Each year, around Halloween, hordes of punk bands, rogue troubadours and other DIY indie acts head to Gainesville for a ginormous multi-venue music festival that offers everything from the obscure to the up-and-coming to the odd international headliner. This year, British heir to the Billy Bragg throne Frank Turner performs. Notable locals Dukes of Hillsborough, New Bruises, Devout and Too Many Daves will be there, too.
A great Tampa precursor to the Gainesville's Fest 9 this weekend is Pre-Fest at Transitions Art Gallery at the Skate Park of Tampa. It's going on tonight and tomorrow night and includes Florida bands and touring acts appearing at Fest.
Lineup tonight includes Franz Nicolay, Fake Problems (pictured), The Gay Blades, Capsule, Big Kids, 1994, Caves, Arms Aloft, Calvinball and the Anchor. If you can't make it tonight, tomorrow's bill has some crucial headliners such as Tiltwheel and the Arrivals. Songs and bios of all the bands are all provided on Fest's impressively extensive site. 6 p.m. Skatepark of Tampa is at 4215 E Columbus Drive, Tampa. $10. For more information, visit transitionsartgallery.com.
