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Fest 24 – The Wrap-Up
Music / Fest 24 • November 5, 2026
For those who follow the site, I've been to Fest a lot -- like, I lost count of how many times but it all started at FEST 6, which I think was in 2007. It's certainly about the music first, and I saw approximately 61 bands over 4 days, 3 of which were part of the official event with a packed Thursday night show beforehand. I'll cover tone and highlights and a whole lot more, but first I'll philosophize.Going into FEST 24 I was a little nervous. The venue where I've spent the most time in recent years wasn't a participant this year. That's fine. Things change. But, also, there was no replacement of comparable size and I like my small venues. I don't envy Fest planners who have to make sure venues aren't too empty or too full. It's a hard balance. The trend on this year's schedule seemed to be, after the big two venues, that mid to small venues featured mystery sets from bigger bands to bring in a late night crowd. That's great for the venues, but it can make for less elbow room and less freedom to wander from place to place if you want to make sure you see a particular band at a particular time. All things said, the system worked much better than Fest in the '00s but I did feel locked into a space sometimes as the night progressed. Which is a minor complaint, because I also tended to really enjoy … Read more
The World Needs To Hear Us: Twenty One Children
Interviews • November 5, 2026
On After The Storm, Twenty One Children strip away every slick, sanitized modern production trick imaginable. The Soweto trio -- … Read more
Freaks On Parade: Kepi Ghoulie
Regular Columns / Shrapnel Pop • November 5, 2026
A look back at Kepi Ghoulie’s September 2026 residency at MySpace PhoenixWelcome to Kepiland! Kepi Ghoulie did a month-long residency … Read more
Fest 24: Artist Interviews
Interviews / Fest 24 • October 16, 2026
It's almost FEST time, and you know what that means: SPB has dived in to speak to a bunch of … Read more
