This fest was monumental for me. It was way, way out of my comfort zone to put this thing on, but I felt strangely compelled to do it from the moment the idea struck me. (I was beyond lucky to work with Henry Cron in this as partner. I look forward to more collaborations!) 

Certainly, it would have been easier for me to not organize this fest, and I nearly let it pass quietly like any other half cooked idea. But it felt physically wrong to me to not have this fest. It felt lik  the times demanded it, and this needed to be done now and not later. There was a sense of urgency. My hope was that it would solidify and make official this new emerging indie scene that I had witnessed tentatively forming the past 6 months in Daytona around my open mic at World's Most Farmous Brewery and Punk Rock Pizza on Main St. 

The fact that we had ten quality indie and punk acts performing original music in Daytona to crowded rooms, shows to me that my faith and hopeful assumptions were, in fact, not misplaced, as improbable as they might seem to be. Daytona is a music town, always has been, and it's starting now to get back on it's feet. 

My last post from months ago, caught me gingerly suggesting that Daytona might be entering a new era of live music, but I remember feeling silly and a little delusional even as I typed it. It's been said before. I've seen many a form-and-fizzle when it comes to collectives and communities surrounding music. 

Since my last cautiously optimistic post, a lot has developed in a short period of time. I have met new inspiring bands like Liquid Mirrors and Nashua Pond Association who I would have never dreamed could pop up in this town.

I've seen people meet and form bands right in front of me, and songwriters with virtually no experience rapidly advance their craft in just weeks in front of welcoming audiences. Perfomers are showing up for their friends and community, with consistency and intention, even when they aren't scheduled to perform that evening. It turns out I was right; a new music scene really had been forming and becoming a real, not just a figment of my imagination.

We tested it, pushed on it a little, and found that there was indeed something solid where we hoped there would be. 

This is only the beginning.