Longtime Salem promoter and former Wasteland730 owner Jared Sheridan has organized a local DIY (do-it-yourself) festival of monstrous proportions. The free event is called “LAMEfest” and it’s happening from rock n’ roll dawn (noon) until the festival runs out of acts on Friday, July 20 outside The A-Frame (5775 Gaffin Rd. Salem). Those curious about the open-ended closing time should know there are roughly 30 performances scheduled, so it’ll be running a bit late.
“I always have issues getting people to come out (to concerts),” said Sheridan. For this festival “I wanted people to have something free to go to that had a lot of different genres of music, so that people could ignore the economic depression we are dealing with and can remember it’s fun to go out do something.”
Highlights of the event include garage punk band Midnight Persuasion, soul singer/guitarist Rich McCloud, rock combo Bonneville Power, folk pop duo Kalaloch, indy dance outfit Ghost Tapes, Sheridan’s metal band Neversleep, a local comedy stage, a hip hop hour and a handful of touring or regional metal and punk bands. The event also features a slew of other artists and acts from all over the musical spectrum.
“All I’m looking for is people (from the community) to come and check out new kinds of music,” said Sheridan. “There are a bunch of great bands around town that people may not know about, or may know about but haven’t given a chance.”
“Any donations I get are going to go towards the rental of the property and to give gas money to bands,” added Sheridan.
Though the promoter hasn’t even seen his first LAMEfest, his mind is still bubbling with ideas for the next annual event.
“I’m going to start working on LAMEfest Part Two the moment this one is over,” said Sheridan.
“I’d like to do it next year at somewhere that’s even bigger and more open like at Riverfront Park. I’d like to keep it free, but I’d like to get sponsors to make it more accessible and to get bigger bands… at least to get a few headliners.”
