BloomingtonFest

Get ready to down some energy bars or at least drink a bunch of coffee in preparation for BloomingtonFest 2001. This year's fourth annual alternative arts and music festival incorporates six venues and more than sixty bands into one weekend. But, it doesn't end there. Throw in two different art exhibits, one film festival and one afternoon game of kickball in the park, and the weekend is set. Steve Duginske put together the first BloomingtonFest four years ago, and since that time, it has grown into an event that includes more than music and more than one person behind the wheel. \nThis year's fest offers two art exhibits, one by Dirty Scarecrow Productions featuring nine different artists. Eric Weddle of Family Vineyard Records gathered a collection of rock posters from Bloomington, ranging from the 1960s to today. Additionally, for the first time, Second Story Night Club, 201 S. College Ave., and the Cellar Lounge, 123 S. Walnut St., are official venues for BloomingtonFest.\n"It all slowly came to together," said Duginske about the events for this year's fest. "I'm doing my part of the music. (Bloomington record label) Secretly Canadian is doing their part of the music. We're all doing it on the same weekend." \nLast year's BloomingtonFest was the first to include a showcase of Secretly Canadian bands in the Rose Firebay room at the John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut St. Once again, Secretly Canadian will feature bands on their label. \n "This is pretty much a big family reunion," said Jonathan Cargill of Secretly Canadian records. Almost all the artists featured on the Secretly Canadian label will be at BloomingtonFest. According to Cargill, that means a wide variety of musical styles, from soft acoustic music to rock to jazz.\n"The beauty of it this year is that it's a pretty eclectic mix. Any given night, you're probably going to come across some genre that you really like," Cargill said.\nFor people who might need a break from bouncing between Rhino's and the Waldron or who are simply looking for some movies, Secret Sailor Books, 202 N. Walnut St., is hosting the Lost Film Festival all weekend. Films vary in length and subject, from "Public Weapon," a three minute eyewitness video about police brutality to "Edge of Quarrel," a two hour film about a fictional battle between crusty punks and straight-edge kids. \n"We wanted to show new, uncompromising films to people who wouldn't necessarily see them," said Rebecca Rakstad from Secret Sailor. "There are people making films at a higher level and doing it independently."\nIn the same sense, all the music at BloomingtonFest can be considered a celebration of the independent. All movies, art and music at BloomingtonFest are part of this wide open genre, which is something many venues are excited about.\n"It's a privilege for us," said Brad Wilhelm, director of Rhino's All Age Music Club, 325 1/2 S. Walnut St. about hosting BloomingtonFest. "It's a chance to present the best of the best of underground music." \nSome of the bands featured include Olympia, Washington's Unwound, who will perform on Sunday. Often mentioned in the same breath as underground pioneers Fugazi and Sonic Youth, Unwound is not compared to both bands so much because of their sound, but for their musical impact on the bands of today.\nOther bands visiting this year range from the re-energized New-Wave stylings of The Faint, to the soothing instrumentals of Unwed Sailor, to the moody and distinctive music of Annika Bently. Rapidly becoming Bloomington favorites, Michigan's Small Brown Bike return for their third Bloomingtonfest. \nAs BloomingtonFest becomes a yearly tradition, Wilhelm sees the strong support the fest gets every year, and how audiences anticipate future festivals. \n"Every year, people ask, 'When's next year's fest?'" he said.