My biggest complaint last year was the lack of diversity in the audience. My shouting complaint was that there's got to be something wrong when the Country Hoedown Festival has more people of color than the Techno Festival. This year I was pleasnatly surprised to see this change. There was a lot more diversity. And my other major complaint about the terrible Video Screens last year was also greatly improved upon this year.
For next year, I hope to God they improve upon the disgusting state of the bathrooms. I paid for the VIP wristband, mainly because all of my friends from Chicago had them, but also because I was looking forward to being able to use clean bathrooms. I run a warehouse venue that looks rough, but bathroom attendants are mandatory in my mind, as with 1,000s of people, they get messy quick, and its not a nice thing to deal with when your drunk or on other additives. For $165 wristband, I expected to at least have toilet paper at 8:00pm on the first day of the festival. Unfortunately, there was not, and the facilities were disgusting. Hopefully next year they will improve upon this oversight. Even in the "public" outhouses, they really need to have someone overseeing this area. To be honest, trying to type about how disgusting this area was is making me sick. For those that were there, you know what I'm talking about. Overall, though, the music was great. Francois, Carl Cox, Kate Simko, Eric Johnson, Norm Talley, DJ Seoul... AMAZING!!!!! Looking forward to next year, and very happy that each year Paxahau is listening to people's complaints and making improvements. On Wed, May 27, 2009 at 12:22 PM, kent williams <[email protected]> wrote: > There were some great sets in the festival, and some great > afterparties. Mixed in with all that there was some complete > nonsense, which was easily avoidable. The sound at the underground > stage was criminal, and unfortunately really detracted from the sets > of some of the best performers. > > I don't know if I can just smell better because I quit smoking or if > there really was more marijuana being smoked this year, but any time I > was in a crowd at the festival I felt like I was inside a bong. And > when I was walking out after Derrick's set I was right behind two > underage kid gabbling about their friend with a 'mason jar of pills.' > Now I try not to judge, and lord knows I did my bit for Kentucky's > finer distillers this weekend. But the vibe is always better when the > focus is on the music, not the intoxicants. > > I have to write a proper article on it for the free paper for which > I'm A&E editor, so I'm going to save my more penetrating observations > for that. > > > On Wed, May 27, 2009 at 11:13 AM, Arturo Lopez <[email protected]> > wrote: >> So what's the verdict this year? Should I be kicking myself for >> missing an incredible few days or did I dodge a mediocre festival >> bullet? Def in for next year though. >> >> -Art >> > -- 313-915-1164 Events & Promotions Director Russell Industrial Center | www.RICDetroit.com Russell Bazaar | www.RussellBazaar.com Russell Gallery | www.Gallery.RussellBazaar.com Exhibition Center Showplace | 5 and 10 | myspace.com/nikislocos5and10bar Upcoming Dates to Note: May 8th - June 8th: Summer in the City - Russell Gallery May 15th - May 26th: Electronic Music Arts Exhibition - Exhibition Center May 22 / 4:00-9:00pm Music Biz Camp - Exhibition Center Members of the Global Electronic Music Industry come together in a series of roundtable discussions to work together to progress the industry to the next level JUNE: THE RUSSELL BAZAAR CELEBRATES BLACK MUSIC MONTH June 6 / 9:00-10:00am Business Development Seminar - Russell Gallery Working with an intern, how do you find one, manage their time, and utilize their skills to increase your companies value? June 6 / 5:00-7:00pm R&B Cats - An all male lineup of R&B Vocalists Kendrick Hardaway, Raw Voyces, , Jay Michealz, Akinyele’, Ayedee, Dollah Jones June 13 / 5:00-7:00pm R&B Chicks - An all female lineup of R&B Vocalists D’Nay, Ms. Smith, Jai Fears, Katrina Carson, Lady Te, Leigh Ashleigh June 20 / 9:00-10:00am Roundtable Seminar Workshop - Exhibition Center Making a commercial for use on YouTube, your website, or TV / 5:00-7:00pm The Eclectiques - A mix of Neo, Soul, Poetry & Jazz Vocalists J. Stokes, Charity, Kendrick Hardaway, Prince j, Journey, Poetic Bree June 27 / 5:00-7:00pm Alternative Tongues - a lineup of alternative, techno, rock & Pop vocalists & Groups D.U.O., Anistyn, Switchblades, OrgaNized Khaos, Lisa Lauren Smith August 29-30 People's Arts Festival www.RCCADetroit.org
