 6:30 Sounds & Sciences 7:30 Achievement House 8:30 Lezayr 9:30 B. Rawcity 10:30 Koncrete Rose 11:00 Meatball Magic@FUSE (dance party!)
HERO’S SPORTS LOUNGE (21+) 7:00 Karen Marguth 8:00 Boxcar Figero 9:00 Lance Canales & The Flood 10:00 The Neptunes 11:00 Motel Drive 12:00 Bully the Kid
CLUB ONE (21+) 7:00 Brother Luke & The Comrades 7:30 College Kids 8:00 Westerns 9:00 Rademacher 10:00 Fay Wrays 11:00 Quiet Americans
Saturday enjoy the Mural/Cultural Arts District with:
Saturday, October 1
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM - outside in back (All Ages) 5:00 The Milford Higgins 6:00 Kevin Hill Blowout 7:00 Your Hero Is A Villain 8:00 Azazel 9:00 Bruno dA uNo
IRON BIRD LOFTS - outside of old Iron Bird Cafe (All Ages) 5:30 Distrito Torre 6:30 Fast Car 7:30 It’ll Grow Back 8:30 Niilo Smeds 9:30 Werebear
FULTON 55 7:00 Irie Sun 8:00 tba 9:00 Let’s Go Bowling 10:00 Poplord 11:00 Buffalo Guns
FULTON 55 – COFFEEHOUSE STAGE - upstairs (21+) 6:30 Abigail Nolte 7:30 Heather & Joe 8:30 That Guy Kevin 9:30 Suicide Lounge 10:30 Restaurnaut
TOKYO GARDEN (21+) 10:00 Josh & Jaime 11:00 Blake Jones & The Trike Shop 12:00 Sunburns 1:00 The Backstabbers
There is a super awesome FREE IBikeFresno bike valet happening both nights. Ride your bike down to the festival and these nice dudes will take care of it for you all night. Check the bike icons on the map for each night's location.
Also also IMPORTANT: The place to buy and pickup tickets ($20) on Friday is at Club One! You can start picking up tickets at 5:30, doors open on the early venues at 6.
Buying your ticket on Saturday (if you didn't get the 2-day pass on Friday) means going to Fulton 55 when you get there and the first band is playing at 5:00!
All venues on Friday have fine dinner options (and BOOZE) so make sure to plan your dinner at FUSE on Friday. Saturday there will be a good taco truck around plus Tokyo Garden will serve dinner till about 9:30 or so and there will be booze at Tokyo and Fulton 55.
Parking is free Downtown at night and on weekends (since the Grizzlies season is over) so find a spot and you're done. Friday the Spiral Garage will be a good option. Saturday just find a random spot in the Culture Arts/Mural District and that's it. Easy.
There will be band merch and festival merch so bring some cash.
Get there early. Stay late. Bounce around. Sample sample sample. See what Fresno's music scene is all about. See ya out there!
Don't go to Club Karma Friday night. Don't. There will only be silly people there. Nobody that knows what's happening at FUSE Fest Friday and Saturday night anyway. Due to circumstances out of FUSE Fest's control, Club Karma double booked themselves on Friday and chose not to have FUSE held there - not so great for your Karma there guys.
So FUSE got awesome and moved that stage to the Downtown Club (just a lead-cord away down Kern) with a few kickass and understanding bands spreading themselves out to exsisting stages as well.
Check out the acts in red as they are the ones that have been moved and re-think your route.
Friday September 30th
JOE’S STEAKHOUSE (All Ages) 6:30 Werebear 7:30 Dale Stewart Band 8:30 Marlson Bruegen 9:30 Brian Kenny Fresno 10:30 The Dirty Stomp
DOWNTOWN CLUB (21+) 6:30 Sounds & Sciences 7:30 Achievement House 8:30 Lezayr 9:30 B. Rawcity 10:30 Koncrete Rose 11 Meatball Magic@FUSE (dance party!)
HERO’S SPORTS LOUNGE (21+) 7:00 Karen Marguth 8:00 Boxcar Figero 9:00 Lance Canales & The Flood 10:00 The Neptunes 11:00 Motel Drive 12:00 Bully the Kid
CLUB ONE (21+) 7:00 Brother Luke & The Comrades 7:30 College Kids 8:00 Westerns 9:00 Rademacher 10:00 Fay Wrays 11:00 Quiet Americans
Saturday, October 1
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM - outside in back (All Ages) 5:00 The Milford Higgins 6:00 Kevin Hill Blowout 7:00 Your Hero Is A Villain 8:00 Azazel 9:00 Bruno dA uNo
IRON BIRD LOFTS - outside of old Iron Bird Cafe (All Ages) 5:30 Distrito Torre 6:30 Fast Car 7:30 It’ll Grow Back 8:30 Niilo Smeds 9:30 tba
FULTON 55 7:00 Irie Sun 8:00 Aire Espacial 9:00 Let’s Go Bowling 10:00 Poplord 11:00 Buffalo Guns
FULTON 55 – COFFEEHOUSE STAGE - upstairs (21+) 7:30 Heather & Joe 8:30 That Guy Kevin 9:30 Suicide Lounge 10:30 Restaurnaut
TOKYO GARDEN (21+) 10:00 Josh & Jaime 11:00 Blake Jones & The Trike Shop 12:00 Sunburns 1:00 The Backstabbers
You also may have noticed the Fulton 55 "Coffeehouse Stage" (there won't be coffee unless you drink beer like coffee) lineup is in. Head upstairs at Fulton 55 at those times to see some different kinda stuff... and stuff.
Also new is the IBikeFresno bike valet happening both nights. Ride your bike down to the festival and these nice dudes will take care of it for you all night. Check bike icons on the map for each night's location.
Also also IMPORTANT: The place to buy and pickup tickets on Friday is at Club One. So make sure to hit there first.
Buying your ticket on Saturday (if you didn't get the 2-day pass on Friday) means going to Fulton 55 when you get there.
Twitter hashtag for the event is #fusefresno.
So excited. Gonna be a epic weekend for Fresno's music scene.
Welcome to FUSE Fest week! The biggest local music festival in town begins Friday night and ends early Sunday morning. Time to start planning your festival route and this may be of some use to ya:
Friday, September 30
JOE’S STEAKHOUSE 6:30 Werebear 7:30 Dale Stewart Band 8:30 Marlson Bruegen 9:30 Brian Kenny Fresno 10:30 The Dirty Stomp
CLUB KARMA (STAGE 1) 6:30 Bully The Kid 7:30 Achievement House 8:30 Lezayr 9:30 It’ll Grow Back 10:30 – 2:00AM: Meatball Magic @ FUSE
CLUB KARMA (STAGE 2) 7:00 College Kids 8:00 Sounds & Sciences 9:00 B-Rawcity 10:00 Koncrete Rose
CLUB ONE 7:00 Brother Luke & The Comrades 8:00 Westerns 9:00 Rademacher 10:00 Fay Wrays 11:00 Quiet Americans
Saturday, October 1
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM 5:00 The Milford Higgins 6:00 Kevin Hill Blowout 7:00 Your Hero Is A Villain 8:00 Azazel 9:00 Bruno dA uNo
IRON BIRD LOFTS 5:30 Distrito Torre 6:30 Fast Car 7:30 Nate Pearce Band 8:30 Niilo Smeds 9:30 Touchdown Jesus
FULTON 55 7:00 Irie Sun 8:00 Aire Especial 9:00 Let’s Go Bowling 10:00 Poplord 11:00 Buffalo Guns
FULTON 55 – COFFEEHOUSE STAGE 7:30 Heather & Joe 8:30 That Guy Kevin 9:30 Suicide Lounge 10:30 Restauraut
TOKYO GARDEN 10:00 Josh & Jaime 11:00 Blake Jones & The Trike Shop 12:00 Sunburns 1:00 The Backstabbers
The lineup can be a volatile thing so check the site for changes. Look at the map if you're not sure where these places are. Sign in on the event page and annoy invite your friends. Festival goers get a handout when they check in that shows everything above. Tickets $20 for a two-day pass. $15 for one-day ($15 2-day for Creative Fresno members when you buy them at Fulton 55).
The Fresnan is a blog drunk on Fresno's sweet sweet booze.
We like posting about local music and random Fresno culture junk. We like Downtown, tri-tip, South of Shaw battles, tamales and remembering when there was a fig orchard at Herndon & Palm. We like to occasionally go to River Park but tell people we never go there.
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