Anti-Squatch Music Festival?

The People's Festival

"Can't afford Sasquatch? A Spokane 21-year-old and his high school friends think they have the answer for you." Read the Inlander.com's Leah Sottile's article here. No really, read this, then go there, then read that.

Anti-Squatch Festival

Austin Mell is a character, there's no doubt about that. I've known him for a couple of years now. He is always thinking up interesting stuff. But he and his friends have come up with a very good idea.

Austin, the guy who had enough courage to step forward and propose the idea of anti-(sa)squatch as well as organized and help put into motion the events of which some of us partook. Even though the performers and attendees did something too. - Wraith Snow

There has been a lot of talk in the NorthWest about how the Sasquatch Festival has started to suck and has lost its roots. I've been hearing this from the kids who have gone to it the past few years or longer and well, it's lost some of its originality, its "specialness".

javascript:void(0) Yes, it's definitely an event. Maybe even an event to attend but it depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for what it was originally all about, well, you should probably attend an entirely different festival.

In fact, this year, there was one. Fifteen miles south of Spokane, Washington. I wasn't there, I only just heard about it, but I know Austin and I thought I should point this idea out here. Kind of help along the movement, you know? No, I haven't been to Sasquatch, I've never much been into things of that size. I like smaller venues, less renowned artists. I prefer the grass roots of things. Even big bands admit that once you get to a certain size, somthing gets lost.

That's why Pearl Jam used to throw impromptu shows like one at the Crockadile downtown Seattle years ago. People showed up and hey, Pearl Jam is playing tonight, awesome! There are many more examples of bands doing things like that. My point is, they do that for a reason. Because to be really big, like Sas is, is to lose something you still crave.

It's something you just can't get or feel in a festival the size of a Sasquatch. Should Sas be killed? Perhaps not. That isn't the point. The point is, those who started loving it, have lost interesting. And you have to ask yourself, why?

I think Ausin and his friends have hit the nail on the head. Or smacked the rock star in the face with his guitar. What a concept, throw a festival with good people, art and artists that are trying to make it at reasonable people's prices.

Kudos to Austin and friends!

Now, what's next on the horizon? Because once you get on a roll, well, don't stop. People are counting on you.

From Inlander.com