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RIFFLANDIA
Message Board > Controversy and Quarantine > RIFFLANDIA
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rusted hub cap
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I have heard that Victoria's big indie music festival Rifflandia will not be allowing acts from last year to play.
makes sense for bigger bands but for the local bands, that is a blow.

I realize they are trying to be a big deal now, so they can't hold on to indie values anymore (or did they ever)... but excluding so many local bands is not very community oriented, which Rifflandia is constantly boasting about.

Support the community by showcasing what is local and up and coming. hmm... why not give them opening slots for bigger bands. wont take away from the draw. pretty simple concept - Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:35am Edited: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:36am
T. Depression
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Why is this in Controversy and Quarantine? Where is the Contoversy??? I dunno...there wasn't a single band on last year's fest worth seeing. Seems like a pretty lame festival TRYING to be a big deal. Guess will see who they line of for this year... - Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:39pm
Rack-A-Lamb-A-God.
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No doubt T.Depression will hate them too.
Open up your little mind there T. - Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:08am Edited: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:11am
T. Depression
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I've got an open mind. Last year, Rifflandia had a really mediocre, middle of the road...SAFE line-up. There was not a single band on the bill that I was remotely interested in seeing...I know nobody who attended any of the shows, and I've heard nobody mention it since it happened. Seems like the festival made a very small splash last year.

I'm not big on festivals anyway, but at least something like Sled Island in Calgary has something to offer a wider variety of people. There may only be 5 bands on something like Sled Ilsand, that I'd pay to see...but that's better than the ZERO that Rifflandia had to offer last year.

We'll wait to see this year's line-up...I'm just surprised they haven't anounced any bif names for this yet... - Wed, 17 Jun 2009 3:19pm
Tyler
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how many local bands were there in rifflandia 2008? about 15? there are a tonnn more active bands in victoria than that, maybe they're just letting more people have a shot. so in a way, that's the opposite of excluding locals. I just hope they continue to put lots of locals on the fest. I can think of a ton of locals who would fit the sort of picks they make. maybe I misunderstood what you were saying though.

also I didn't go, and for mostly the same reason as T. there were some good bands but it didn't justify the high ticket price. I wanted to see Black Mountain, Bison, YSPWSD I guess, maybe Final Fantasy even though I've seen him twice, and a few of the locals. the fest really was "safe" too, none of the locals or touring acts were really adventurous as T said. I know a couple people who went and said they had a good time though. - Wed, 17 Jun 2009 4:28pm Edited: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 4:30pm
Mr. Hell
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Having a good time is what it's all about anyway.
Nitpicking about bands just leaves one sitting at home being bitter on their computer while the rest of the world enjoys life. - Thu, 18 Jun 2009 4:13pm
trevor corey
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^ +1 - Thu, 18 Jun 2009 6:14pm
denny
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didn't man man play rifflandia? that would have been worth seeing twice over. - Thu, 18 Jun 2009 6:18pm
T. Depression
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So...most fests do a big initial announcement of some of the falgship acts that they're bringing to a festival...here's what Rifflandia laid on us: Tegan and Sara, Buck 65, Holy Fuck, Champion, Mother Mother, Final Fantasy, Beach House, Shad, Pink Mountaintops and Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band.

Hmmm...I'm guessing that Champion isn't the Hardcore band from Seattle??? Hmmm...nothing exiting yet, more safe choices...hopefully this isn't the best the fest has to offer... - Sat, 20 Jun 2009 8:58am
Chopper
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Want some cheese with that whine? - Sat, 20 Jun 2009 10:20am
Sati
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If you're expecting that yours isn't the popular opinion, I think C&Q's the right place for initiating discussion.

I don't know much about this fest since I'm not over there, but from the little I do know, I agree with what Tyler said. And I think its refreshing for a festival to make a policy like that (no repeats). Its risky and shows balls when events like that are usually chalk full of favors being owed etc, especially when you're dealing with all sorts of people who control things on a local level.

And those bands may be ones you've already seen or not your cup of tea but the idea behind some of these festivals is hooking/bringing new people out who may not normally be seeing music, to check out new "select" bands. Different festivals have different mandates, and sometimes they change. I was one of the core group who started Music Waste and our vision included the festival's mandate being changed as its passed on through various hands down the line. And believe me it has - its moved a pretty far ways from our original vision of what that would look like!

And yeah, I really wish this Champion didn't use that name, too confusing since we used to see Seattle's Champion a lot here. They've been broken up a few years now I thought.

And re this: "Nitpicking about bands just leaves one sitting at home being bitter on their computer while the rest of the world enjoys life."
Truer words were never spoken. Although I do like to nitpick. ;) - Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:14am Edited: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:17am
Sati
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p.s. T Depression, I haven't been paying close attention here, but do you ever put on shows? - Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:19am Edited: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:19am
T. Depression
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I think the biggest problem with Rifflandia is the fact that I don't know what their mandate is. I'm not a huge fan of festivals in general, but they can be a good time..and if done right, they can get people interested in difefernt music, locally. At beast, I was hoping Rifflandia might take a few risks, book some interseting bands, and maybe become something that people might make the trip to Victoria for. People in victopria eat this shit up though...they're just glad that anything is happening.

Do I put on shows shows? Sure...

- July 3rd - New Krime, Endgagerd Ape, Sharp Ends at Logan's

- July 27th - Nobunny at Logan's

- Sept 25 -27th - "Shitlandia" Festival (different venues around Vic) - Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:02pm
Chopper
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Those that can, do. Those who can't, bitch. Get off your ass and start your own fest if the present fests aren't to your liking. Otherwise, shut your piehole. - Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:45pm
Sati
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Maybe they don't want you to know what their mandate is, and want you to just take the music selected for what it is and run with it any way you choose. I don't mind that type of concept - it means no one has to justify anything to anyone, and why should they, unless they do have someone to answer to, like funding bodies or whatever, and that doesn't need to be public. And who knows, maybe they will be taking risks with the new locals/openers...

It does sound like you do need to be working either with or against them in order for your expectations to be met, if you're that frustrated with whats going on over there. MWaste would never have been if everyone pissed off at MWest had just sat down & shut up like they assumed we all would.
Which reminds me, I've been meaning to dig out my old FxFO t-shirt! Although sx is/was/always awesome. :)

By the way, it never occurs to people, but most fest organizers worth their salt appreciate cooler offshoots. MWest was co-run by Laurie Mercer (No Means No's) at the time we started rolling, and he was more supportive of Waste than you'd think. He certainly was great to me and my guys. He split with his partner on mWest shortly after though, I gather in part because she wasn't so progressive minded. And their funding term expired. - Sat, 20 Jun 2009 1:11pm Edited: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 1:14pm
Tyler
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I just wanted to pop in again and say "Shitlandia" made my day and I burst out laughing at work while reading that. soooooo awesome. - Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:43pm
Yo Mama
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The fact someone would not pay to see Black Mountain in a converted church, with fog machines AND a beer garden, concerns me. - Mon, 22 Jun 2009 1:37pm
LETSGETRAD!
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^^ that black mountain gig was the best thing ive ever seen. haunting.

the lineup so far is terrible for any type of alternative fan though ill agree. last year i at least managed to see a couple bands i liked such as Howlin Rain, Black Mountain and a few other locals but that was it. i had the money at the time so i didnt care.

this year is another deal though. if theres single tickets for Pink Mountaintops id love to see them. otherwise im stayin far away - Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:58pm
Special Agent Jackass
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"The fact someone would not pay to see Black Mountain in a converted church, with fog machines AND a beer garden, concerns me."

I completely agree. That show was amazing. In fact, a handful of shows were great. The ones I didn't care to see, I didn't need to as there was something decent going on anyway. There are a lot of things people can bitch about. I don't know how "safe" the line-up was or what that's even supposed to indicate. I'd probably play it pretty safe if I was planning a first year festival, but booking acts like Black Mountain, Pride Tiger, Man Man, Blitzen Trapper, Bison and Johnny & The Moon sounds pretty awesome to me, and those shows in fact kicked ass.

A "safe" festival would probably require acts like Sam Roberts, Jets Overhead and other mass-friendly, sure bets that would inevitably make more money while seeming dull to those who actually saw last year's line-up as a good roster.

As for this year, I'm on the fence but will have to wait for the whole line-up to be announced before I make any quick judgments. - Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:59am
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