Culture
Athens Community Arts and Music Festival returns Saturday
By: Julia Weber
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – From student bands to nationally touring acts, the Athens Community Arts and Music Festival brings together a diverse lineup of performers and artists Saturday in the heart of uptown Athens.
“We are excited for the return of the Athens Community Arts and Music Festival, and another year of celebration and creativity. This event epitomizes the essence of our vibrant community, uniting artists, musicians, and art enthusiasts to showcase the richness and diversity of Athens,” said Scott Winland, the lead organizer of the festival, in a press release.
The celebration kicks off Friday night with a pre-party featuring live music at three Athens venues. Presented by Blackout Booking, the event offers a $12 wristband that grants access to all three shows, or individual venue admission for $10 each.
The night begins at 8:30 p.m. at The Side Bar (24 1/2 East State Street) with a lineup curated in collaboration with the Athens Artists Memorial Project, featuring Basket Case, Drawknife, the Caitlin Kraus Trio, and Laura Nadeau. At 9 p.m., The Union (18 West Union Street) hosts a Primus tribute by members of Hellnaw and Any Colour under the name Big Brown Beaver, along with performances by Dune, Speedknobs, and Dysfunktional Family. The final show starts at 9:30 p.m. at Casa Nueva (6 West State Street), organized in collaboration with Skate Jam Athens, and features Jone, Big Fat Head, Jackoff Demons, and Coralily.
Saturday brings a full day of free live music to Union Street, with performances from both local favorites and nationally touring acts.
The lineup includes Athens-based Americana artist Adam Remnant and melodic guitar-pop group The Laughing Chimes, as well as high-energy sets from Detroit garage rockers The Gories and Brooklyn’s Gustaf, known for their post-punk-infused dance grooves. Also taking the stage are Combo Chimbita, blending psychedelic textures with Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and The Local Honeys, a Kentucky duo rooted in traditional bluegrass.
Rounding out the bill are a strong mix of regional acts, including Columbus-based punk group DANA, Yellow Springs indie rock band Gardener, Cleveland/Akron rock outfit PAL, and two bands from Stuart’s Opera House’s Afterschool Music Program (AMP), making for a day that highlights the region’s musical diversity.
Evan Seurkamp, lead vocalist of The Laughing Chimes, said he is excited to play alongside local and regional bands during the festival.
“It’s nice to have local bands get to play with some of those more long-running legendary acts and get in front of a bigger stage in the community,” he said.
Seurkamp said he appreciates the value of bringing local musicians together, as it can offer inspiration and opportunities for collaboration.
“I always think that one of the best things about playing with local acts is that there’s a chance for inspiration there,” he said. “It’s nice to pick up on what other people are doing and find ways that you can be inspired by them.”
The Laughing Chimes themselves originated from AMP, which fosters young musicians in a collaborative, supportive environment. Today, Seurkamp—one half of the original duo—serves as an AMP instructor, helping guide a new generation of student musicians. Two AMP bands are set to perform at the festival on Saturday, continuing the program’s tradition of nurturing emerging talent.
For Seurkamp, the AMP program offers students a chance to learn about collaboration and creativity through musical experiences.
“It’s a space where it’s less about learning to play your instrument and be really good at playing your instrument or be really good at playing music and more about trying to hone in on your creative talents and learning how to be collaborative and creative in that sense,” Seurkamp explained.
To him, live performance allows student bands to experience what playing music in front of an audience is really like.
“It’s a really good spot for them to get a chance to see what an actual crowd is like in that capacity, or to be on a little more professional stage. They always seem to have a lot of fun doing it,” he said.
In addition to the musical lineup, ACAMF will feature an art market composed of regional artists such as Cricket Jones Jewelry, Sun Spots, and Quinn Amorette Ceramics. Regional arts organizations such as the Athens Artists Memorial Project and the Athens Municipal Arts Commission will also present educational programming.
For Seurkamp, the festival is an important community event that offers accessible opportunities to experience live music and art.
“This festival is definitely very important,” Seurkamp said. “For one thing, it’s all free, so it’s very accessible to everyone. It’s a long-running event, too, so it’s something that people can look forward to every year,” Seurkamp said.