Final For Real Fest to explode at Union
By Dani Purcell, Staff Writer
April 27, 2007 | 1 p.m.
Athens’ fifth annual For Real Fest describes its intentions simply as “a DIY celebration.” This event is, indeed, a celebration: one of punk ethos built on the pillars of independence, community and love for music. This weekend, a plethora of bands, friends and students plan to gather at the Union on April 27 and 28.
Ray Houska founded his brainchild, For Real Fest, five years ago. His idea echoes in rejection of the so-called “festivals” that erupt in early springtime — massive, notorious parties such as Palmer Fest or High Fest. These “fests” essentially do little more than provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their mad beer-chugging skills.
“Those other fests are nothing more than drunken orgies that take place in a field,” Houska said. “I wanted my fest to be something relevant, something positive, something with a message, something real.”
Thus, the concept of For Real Fest was conceived. Initially, donation and a good portion of pocket money funded the fest, but ideas for additional financial steps were introduced as of late.
When previous funding from [OU group] Positive Action was cut — and space for collecting donations in Ellis Hall lost — Houska and his comrades received a hand from Scott Winland, who Houska says offered The Union as a space to hold For Real Fest.
Preparation for the festival included vigorous MySpace recruitment, in which Houska posted bulletins regarding volunteer work as simple as selling hot dogs and veggie dogs on Court Street. Though operations in the past differed, the bands will directly receive money earned at the door this year.
This year’s For Real line-up represents Ohio with a hefty chunk of bands from the area, including Athens local heroes We March, as well as crossover outfit and bar favorite Kitten Fister. “We March has always been a staple in the Athens community and are indeed a crucial component to For Real Fest,” Houska said.
Other nearby alumni such as Mental Pain (Marietta, OH) and Triceratops (Columbus, OH) plan to play this year. In addition to many local groups, bands represent a handful of areas from across the states — from Texas, Vermont and California — as well as About to Snap!, a speedy hardcore outfit from Ontario, Canada.
Houska has worked with several of the bands previously; however, the Athens scene welcomes For Real first-timers For the Worse, hailing from Boston, MA.
Washington, D.C. three-piece Magrudergrind, another highly anticipated outfit, will blister audiences with dissonant, yet precise guitar, insanely fast drumming and a series of high-pitched screams, true to the current definition of grindcore.
With a variant combination of bands performing, the message of For Real Fest may appear mixed — different genres of music are generally attached with heavy stigmas. This festival showcases a jumble of hardcore, folk-punk and other self-proclaimed genres such as “skatecore.”
Though these different tastes may be taken into account, the profuse genres don’t seem to hinder the ever-present concept of unity.
When asked about his message and attitude of his festival, Ray Houska explained that he yearned to create “a forum for individuals to express themselves, be with people they care about and to make new friends with in the DIY punk community.”
In its past years, For Real Fest sought to do just that. This year marks an end to the festival with its founder’s graduation. Through the years, For Real Fest has helped provide a positive community outreach for independent artists and students alike.
Houska offers a final concept to consider: “Aside from seeing performing artists, I wanted the fest to be an opportunity to bring like-minded individuals together -- individuals who support, provide and benefit from resources that both DIY and punk communities have to offer.”
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You can check out additional band information and other cool stuff about For Real Fest here.