Pitchfork

[Posted Friday, October 10th, 2003 02:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

After a long summer of music festivals on both sides of the Atlantic, fall is finally upon us-- but that doesn't mean the festival season has to come to a close. Besides, there's something charming about pounding cider in the parking lot of a concert venue and watching the leaves change color; it's a vibe that's missing from summer festivals, which are rife with sunburn and opportunities to leer at drunken girls falling out of their bikini tops. Good times. At least, that's what the organizers of the First Annual Futility Fest in Youngstown, Ohio, are hoping for this Columbus Day Weekend (October 10th-12th).

But why call it Futility Fest? Here's the oddly-punctuated company line courtesy of the fest's website: "We don't care about draw or popularity, just quality, it's futile." Indeed.

Somewhat conveniently located an hour from Cleveland, OH and an hour from Pittsburgh, PA, the Futility Fest will aim to shatter boundaries of genre, featuring, count 'em, 29 bands that have flown largely below the radar, ranging from math-rock acts like Creta Bourzia to the avant-rockers of Oxbow to the hysterically-named Aussies Lubricated Goat. And while it's true that most of the bands performing have received precious little ink, one quick glance at the roster of acts and it seems like the bands' names could all double as long-lost Captain Beefheart songs. See how much more familiar they are already? Here's the full schedule, in alphabetical order by day:

Friday, October 10th:
Creta Bourzia
Grand Ulena
Herc
Trephine
Mezzanine c14
Pankration
Suzukiton

Saturday, October 11th:
The Abandoned Hearts Club
Axehandle
Bakerton Group
Dysrhytmia
Electric Turn to Me
Jumbo's Killcrane
Helios Creed
Oxbow
Pelican
Sicbay
Totimoshi

Sunday, October 12th:
Cheer Accident
Fuzzhead
Keelhaul
Lubricated Goat
Meatjack
Party Dream
Party of Helicopters
Point Line Plane
Skeleton Key
Stinking Lizaveta
Teeth of the Hydra