Feature / Music
Fest 10th anniversary: Fests 1-3 remembered

August 31, 2011

Fest 10th anniversary: Fests 1-3 remembered
Fest 10th anniversary: Fests 1-3 remembered

fest_hp.jpg

The Fest in Gainesville has become an institution, and Scene Point Blank has hit numbers 6-9 and lived to tell the tale. As the event is celebrating their tenth anniversary with an alumni theme, SPB decided to catch up with some of the old timers to see what they remember about their experiences.

To kick off our countdown, we talked with Fest founder Tony Weinbender in length. As is the nature of planning, several changes have occurred since our conversation, the most notable being the re-opening of venue Common Grounds, albeit with a new name: Double Down. Rather than edit for updates, Scene Point Blank has decided to keep the text of the interview as is, to share just how hectic Tony’s organization can be as he puts together a schedule for nearly 300 bands.

  • Fest 1: Tony Weinbender
  • Fest 2: Dave Drobach of Grabass Charlestons
  • Fest 3: Kathleen Stubelek and Drew Speziale of Circle Takes the Square

Stay tuned for interviews abouts Fests 4-6, 7-9, and of course, our coverage of this year’s #10.

Skip to page View as a single page

— words by the SPB team • August 31, 2011

Fest 10th anniversary: Fests 1-3 remembered
Fest 10th anniversary: Fests 1-3 remembered

Pages in this feature

  1. Opening page
  2. Fest 1: Tony Weinbender
  3. Fest 2: Dave Drobach of Grabass Charlestons
  4. Fest 3: Kathleen Stubelek and Drew Speziale of Circle Takes the Square

Related features

Fest 23: Artist Interviews

Interviews / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025

FEST 23 takes place later this month, from Oct. 24-26 in Gainesville, FL. Something like a billion bands are driving, flying, canoeing, and snowshoeing to the festival from across the country -- many of them for the first time and many come back to play nearly every year. Scene Point … Read more

FEST LIBS 23 & Fest Moments

Music / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025

Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, FL, we’ve got some Fest games for you to play, including a few samples from this year’s performers. Click here to play FEST LIBS -- like a fill-in-the-blanks word game … Read more

Guest List: ADD Records Picks 5 Favorite Leatherface Songs

Music / The Set List • October 18, 2025

This summer Little Rocket Records announced Leatherface: The Peel Sessions, a collection of live studio recordings with Leatherface from the 1990s with the late John Peel. While Little Rocket handled the release, ADD Records took on US distribution for a limited release. Available from ADD records here As Leatherface means … Read more

Bo Diddley Plaza: Behind the Scenes at Fest

Music / Fest 23 • October 6, 2025

For close to a quarter-century punk fans have flocked to Florida for The Fest. Boasting a lineup of 300+ bands and roughly a dozen venues these days, the festival has grown, shifted and evolved. For several years the main stage has been in a large downtown park called Bo Diddley … Read more

moja

One Question Interviews • September 24, 2025

moja SPB: How old were you when you learned your first instrument? Masumi: My first instrument was YAMAHA Electone when I was five years old. Haru: I’ve never actually had formal lessons -- I’m totally self-taught. I bought my first instrument back in junior high just to start a band … Read more

More from this section

FEST LIBS 23 & Fest Moments

Music / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025

Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, FL, we’ve got some Fest games for you to play, including a few samples from this year’s performers. Click here to play FEST LIBS -- like a fill-in-the-blanks word game … Read more

Guest List: ADD Records Picks 5 Favorite Leatherface Songs

Music / The Set List • October 18, 2025

This summer Little Rocket Records announced Leatherface: The Peel Sessions, a collection of live studio recordings with Leatherface from the 1990s with the late John Peel. While Little Rocket handled the release, ADD Records took on US distribution for a limited release. Available from ADD records here As Leatherface means … Read more

Bo Diddley Plaza: Behind the Scenes at Fest

Music / Fest 23 • October 6, 2025

For close to a quarter-century punk fans have flocked to Florida for The Fest. Boasting a lineup of 300+ bands and roughly a dozen venues these days, the festival has grown, shifted and evolved. For several years the main stage has been in a large downtown park called Bo Diddley … Read more