The giant multi-venue President’s Day-inspired art and music festival presented by St. Pete-based Attic Records, Whigfest, celebrates another year, expands to two days, and brings in some impressive indie rock talent to join the high-quality grouping of local and regional players in the 50-band lineup. Florida natives Surfer Blood — which headline the festivities on Saturday — issued a new full-length, Pythons, last year, though the grungy, Weezer-y beach-imbued sounds don't carry as much weight as those of fantastic debut Astro Coast. Sunday’s music culminates in a performance by popular San Diego prog-alternative rockers Pinback.
Jannus Live hosts the two main stages; adjacent venues Ringside Cafe, Mandarin Hide, and McDintons also take part, and in addition to the music, attendees enjoy an art show, indie market, beer garden, live painting, and roving appearances and side show performances by members of the 20 Penny Circus. A small pre-party and an artist showcase is held at the Attic Warehouse with music by singer-songwriters Gareth Asher and Kristopher James, and after-parties are held both nights following the fest's conclusion.
DETAILS
WhigFest Pre-Party with Gareth Asher, Fri., Feb. 14, The Attic, 910 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, free admission.
WhigFest 2014, Sat.-Sun., Feb. 15-16, 1 p.m.-midnight, Jannus Live, Ringside Cafe, Mandarin Hide, MacDintons and the Attic, advance tickets are $20 single-day tickets/$35 weekend passes ($45 dos). More info at whigfest.com.
SATURDAY: (in general order of appearance) Kristopher James, Goddamn Hustle, Slowflo, Mountain Holler, Josh Carroll, Boxcar Hollow, Elevated, JT Brown, Luxury Mane, The Hip Abduction, Lauris Vidal, Florida Night Heat, Danfield, The Heavy Metals, Mikel Paris, Archaic Interest, Forrest Hoffar, The Legendary JC's, Arc the Sun, Zulu Wave, Greenhouse Lounge, Polyenso, Surfer Blood. Whigfest after-party with Rob Crow of Pinback (DJ Set) at Ringside Cafe (midnight)
SUNDAY: (in general order of appearance) Matt Weis, Alexander & The Grapes, Sweet Bronco, John Holt III, The Wholetones, Good Graeff, Tides of Man, Will Quinlan, Mountain Holler, Big Kettle Drum, JT Brown, Come Back Alice, Sun Signs, Mikel Paris, The Applebutter Express, The Woolly Bushmen, Gareth Asher, Stokeswood, Tim Brantley, Red Feather, Sons of Hippies, COPE, Lions After Dark, Gringo Star, Pinback. Whigfest after-parties with The Gallery at Ringside Cafe and Sonic Graffiti at Mandarin Hide (11 p.m.)
