3 days, 6 stages, 60+ bands, 1 person who will try to do it all…
For the first time ever, Indianapolis played host to the White River Arts and Music Festival – or “WARMfest,” where artists on both the local and national levels would congregate to Broad Ripple Park for a celebration of all things, well, art and music.
Needless to say, it didn’t take much to sell me on this idea. Besides, who wouldn’t love three straight days of live music? So after securing a place to park, hopping on a shuttle and picking up my pass, it’s time to get started.
Quick Note: covering festivals is always a challenge, especially when a million other things are happening around you. To better present to you everything as I saw through my eyes, this entire post will be presented in journal format, including any Tweet or Facebook posts throughout the day from either my account or the official WARMfest account.
12:15 p.m.: Much like every festival I go to, I never know where anything is, even if I did pick up a map at the entrance To do it one better, the only band I’ve really heard of during Day 1 won’t go on until close to 7:30. So naturally, I do the only thing I can do in a place like this:
Wander.
In doing this, I stumble upon a small tent area adorned with Sam Ash banners and a few guitars set up outside of it. This would come to be known as the Otter Stage. Actually, it’s more of a tent than a stage, creating a more enclosed, more intimate space for up-and-coming artists to perform.
At this moment, it’s a solo artist by the name of Heidi Gluck. There are no effects, no backing tracks and not a whole lot of talking (bands only get 30 minutes to perform). Just one woman, her guitar and the few people who stuck around the watch.
As for her performance, it’s a very intimate, very bare-bones performance that is as honest as it was pleasing. She’s very in-tune with what she’s doing, and the people around seem to be enjoying it, which currently consists of a mixture of both adults and kids with their parents. Some people even set up lawn chairs and park it in the tent. Hey, there’s music and it’s shaded. Win/win.
12:50 p.m.: Since I’m still exploring, let’s see what else they have around this park. Just outside of the Otter Stage is the Indie Arts & Vintage Marketplace, full of many different local vendors selling their various vintage and handcrafted goods. You can also find the playground area next to the entrance open, giving parents with small children a place to go if they need something else to do. Me? I’m more interested in the area selling water outside of the tent. It’s a toasty 90 degrees by this point, and since we’re in Indiana, it’s pretty humid. It might be a long day…
For the hungry, there is a large contingency of food trucks line up all around adjacent River and Hawk Stages, offering everything from pierogi and sandwiches to coffee and popsicles. However, lunch can come later. I still have plenty to check out around these grounds.
1:00 p.m.: One thing I do admire so far about WARMfest is how eclectic it is. If you like rock n’ roll, you can check out Human Lights at the Hawk Stage, if you want something more ambient, there’s Step Rockets at the Heron Stage, or if you want to dance, Cadillac G is spinning records at the Eagle Stage.
Then there’s the River (Main) Stage, where Boston natives Gentleman Hall have taken the stage.
To properly describe them, they’re one of those eclectic rock bands that blends traditional sounds with items flutes and synths, making for a very enjoyable, albeit a very familiar trend going on in modern contemporary rock today. For their performance, they’re fun, have a sort of infectious energy, and the few that are in attendance at the moment seem to be enjoying themselves. Not a bad way to kick off the main stage.
1:30 p.m.: Attendance at the moment is fair. Nothing overwhelming, but definitely not deserted. I know a few of my friends will be coming out later today, and maybe it’s a good thing they’re not right now. I feel as if I’m in a sauna with my only relief being a bottle of water and a popsicle from Nicey Treats (my salvation for today). The show must go on! I might need a tree to go sit underneath…
1:45 p.m.: The Heron Stage gets my vote for favorite stage so far. Not just because of all the talent being showcased (currently it’s the Know No Stranger Row Show, a musical wooden puppet show used to raise awareness about Indiana’s parks and waterways), but also because this is the one with the most trees around it! Clearly everyone else is thinking the same thing I am, as the only places where people are sitting is underneath the shade. There are some who choose to stand in the sun up by the stage, and those are mostly photographers (including my boss. Hey, Sean!)
2:15 p.m.: Where is the Wapahni Riverboat? On the plus side, I did find the Eagle Stage, where DJs would be spinning all throughout the festival. I’m sure at night it’s jumping, but right now, it’s more of a place to escape the sun and enjoy EDM.
2:30 p.m.: I didn’t find the Riverboat. I did find a tree. It’s at this moment where I find myself in a bit of a lull. The heat is getting to me, as is the enormous po’ boy I had for lunch. I may need another popsicle soon.
Twitter Update: Nicey popsicle truck is making a killing today (and people like me thank them for their delicious treats)
I’m here until 10? Better suck it up and deal with it. Onward to the next one!
3:15 p.m.: As alluded to earlier, it’s a great mix of local and national bands. Up next on the River Stage, we have Kopecky Family Band, hailing all the way from Music City, USA (or Nashville as it’s known to the rest of us). In keeping up with some of the trends, they’re very much of the indie/rock genre, but musically they were very tight and very fun to watch. Fans familiar with them enjoyed it, while people like me who are just hearing them for the first time are finding a lot to enjoy. Overall, a very enjoyable band that definitely took my mind off the heat for a few moments.
3:55 p.m.: Just as they’re wrapping up, I get a flyer for a band called Party Lines, who will be performing at the almost adjacent Hawk Stage. I think I’ve heard of them before, so let’s go check it out.
4:05 p.m.: I got a text from a friend that reads as followed:
It’s pouring rain here in Lebanon! I hope it’s not headed your way…
Come to think of it, there are clouds moving in, and maybe the wind is starting to pick up a little. This better hold off until later. I still have more to see…
4:06 p.m.: Now, where was I? Oh yes, Party Lines, a local band that sounds, well, like the kind of band you would listen to when you want to get the party started. Blending elements of pop, funk and even electronic, they’re fun, lighthearted, and those who have migrated this way seem to think the same thing, as there are several that are dancing the afternoon away.
The show goes on…well, sort of.
4:30 p.m.: Towards the end of the set, we’re all informed that a storm is moving through and that we must find shelter until the storm passes. Many head back to their cars to sit it out, or they head towards the family center at the park entrance. The rest of us seek shelter in a park pavilion, which worked for a second until security told us that we needed to find a more sheltered place to go. That being said, I didn’t want to head back to my car in the event that the rain would stop and the show would continue, so family center it is.
The rain has let up, but there’s still a light drizzle. On that note, is there any merit to the myth that you actually get wetter when you run?
5:00 p.m.: The family center is pretty packed, with people at every corner. It’s a pretty calm environment, with light conversation and people checking their phones for updates. At this time, Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr has officially been scratched, but the rest of the event is still up in the air. Will it go on? We’ll see.
Event staff is still checking the radar every few minutes, and shuttles are still running in case anyone wants to go back to their cars. My phone is starting to die and I have no service here anyway, so it’s back to Glendale I go.
And this may have been a mistake.
Twitter Update: Booooooooorrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiggggg
6:00 p.m.: How do you pass the time in your car? Simple: you listen to music, recreate scenes from Doctor Who involving the Daleks, debate going to see Kick-Ass 2 at the movie theater next door, and you check Twitter to see if there are any updates. Exciting stuff…
Twitter Update: Two people in the parking lot brought a football. They’re called geniuses #stormtweet
It’s been about 2 hours, and still nothing to report. Boredom has set in, but I do have a text conversation with a friend to keep me sane (and tell me to go see a movie).
And we have a few updates:
@WTHRcom: @warmfest still closed due to weather. Patrons told to go to cars or stay in family center. Festival NOT canceled at this time.
And from Mr. Dave Lindquist:
@317lindquist: Still in weather limbo at @WARMfest. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. is off the board, holding out hope for Mayer Hawthorne and Delta Spirit.
7:20 p.m.: Twitter update!:
@WARMfest: We will make an official announcement in 10 minutes. Thank you for your patience.
Okay, so now we have a time frame. I’m still optimistic, but I’ve also been sitting in one spot for long enough. These next ten minutes might drag, and once again, I’m glued to my phone, which is normally the last thing I want to do, but I digress.
7:30 p.m.: Do they mean 10 minutes in real time or like in that old anime show I used to watch as a kid, where 5 minutes equated to about half of the season? Oh wait, we have an announcement…
ANNOUNCEMENT: The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch which includes WARMfest until 11pm.
Due to this announcement and advice from our meteorologist, the event at Broad Ripple Park will not continue tonight. Despite our best efforts to convince the weather to play nice, we will not be able to open the park back up.
Keep your wristbands on! Today’s festival attendees will be able to attend the festival on Sunday or Monday if wearing a Saturday wristband.
And from Twitter:
@WARMfest: FYI: we did NOT want to shut down! We love live music and wanted more than anything to be able to continue. Wish we could control lightning!
So there it is. Day 1 has officially been called. Is it a bummer? Yes, a little bit, but when we’re barely two years removed from a tragedy and you have this many people and their families around, it’s best to be safe. Tempers will cool and memories will fade, and so will this storm eventually. That being said, time to go home, where I will hope and pray that the weather will play nice for Day 2.
Final verdict?
Despite spending most of my money on water, food and popsicles, it was a very enjoyable day. The only things I would’ve changed (besides the weather) was the dehydration I’m currently experiencing (my fault) and the sun burn (also my fault).
So what will Day 2 hold? We’ll see….