Fall festival showcases local talent

By Gus Bode

Howard Steeley has built it – now he will find out if they come.

Steely is promoting the first Free Fall Classic Music and Art Festival, which takes place from noon to 8 p.m Saturday at Evergreen Park.

The festival will feature local music, live art, spoken word, stand-up comedy, children’s activities and battles with the Medieval Combat Society of Carbondale.

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Steeley, who plays bass in local band Drunk Virago, said the idea came to him after being in the Carbondale music scene for a few years. The different music scenes were not reaching the rest of the public, but the music warranted it, he said.

‘The music scene is doing well,’ he said. ‘You would not know that when you are here, though.’

Jeffrey Hill, who is also helping run the festival and is a member of local band Himalayas, said he hopes the event gives people the opportunity to hear bands that do not always get the most publicity.

According to the event’s press release, the bands performing include: Black Fortys, Himalayas, Nighty Night, Young Loves, Glass Pyramid, Small Time London Thug, Gods on Safari, Gorilla Heritage, Drunk Virago and Magnificent Tapeworms.

Steeley said he wanted to showcase more than just local music for the community, so he used his contacts to bring in poets, comedians and other artists.

The afternoon-into-the-evening show time was selected to give people who would not normally go to a house show or to the bars a chance to get familiar with some local artists, he said.

‘I’m hoping they will see some stuff they don’t normally get to see,’ he said.

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Beyond the festival, Steeley said he hopes people will become more involved in the different art scenes around Carbondale after the event.

Hill said the festival is a great occasion to show Carbondale the more modern and progressive music scenes that exist in the city.

He said a lot of people think larger cities are the place to go for great music, but Carbondale has its own share of fine bands.

‘We got this cool little scene that is just as good as anywhere,’ he said.

If the festival is a success, Steeley said he would like to make it an annual or an every semester event.

For more information on the festival visit www.myspace.com/musicartbattle

Luke McCormick can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 275

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