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What the Heck? July 15th, 16th, 17th 2011 - "The Last One"

joeyjoey
edited June 2011
Hi guys.
Just wanting to remind everyone and anyone interested that we are having What the Heck? again this year in Anacortes, WA.
You should buy your pass now! You should come! We are planning on ending this festival to start something else, something new. If you have kept thinking "Well, I'll just go next year..." for the last few years, this is your last chance.
This is the end of Heck as you know it. It's our tenth edition, A CELEBRATION.
This is an incomplete list of performers (to give you an idea):
LOIS, LITURGY, WYRD VISIONS, BEN & BRUNO (BB), EARTH, ANGELO SPENCER ET LES HAUTS SOMMETS, ARRINGTON de DIONYSO’S MALAIKAT dan SINGA, BROKEN WATER, D+, MOUNT EERIE, THE DRINK UP HONEY, Ô PAON, MECCA NORMAL, THRONES, BRAVE IRENE, PURPLE & GREEN, STEPHEN STEINBRINK, LAURA LEIF, KARL BLAU, THE VIOLINS, TAKHOMA, BITPART, FOR THE BIRDS, SAM LOHMANN, AARON PECK, THE HIVE DWELLERS, NICHOLAS KRGOVICH, TO BAD CATHOLICS, THE ZAPS (...).
In case you haven't seen the Port Warehouse (new venue we are using instead of City Hall), it's wonderful. It's right on the water.

whattheheckfest.com
whattheheckfestival.tumblr.com
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Comments

  • joeyjoey
    P.S.:
    Every year we hope someone will document the shit out of this. Every year a few people say they will shoot a documentary, then they flake out. If you have cameras and filming the events sounds like fun to you, shoot me an e-mail, I would love to work something out with you.
    I am genevieve at the address opaon dot ca.
  • Loose_ThreadLoose_Thread
    thinking of going

    i have a little snapshooter and Final Cut Pro... if anyone wants to team up to make a video crew, please do get in touch with me.
  • the_owlsthe_owls
    I'm going for the first damn time!

    I often document things (obvs) but am an un-reliable source for complete coverage... whatever I do/get I'll add to the pool?
    I make little vids here and there.
    I never take photos at live shows.
    I'll always take photos of food and trees, and people I know being funny.
  • UncleBoatShoes2011UncleBoatShoes2011
    Oh Neat!

    I will attend this!

    Also I will play music to dance to at the townie bar!
  • Judar_SpitzerJudar_Spitzer
    I'm going!
  • DeathDeath
    edited July 2011
    Last one? Really?
    but I was planning on saying "I'll go next year" for at least another year or two.
    sigh
    somebody give me a ride? and a place to sleep? Is Karl Blau's backyard pretty much booked this time of year?
    I'll shut-up and stay out of the way if someone figures out how I can work this.
    I'll be like a ninja.
  • DeathDeath
    nevermind. I just saw the pass prices. Totally can't afford it right now.
    I'll just go to the "something new".
  • Judar_SpitzerJudar_Spitzer
    hm, yeah. Anybody wanna car pool?
  • joeyjoey
    I am so glad to hear some of you are thinking of coming. It means a lot to get some interest from our peers over at Urban Honking. Come visit our small town! Eat a hot dog at the new hot dog restaurant! Swim in a lake!
    Places to sleep are scarce and crowded, but every year people work it out.
    For our yards, we sort of draw the line at people we know personally. Otherwise there are official places to camp.
    We are making this be the last one because we don't want to lose too much momentum. It's intense to run a festival with so many of the same artists every single year, but that is sort of the spirit of the event and tradition. Also, a bunch of newcomers this year, like people we have wanted to bring to town for so long.
    I am very excited about the "new" tradition of having Hot Air Balloon make us weirdos shake and boogie among the navy guys and bridesmaids.


  • YoursTrulyYoursTruly
    our friend Craig is going! He is in Gary's department in school.
    BE NICE TO CRAIG
    Who is called "Crig"
    Tell him I say "hi"
  • Cherry_PieCherry_Pie
    I am going! I was at the first and damned if I won't be at the last!
  • joeyjoey
    Woo!
    Crig!
    And Wanda, whom I am assuming is another W. name.
    I put an update on our tumblr about the first What the Heck? publication fair.
    It will be on the website shortly.
  • the_owlsthe_owls
    I am very excited for the publication fair! I'll be represented by/reppin' for Pub. Stud.!
  • joeyjoey
    Good news if you or a friend have nowhere to stay during the festival: I have just called the Anacortes Marina to make sure that they will be having camping this year and they will.
    The spots are first come first served, but I think it's unlikely they will run out immediately. They have showers there and it's a convenient place to camp, moderately priced and right in town.

  • MatthewMatthew
    The showers are totally nice.
  • NickNick
    No Canadian quarters.
  • joeyjoey
    We still have passes left!
    Both dinner options available!
    Off to print shirts.
  • Cherry_PieCherry_Pie
    Hey guys! Which dinner are you guys going to? Saturday?
    I'm buying my ticket! I think Saturday!
    I was just reading through the recaps of past WTHF's on their website and thinking, "I remember that! I remember that!" I'm happy to be going again, one last time.
  • joeyjoey
    We took the full passes off the site (had to give a final number to our food guy).
    Now we have partial passes (no dinner) available.
    But look at the Craigslist thread if you want a full one.
  • LelandLeland
    edited July 2011
    Good job people. That was a really great event. The series feels like a complete set. It has been an interesting ten years. I am going to enjoy reflecting on the transitions revealed through the frames of the Heck Fests for many years to come. Dandelion seeds scatter in the breeze.
  • the_owlsthe_owls
    I had THE BEST fest!
    Feel like kind of a dork for never making it up before now, the last time.

    I saw a SHARK! And a SUNFLOWER STARFISH!
    (things being caught and released from the dock)

    I danced until my SHOES BROKE, and then the next day I got them wet in the ocean!
  • the_owlsthe_owls
    *I saw DrJ leaping and bounding to and fro, like a poppin' popcorn, during some funky jams. You, sir, are a master of lightly leaping.
  • Loose_ThreadLoose_Thread
    I am so glad that you liked it!

    I am sorry I didn't go. I didn't want to take any days off.

    But I'll just think, I am sure it was the same infinite, unique, best fun that it ever has been..... no big deal.

    Will the "next thing" be in Anacortes?
  • the_owlsthe_owls
    I shook hands with Joey, IRL.
  • YoursTrulyYoursTruly
    ha ha ha!
  • MatthewMatthew
    Will there be an Anacortes?
  • distant_shoedistant_shoe
    yeh that she was some cool she
  • Cherry_PieCherry_Pie
    Oh wow.
    So nice.
    Friends everywhere.
    No jokes.
    Just kidding.
    Sea creatures.
    Freak dancing.
    High fives.
    Tent.
    Coffee.
    Poker.
    Songs.
    Energy.
    Fun.
  • distant_shoedistant_shoe
    realizing that heck fest happened for 10 years makes me feel really old
  • YoursTrulyYoursTruly
    Adam remember your autograph of Martin Short
    1985
  • joeyjoey
    There was a lot of love beaming from people. Things were said that were very very nice.
    High quality jokes (some of them involving toiletries).
    Old friends. New friends. Crossovers.
    Come back soon.
  • swamp_knobbler_mahanswamp_knobbler_mahan
    Did you guys ever get those little green rooms cleaned up? I think people were using them as bathrooms or something. GROSS. Apart from that, everything was amazing!
  • LelandLeland
    I heard they were closing Anacortes because of the internet. Or maybe I dreamed that.
  • LelandLeland
    edited July 2011
    I watched this internet movie for a while the other day. Whose face is that in the cloud? I think maybe Miranda July.

    It was cool. Tripped me out.

    I leapt 'til I slept.
  • joeyjoey
    Alex: Yeah, I'm pretty sure a couple people took dumps in the porta potties...
  • UncleBoatShoes2011UncleBoatShoes2011
    At least they closed the door.
  • UncleBoatShoes2011UncleBoatShoes2011
    I can't stop thinking about What The Heck Fest.

    Like summer camp x100 for me.

    That these/those people came together in such an uncynical way for 10 years from all over the country (mostly the PacNW) is so beautiful. The nice dudes from Chicago (Cains & Abels) who were hanging out this weekend were totally surprised how so many different sounds and musical scenes were represented and how open people were. In their area the musical scenes are so specifically tied to one specific sound. This year at Heck one night focused weird METAL bands and the next night was PURPLE & GREEN.

    It was beautiful. Every time. There was something so perfect about this music festival. Maybe it was the size of it, maybe it was the people who put it on, maybe it was the people who played, maybe it was the people who attended it, maybe it was the location. Oh wait, it was all of these things!

    It changed all the time, in interesting and challenging ways!

    Movies were shown.
    Literary readings happened!
    Powerpoints were presented!
    Dance Parties shook booties!
    Lakes were swum!
    Sails were painted!
    Parks were laid in!
    Poker was played!
    Stand Up Comedy was guffawed at!
    People were nice to each other!
    Wares were sold!
    Love was made!
    Bands were formed!
    Pizza was chanted!
    Audio Magic was spoken!
    Count Chocula was unearthed!

    Genevieve and Phil and Bret and everyone else whoever helped (DoS dudes, Gus Franklin, other humans) have given so much. They enriched my life.

    I will never forget.

    I am so excited for the next thing (The Unknown Music Series).
  • Loose_ThreadLoose_Thread
    Was Snake Boy there
  • UncleBoatShoes2011UncleBoatShoes2011
    Is that the same as Hot Child?
  • YoursTrulyYoursTruly
    That guy with the snake! Who he was like kissing and squeezing and freaking everybody out with!!!!! WHO COULD FORGET SNAKE BOY

    I second all of Steve's emotions about WTH. Every time I went it was such a special and truly enlightening/empowering/embiggening experience, even the time I broke my foot. Everyone there is so lovely and hilarious and talented. The openness and goodness. The different bands, the different nights' vibes. The lakes! The pizza chants!

    Freestyle rap contest Anna Oxygen so dominated that one time
    Poker
    Basketball with young girls getting very aggressive
    bootie dance
    Calvin's voice
    Franz walking gently around Phil's parents' yard, planting "dream seeds" in the ears of all the sleepers
    Crowd Surf Pizza Yarn Lzr Chant
    All the bands
    All the friends
    "Franklin's Morning Loaf" remember that loaf Gus made that one morning? Powerful Loaf. "It's just a normal loaf"--Gus
    Shows in the park
    Kevin hating Snake Boy so much
    Curtis playing the piano at the DoS
    Rob's made-up Jimmy Buffet song, "blew out my teva"
    Dinner show with Gary stand-up, "My Other Car Is A Wet Food"
    Learning about so many new bands
    Seeing so many ol' standbys and loving them
    Seeing so many friends' new projects emerge
    Phil and Joey's nice house with morning coffees
    B-fast burritos at Adrift
    Buying amazing sweatshirts

    I wish I had gone all 10 times. I wish I had been there for the final ride.

    I can't wait to see the next thing, and to see all you weirdos again.

  • MirandaJulyMirandaJuly
  • Loose_ThreadLoose_Thread
    Can we make this a thread about which Heck Fest artist we let sleep on our floor when they were on tour
  • UncleBoatShoes2011UncleBoatShoes2011
    Not unless it was during Heck Fest!
  • UncleBoatShoes2011UncleBoatShoes2011
    just kidding, you can talk about whatever.
  • Judar_SpitzerJudar_Spitzer
    It was really nice to spend some actual time with Phil & Genevieve. I couldn't believe they did pretty much everything related to this festival; the planning, the moving of heavy objects from place to place, the organization and hosting of the whims of every band. I felt very privileged to be a part of it, any of it.

    To me this really is the ultimate music-based festival. It was unlike anything I've ever been privy to. There was no pressure, no weird sponsorships, no intense crowds. It was a celebration of music and about a place, about ideals that we all probably share, even if it takes a remote town to realize it. It always made me consider the things that are truly important in my life, and I am so incredibly thankful for that consideration.

  • Judar_SpitzerJudar_Spitzer
    Plus, I always meet such great people there! Like, life-long friend material people! Huzzah and RIP to WTHF!
  • Judar_SpitzerJudar_Spitzer
    One moment, as the sun dipped below the horizon on the beautiful san juan harbor and music played inside the Port Warehouse, and people outside played a ramshackle game of tip it, a thought: not a soul in the world would not enjoy this experience.
  • LelandLeland
    edited July 2011
    Calvin's cruisin' shorts.

    The cat has a knack.

    Tahoe pointed out this antecedent to his look:

    image
  • joeyjoey
    edited July 2011
    One of the most precious lessons I have learned from this festival is that other people are good at doing stuff. As much as my household is in charge of a pretty big chunk of the organization, I know that there is a lot going on in at least four different other households in town. Many people's talents and homes are necessary to keep the event afloat. We need volunteers and so many strangers have come out of the blue to come and work as hard as an ox, just because.
    I am grateful for friends who take over as hosts, show initiative. Whether it's showing up with cereal and goat milk, keeping the coffee flow going in the morning, giving people rides, lifting heavy shit, working the door on a whim, or tending to the sick. The people we love have big hearts and it lightens the load.

    I liked the mystery behind Heck. Bands have varying lists of thank you's and the press never seems to figure out who the organizers are. People are left out, or added. Very funny interpretations of what is going on have surfaced every year.
    I love the idea of the mystery continuing.


  • UncleBoatShoes2011UncleBoatShoes2011
    Oh yeah,
    Who are those people that put this festival on?
    I think I met the one guy...Sean. He seemed intense!
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