December 07, 2010 Music » Music Features

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Recess Fest returns for a winter jam 

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click to enlarge ANGUS LAMOND - PLAY BOYS: Recess Fest co-founders Casey Malone (left) and Zach Reader
  • Angus Lamond

  • PLAY BOYS: Recess Fest co-founders Casey Malone (left) and Zach Reader

Being an adult doesn't mean that you can't play. At least, that's how Zach Reader and Casey Malone, co-founders of Recess Fest, feel.

The event, which started this past summer, is a three-day music festival — taking place Dec. 10-12 — which spotlights more than 25 local and regional bands, playing at eight venues around Charlotte. Along with the music, organizers will also be serving up barbecue, hot chocolate, holiday karaoke sessions and more.

"It came from an idea of something like field day," said Reader, 22. "Something where you can get out for the whole day and just have fun with your community and meet new people."

According to Reader, when Recess Fest was staged in the summer, he and his roommate/partner Malone, also 22, had high hopes and were pleasantly surprised at the turnout for the initial one-day celebration. "We were really, really surprised at how it turned out. We didn't know if people would stick with us the whole day, but they did."

Reader said because of the success and good word of mouth of the summer fest, everyone — from the venue owners (including Century Vintage, Snug Harbor and more) to the musicians — were on board for the winter event.

This time around, Recess Fest is longer, and that's because of the season. "It's a longer vacation," he said. "We'll be doing winter-themed things ... potlucks and stuff like that — more warm things to keep people from the cold."

And this time, expect to see under-the-radar bands like Hermit Thrushes, Whatever Brains, Wild Wild Geese and Bo White's Holiday Ensemble and many more take the stage at spots in Plaza Midwood, NoDa and finally ringing in the grand re-opening of The Milestone in west Charlotte.

When it comes to building a music festival, history says Charlotte isn't exactly the best place to do it. But Reader, who plays in the band Blossoms with Malone and third roommate Dustin Tape, is optimistic about Recess Fest and its potential to grow in the Queen City.

"It just takes people giving it a chance to come out and hear these bands they haven't heard," he said. "As far as the event, we want it to be open to everybody. We did the fest because there isn't a multiple-day festival in Charlotte that we could think of on this kind of level. Each time, we're hoping to build and add new people." That's why Reader and his band mates will make an appearance at Dharma Lounge this Wednesday during the club's Le Bang event to drum up more interest.

Eventually, he expects the event will be a one-day thing. Ultimately, he hopes that Recess Fest will give local bands a financial shot in the arm. "It's not something we're trying to profit off at all. We want to make sure that the touring bands are happy," he said. "All of the proceeds go to the bands."

Want to get more information or purchase passes for Recess Fest? Log on to www.recessfest.blogspot.com or stop by Lunchbox Records, 1419 Central Ave.

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