Bunbury Eve

It’s the night before the inaugural Bunbury Music Festival kicks off in Cincinnati, and, like a kid on Christmas Eve, I’m having a hard time falling asleep.  It’s literally like Christmas in July for me.  I’ve been to big music festivals before – SXSW, Lollapalooza, MPMF – and it’s always super-exciting, but Bunbury feels a little different.  

If you’re not from the Southwest Ohio or Northern Kentucky area, you might not have all the details to fully appreciate the significance of this event.  Sure, Cincinnati has MidPoint Music Festival, which is a big freakin’ deal, but Bunbury is a new breed of animal.  The festival combines some of the most well-known talent in today’s alternative music world, like Death Cab for Cutie, Weezer, and Jane’s Addiction, with extremely talented national up-and-comers and equally-as-talented bands that call the Cincinnati area home.  Coincidentally (or not????) on the same weekend as Forecastle Festival in Louisville, KY and Pitchfork in Chicago, it gives music lovers in the Midwest a third option, putting Cincinnati on the map and giving the city’s culture and music scene a chance to throw down on a national level.  I’m all for that.  I’m not a native to the area but since setting down roots here four years ago, I’ve felt that Southwest Ohio musicians have talent and passion to equal most artists being chatted up in the blogosphere or played on satellite radio.  Now’s the time for them to show it.  Now is also the time for the area’s citizens to show that they care about the diamonds in the rough they’ve got right underneath their noses.  That they are proud of their city and what it has to offer.  That they deserve a place of national recognition, right alongside cities like Portland, Austin, or Seattle.  

For all those reasons (and the fact that I get to see ridiculously kickass bands all day for three days straight), I am stoked for Bunbury.

I’ll be live-tweeting from The Lonely House’s Twitter account about stuff I’m seeing, things that are cool, and other bits and bobs, as well as posting a nightly recap of the day’s events.  

If you’re planning to head to the fest and are in need of cold refreshment, make sure to stop by the Dojo Gelato cart and get some of the best Gelato you’ve ever tasted — made and served by none other than TLH’s own Jared Bowers.  

Here’s my schedule for Friday’s festivities.  If you’re seeing any of the artists, make sure to Tweet me @lonelyhouseoh!  And make sure to also follow our radio partner, Salina Underground as Jonathan is going to be doing some interviews and coverage as well.

3:45-4:30 — All Get Out (Landor Stage)
4:30-5:15 — Crash Kings (Globili Stage)
7:00-7:45 — Chappo (Landor Stage)
7:45-8:30 — Airborne Toxic Event (Globili Stage)
8:30-9:30 — Minus The Bear (Bud Light Stage)

Rock On,

~Alicia