WEFEST press release for 2002:
The Indie Engine That Could
7th Annual Wilmington Exchange Festival Kicking And Shining
May 23-29th, 2002
WILMINGTON, NC -- The Wilmington Exchange Festival - or WE Fest, if you're down - is a labor of love founded in 1996 by a group of music lovers with a special place in their hearts for the underground (aww.)! This down-home, southern good time is devoted to the appreciation of everything new and exciting in the world of independent arts. Featured nationally on MTV's "Indie Outing", Men's Health, Option, the late lamented POPsmear, and countless 'zines, this phenomenon has earned a reputation for showcasing great bands of all genres - before appearing on anybody else's radar.
"WE Fest was very much an outgrowth of the international "Mail Underground" (us wacky folks who trade music and literature by mail)," co-founder Kenyata Sullivan said. "Rick D'Anjolell and I had been involved as organizers, performers and/or panelists in a number of music conferences - SXSW, CMJ, NEMO, Philadelphia Music Conference, etc - and had become disgusted by all of it. The money had taken over. The bands, crowd, and artists were just kind of there. No respect for them - nada. It was all about the cash, and it rubbed us wrong. We looked at all of the events going on, learned what not to do, and. Voila!"
Only unsigned bands are allowed to showcase, and past years have seen The Dismemberment Plan, Mooney Suzuki, Ex-Models, XBXRX, Mountain Brothers, Martha Mooke (ASCAP Songwriter Award winner 2001, currently working with David Bowie), Mike Errico, Lamb Of God, Discount, The Waking Hours, Kid With Man Head, and other great artists from around the globe. (Seriously! Musicians have travelled from as far away as Japan, The Netherlands, Ireland, and England to be a part of WE Fest.)
Although showcasing bands will not be playing before A&R reps flinging record contracts folded like paper airplanes, they WILL play before a dedicated, national community of die-hard music fans, underground publishers, and independent filmmakers. "The connections made here are the real deal, with people who support art for it's own sake," says Nathan Perry from Chicago, one of literally hundreds of WEFesters across the country working gratis to spread the word.
Here is one shining WE Fest moment: Kenyata overheard a death metal outfit sincerely yell "You f#&*ing rock!" to a lounge pop band sharing their bill. "That was like victory. I mean, right at that moment, I knew it worked. The same way industrial artists trade soundscape tapes with folk singers through the mail on the underground - this was all happening in person, in real time. The web of artists and home-tapers, genuinely caring about the underground, was forming into flesh. We're still growing, like our own little culture bunker Frankenstein."
It all goes down May 23 - 29th, one show per night with no overlapping events. A week-long, all-access pass is only $15.00 and can be purchased at any venue in downtown Wilmington or at the home of Dawson Leery. All major labels or subsidiaries must pay $1500.00.
"Everyone leaves blown away by the entire experience, and the fact that for once in their lives, they haven't been conned."
For more info: http://www.wefestival.com
Press Contact: Carla Parisi, ptninja@optonline.net, 973-283-2322
Co-Founder: Kenyata Sulivan, info@wefestival.com, 910-256-3791
Confirmed Artists for WE Fest 2002: > Jim Testa (New Jersey), Astronaut Lost (New York), LandSpeedRecord > (Maryland), Invictus (North Carolina), Val Emmich (New Jersey), The > Swimmies (New Jersey), Dysrhythmia (Pennsylvania), All the Dead Pilots > (Maryland), The Flashing Astonishers (New York), Prosolar Mechanics (New > Jersey), The Jackson Hives (North Carolina), The Maggies (Massachusetts), > Jake the Evil Redneck (North Carolina), Colin Gilmore (Texas), Milagro > Saints (North Carolina), Evelyn Forever (New Jersey), Bible Of The Devil > (Illinois), Worm Quartet (New York), The Feebles (North Carolina), Clang > Quartet (North Carolina), Cropduster (New Jersey), Tracy Shedd (Florida), > Summer Set (North Carolina), The Negatones (New York), Audio Explorations > (Florida), Jack McCoys (Massachusetts), The Secession Movement (New > Jersey), Glow in the Dark Scars (North Carolina), Kristen Forbes > (Massachusetts), The Method and Result (Pennsylvania), Gerty (North > Carolina), Smarty Pants (Oklahoma), Suitcase (North Carolina), Krakatoa > (New York), Ostinato (Virginia), Cropduster (New Jersey), Dewey Defeated > (New Jersey), Derail (North Carolina)
More to come!
We are no longer accepting band submissions for the 2002 festival, but indie-friendly Media Sponsorships are still available.
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