FREE FREE FREE MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

Today :08 transforms from one of Gainesville's most trafficked nightspots to the home of the first AM/FM Music Showcase. The About Music For Music Showcase is a music festival featuring acts by 13 of Gainesville best independent rock, folk, blues and hip-hop groups. 

"We are packing about four or five semesters of great live music into one day," says Jose Peruyero, one of the event coordinators, and singer and guitar player of local band Moodhosa. 

The event was created by Jose, Dante Lima and Marshal Patrick as an opportunity to give different genres of local music an outlet to present its talents to the community. With Gainesville's music scene focusing mostly on punk-rock, highlighted by events like The Fest and bands like Against Me!, AM/FM aims to bring attention to other genres, which Jose says don't have a real scene. "Living in Gainesville creates your music," Jose says. "We wanted to give all these hardworking musicians a place to showcase what they have been doing over the years." 

The festival has been in the works for about 4 months; when Haiti was devastated by earthquakes earlier this month, Jose, Dante and Marshal immediately decided to make the free showcase a benefit show, with any donations going to Haiti relief. "To me it was utterly shocking. Everyone was so receptive, none of bands were difficult to deal with, and they were so quick to give up money to Haitian relief," he says.  "With 13 bands, that's more than 30 to 40 people being selfless; not wanting any money and just wanting to be part of it."

The event will offer a forum for local bands, emerging musicians and fans to network and learn from each other. True to the festival's independent spirit, all the sponsorship is coming from local businesses such as Flaco's, Lipham Music, Mother's Pub & Grill, :08 and The Buzz. 

The music kicks off at 1pm and goes through 9pm with bands like Bang Bang Boom, D.P., The Footlights and Moodhosa. Jose says he's most looking forward to catching Michael Claytor & His Friends and The Haps. "If you love live music at all, if you love hanging out with people and supporting the community, this is the best place to see live music for free," Jose says. 

:08 is located at 201 W. University Ave. Admission to the all-day event is FREE. But take a few bucks for Haiti donations. For a complete lineup check out the event's Facebook page. 

-Stephanie Granada

Into The Fest 8: Day 1

The Venue/Sean Kelly

It's 7:22 on Friday night. I'm in the parking lot of The Kickstand—one of the venues hosting the three-day punk-rock extravaganza The Fest 8. I'm surrounded by tattoos, black, crotch-tight jeans and angst. Girls with short hair are everywhere. The environment here is friendly. It's a concrete parking lot with a huge, red warehouse with aluminum siding.

It's unbelievable how many people are in town for this. Inside the "shack," the heat is oppressive and stifling. Outside, shadows of people sit and drink beer in dark corners. A group of young British guys roll cigarettes and huddle around a case of PBR. Matt and Conor are in a band called Calvinball, playing at the Venue Sunday night. They're from Leeds and Sheffield. We chat while Failures Union (Buffalo, NY) plays in the rapidly cooling October air. They're melodic and the perfect accompaniment to shooting the shit. Conor tells me that England is pretty small and he keeps running into people he knows.

Joey Cape (San Francisco) is playing acoustic guitar for a crowd of about 50 people at the Civic Media Center. The whole room is singing his songs, so he takes a break to drink a beer and lets the crowd sing for him. He looks familiar. It hits me suddenly; he's in a band called Lagwagon. I remember them from middle school. EVERYONE is singing along to a song called "Violins." It's intimate, and I feel like a stepped into the world's friendliest keg party.

The Venue 9:15pm

All access is the shit. I'm spoiled and will throw a tantrum if I have to wait in any line all weekend. There are about 300 people in here. The band playing is Gainesville's Small Brown Bike. They sound seasoned and professional. The drummer's groove is deep and the bass player is riding it like a cowboy. There's no way to get close. With so many people here, I have to stand on the balcony to even see anything. (Sean Kelly)

The Side Hatch is the side stage at The Venue. Light Yourself On Fire (Tampa) is playing. I was not prepared for this. They're a hail storm of thrash. It's kind of hard to catch your breath. If I was a violent (and taller) man I'd get in to the pit and get some aggression out. Hey kids, wanna scare your parents? Go buy this band's record. The singer has two huge Xs tattooed on his chest. Young men keep exploding with helicopter fists. (Sean Kelly)

12:08pm Flacos

I had to take a break. Its rough in the streets (of The Fest). There is a makeshift mezzanine outside where grad-student types are drinking imported beer—the first time all day I've seen someone drinking beer that's not a PBR. All the men are wearing those rim-style glasses and chatting, jovially. I can hear Michael Claytor & His Friends (Gainesville) setting up, and I ate way too much pizza. Claytor is going to play again at the CMC on Sunday. I strongly suggest you go see him and his unique brand of acoustic indie-folk music. (Joel Mora)

If you ever listen to anything I say ever again, please listen to this: Gainesville's Morningbell is the shit. They went on after Claytor dressed like dead presidents. Morningbell sounds like a modern '70s disco band—but better. They're so effortlessly smooth and musical. (Eva Suarez)

So that's your inside The Fest Day 1. I'm tired and it's my bedtime. Tomorrow I'll check out the registration area and try to sneak into the Holiday Inn. Also, if you have any ideas of what bands I should see in the next two days, e-mail me: silmanorama@gmail.com. Peace.

—Jon Silman