Fifteen is the magic number for independent music festivals in Boston these days. After a successful Awesome Day Fest in Allston this past weekend, the second-annual Fuzzstival returns to Cambridge on August 2 with a whopping 15-band bill on multiple stages at the Middle East in Central Square.
The psych-, garage-, and surf-rock Fuzzstival is the brainchild of Illegally Blind Productions’ Jason Trefts, who is also organizing a Boston music “hangout” tonight at Church, where bands, promoters, writers and others can mix and mingle.
Among the band’s playing this year’s Fuzzstival are, in alphabetical order, 28 Degrees Taurus, Abadabad, Atlantic Thrills, Beware The Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion, Black Beach, Creaturos, Dinoczar, Doug Tuttle, the Fagettes, Fat Creeps, Ghost Box Orchestra, Gymshorts, Magic Shoppe, The New Highway Hymnal, and the Televibes.
The Fuzzstival will take over the Middle East Upstairs for a matinee showing from 1 to 5 p.m., and then move to the Downstairs from 5 p.m. to close. A $20 pass gets you into both, but there are single-show options: $10 for the Upstairs, and $12 (advance) and $15 (day-of) for the Downstairs. Tickets are available here.
“Fuzzstival is all about vibes,” Trefts tells Vanyaland. “The goal is to both highlight the best bands in the local scene that make psych/garage rock and also to throw a party that people will be talking about until the next one. Last year’s event is still my favorite show I’ve been a part of — I’m going to do whatever I can to make this year’s Fuzzstival even better.”
Get a preview of all 15 participating bands below. In the meantime, Trefts welcomes anyone involved with the Boston music scene to come hang tonight at Church for a casual networking experience.
“In my opinion the best way to build the scene is to first unify the artists, booking agents and writers so that people support each other’s work,” he says. “An environment in which people support each other will produce better art, and the audience will respond to that. I’m going to do whatever I can to help build ties throughout the local scene, because I recognize all of the talent in the city and I like helping people pursue their dreams. I’m hoping that this event is a success, as I want to continue to do similar events in the future.”
Listen to the bands of Fuzzstival 2014 below:
Beware The Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion!
Here’s the poster, by John Magnifico.
