There is a place, once a year, where we can all come together, Fest with others who believe that only music has the answer, and then at the end, go back to our homes reveling in another amazing Fest and hoping that feeling of belonging can last to the next one. Loren Green had a lovely idea for an article -- ask members of the Fest Photo Team to share some of their favorite photos from Fests of the past and share why that photo is meaningful to them. That’s what you have here.
Nicole Kibert Basler is a Fest Photo Overlord (along with Jake Cunningham) and has been to all the Fests except FEST 16 when her daughter was a newborn. When not shooting live music and being a mom, Nicole is lawyer specializing in sustainable development hence the moniker elawgrrl.
A word on Fest Photo Team. They are the most talented and nicest group of photographers. They volunteer their time to capture the many magic moments of Fest. It is an amazing opportunity but grueling to get through the weekend trying to shoot as many performers as possible. And, then the editing starts. It can be very challenging to move around gracefully with a photo bag through a crowd. Fest Photo Team is so appreciative of how kind Festers are as our photographers move about the crowd and try very hard to capture the moment rather than be the moment.
Please check out the Fest photo collection. Sometimes we do special projects too - like “Why Do You Fest?” a portrait collection which was even made into a book from FEST 12.
If you would like to apply to be a member of the FEST photo team, the application is here.
FEST 21 has the best line up so far and we can’t wait to capture the many magical Fest moments that await us in October. See you there and say hi!
– Nicole Kibert Basler
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Laura Jane Grace @ Civic Media Center 11.3.19
Fest Veteran & Playing FEST 21!
Seeing all the smiling faces on not only the audience but the artist as well in a packed out tiny venue reminds me of the happiness that Fest brings everyone involved. Fest has been a truly positive part of my life and moments like these where I get to see my favorite artist in such a small area with people who share that same love are what it’s about. The energy felt during this set was tangible and it was such a truly special experience that I was fortunate enough to capture.
Katie Claire @ktclairephotography / https://ktclairephotography.myportfolio.com/ / ktclairephotography@yahoo.com
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Lucero @ FEST 12 11.3.13
Fest Veteran & Playing FEST 21!
FEST is about relationships old and new, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones! This photo of Brian Venable from Lucero at FEST 12, caught grinning at a familiar face in the crowd, is a capture of classic Fest family happiness in action. I have this photo hanging in a hallway where it can bring me a smile every day.
Nicole C. Kibert Basler / @elawgrrl on Instagram / elawgrrl.com
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Into It. Over It. at FEST 16
Fest Veteran
During FEST 16 in 2017, I observed a musician warming up backstage at The Wooly while waiting for a different set to start. I thought it was a neat moment, so I snapped this photo. Illuminated by one singular floodlight and observed only by an assortment of guitar cases and myself, this musician was Evan Weiss of Into It. Over It., who would go on to become one of my favorite Fest discoveries and artists of all time. Fest is known for its off-the-wall incredible energy. But the quiet moments -- like the exciting thought that you've just found a new favorite band, or a room of strangers attentively listening to a magical acoustic set -- are just as special.
Miranda Jayne / @themirandajayne / mirandajayne.com / mirandajaynephoto@gmail.com
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The Jukebox Romantics at FEST 20
Fest Veteran
Cover sets are a cherished tradition at the Fest. Bands will choose to play a complete set of covers in addition to their own original music. These sets are wildly popular and many bands put extra effort into costuming and atmosphere to embody the act they cover. The KISS set from the Jukebox Romantics at FEST 20, however, really set the high water mark for go for broke. In full costume (including full makeup), they brought in lights, backdrops and bubble machines. Every time I thought they had reached the limit of how over the top they could go, the Jukebox Romantics topped it. The room exuded so much pure, unfiltered fun that I watched Fest-goers from the street outside cancel their planned sets to jump into Downtown Fats and join in the party. There is true artistry in taking what is already a three day, non-stop party and cranking the volume up to eleven. Before this set I didn’t even really like KISS. I’m not sure I got what they were all about…but now that I’ve gotten a taste of it, I understand why KISS is so popular.
Lorien Lamarr / @shuttercrust / shuttercrust.com / shuttercrust@gmail.com
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Pity Party at FEST 18
Fest Veteran
I originally lost this photo. It got miscategorized in my import after FEST 18 and I didn’t find it again for over a year. This gave me a unique opportunity to look at it with fresh eyes and extra editing time, unconstrained by the demands of the Fest Photo Team. Loosey’s Pub has, easily, a million lights of constantly changing shade and tone. This creates a cornucopia of color and has given me some of my most vibrant images. Editing this shot, I wanted to play with that color. I intentionally played up the hue extremes and removed all saturation from anything on the more muted side of the spectrum. I was trying to imitate (and maybe make my own version of) the color-popping photography of fellow Fest photographer, Carolyn Ambriano. The end result is one of my favorite shots I’ve taken. It makes me wonder how I might re-edit other older shots with renewed perspective and unlimited time.
Lorien Lamarr / @shuttercrust / shuttercrust.com / shuttercrust@gmail.com
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The Penske File at FEST 17
Fest Veteran
When I shoot a band I always try to capture how the music makes me feel. This is a daunting, somewhat impossible task to translate a feeling evoked by sound into imagery, but still it remains my goal. In 2018 I shot The Penske File five times and, five times, I was disappointed with my shots. Technically good, sure. Emotionally evocative? Hardly. I knew Fest was my best chance to get it right (finally). The energy, the engagement and camaraderie of the crowds is unparalleled, which makes for truly epic crowd participation shots. In turn crowd participation is one of the best ways to capture that elusive mood: uproarious joy. It’s the best way to show the connection between people and the music and how music can move you (often literally). I probably took 50 shots of this set, perched on top of a speaker somewhat precariously. I think in the end I got a shot that shows both how The Penske File’s music makes me feel and also how incredible Fest crowds are.
Lorien Lamarr / @shuttercrust / shuttercrust.com / shuttercrust@gmail.com
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Larry and His Flask at FEST 9 10.30.10
Fest Veteran
It's 3...maybe 4am and I'm sleeping on the floor against the wall behind the door in an overcrowded room of 10ish people at the Holiday Inn. It was my first time being on the Fest Photo Team, and I'm shaken out of my sleep by the sonic wailing of a crowd in the hallway. Half awake, half drunk on cheap beer, shots with old friends and exhaustion of two days of non-stop shooting, I stumbled out into the hallway with my camera and before me was Larry And His Flask just turning this narrow, cramped sweltering space into their stage. It was ubiquitous with everything I felt music, and in turn Fest, to be about: traveling across the country, often through strange, unknown places, gathering together with some of your best friends to play your music wherever, whenever you could to those strangers who would be gracious enough to listen and share in the revelry of the moment. It wasn't long until security arrived and presumably we thought this would be the end, something about fire escape concerns...instead, and in the kindness of the moment, the show was invited to migrate into the lobby where the musical debauchery could continue in the spirit that is Fest.
Patrick J. Stefano / www.patrickjstefano.com
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Bouncing Souls at FEST 20 (Bo Diddley Plaza)
Fest Veteran (9th Fest, 2nd on PT)
“Long time Fest attendee, first time on the Fest Photo Team.” The common refrain from everyone at some point during the introduction meeting of the Fest photographers on the Friday afternoon before it’s 60 hours of non-stop action. Coincidentally, this photo is from my second Fest on the Photo Team, but my 9th Fest as an attendee. It’s a photo of Greg from Bouncing Souls singing “The Pizza Song” while (L-R) Chuck Ragan, George Rebelo and The Pete Steinkopf provide the backing vocals. It’s a photo about hanging out with your friends…it’s exactly what makes Fest so special. Fest is about hanging out with your friends and singing along to your favourite songs. Whether you’re new to Fest, or new to the Fest Photo Team, you’re going to make friends. And there’s going to be singalongs. And it’s going to be the best part of your entire year. Ask anyone! Whether it’s their first Fest or their 20th Fest…what do we all have in common? Friendships at Fest.
Jeramie / @noflashnomasters
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The Homeless Gospel Choir at FEST 20 (The Wooly)
Fest Veteran (9th Fest, 2nd on PT)
Through the years, I’ve watched the Homeless Gospel Choir perform a dozen or so times in various cities; most memorably at the Rec Room (RIP) in Buffalo, NY opening for Anti-Flag, in the lobby of the Garden Bowl in Detroit, MI during the Suicide Machines Annual Black Christmas show, as the “headliners” at the Casbah in Hamilton, Ontario, and as the openers for My Chemical Romance in Newark, NJ. Big stages to small, solo performance or full band, whether they’re the opening act or the closers, tHGC lean into all of their live shows with an intensity that remind me why I fell in love with punk in the first place. Even through all of those shows, what makes their performance at FEST 20 memorable to me was the venue they played: The Wooly is narrow with a very low stage, which places the band in close proximity with the audience and allows the intensity brought by the band to be reciprocated by everyone singing along to every word. I got in real close for this photo of Derek, who was locking eyes with someone in the front row who was singing along to every word. Capturing this moment was giving me flashbacks to when I was that person singing along until I lost my voice in the front row for all of those Homeless Gospel Choir shows, and that feeling of intensity that I love when seeing my favourite bands in my favourite venues.
Jeramie / @noflashnomasters
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Skatune Network at FEST 19
Fest Veteran
Who knew ska fans had gotten so wild? The FEST 19 crowd at Heartwood Stage for Skatune Network was more raucous than a lot of hardcore shows I’d been to, but I could see why. Skatune Network was putting on a high energy show with an amazing lineup of singers and musicians on the stage. I had pushed my way to the front of the crowd and up to the edge of the stage. A drunk guy behind was trying to climb on my shoulders. I was getting buffeted by people in the pit, and I was trying to maintain my focus and get a few decent photos. Jer, the driving force of Skatune Network, was right in front of me on the stage, getting the crowd into a frenzy. Then he turned his back to the audience, spread his arms, and fell back into the crowd. Since I was right there, that meant he was on top of me, pushing my camera into my face and almost knocking me to the ground. As he surfed the crowd, I got upright again, feeling bruised and battered, thinking only two things: 1) I hope I got a good shot and 2) Fest is so awesome! I hope I get to come back and do this again next year!
Jonathan Botkin / @oddbotkin / oddbotkin.com / oddbotkin@gmail.com
