Krazy Fest (originally stylized as Krazy✻Fest!) was an American music festival hosted in Louisville, Kentucky. It ran annually from 1998 to 2003, with a one-off comeback in 2011. The first three editions were held during Memorial Day Weekend in mid-late May. From 2001 to 2003, it was held between mid-June to early August.
The event was first organized by Scott Ritcher (then-vocalist of the band Metroschifter) and Andy Rich, who were both co-owners of the emotional hardcore record label Initial Records, in partnership with Jason Noble (then-vocalist of the band Shipping News), and Mark Brickey (then-vocalist of the band The Enkindels). Noble and Brickey were also involved with Initial Records in various functions. Ryan Patterson, senior vice-president of Initial Records, came on board in 2001. As such, the festival principally showcased emotional hardcore bands (including many signed to Initial Records), but also included melodic hardcore, post-hardcore, punk rock, hardcore punk, metalcore, and indie rock acts.
While in its seventh year's planning in early 2004, Patterson announced to the press that the festival would be postponed from its usual spring or summer date to later in the fall. Patterson stated that the issue rose from the lack of availability for headlining bands and the increased cost of getting bands to play the festival. Initial Records also became defunct around the same time. In late 2004, a VHS/DVD of Krazy Fest 4 and 5 was announced but it was never released.
After receiving Rich's blessing in 2010, new promoter Andrew Tinsley (former manager of the band Endpoint) brought back Krazy Fest for Memorial Day Weekend in 2011. Tinsley hoped to continue the festival in 2012, but was unable to due to scheduling conflicts.
Krazy Fest lineups by year
May 29–31, 1998: Krazy✻Fest!
Location: Brewery Thunderdome.
Notes: The festival was originally to take place at Stage Door Johnnies in Louisville, Kentucky, but it was moved to the Brewery Thunderdome. The split CD between Metroschifter and Shipping News was released at the event, as was Cave In's debut studio album Until Your Heart Stops. Due to an electrical storm and a subsequent power outage on the evening of Sunday May 31, headlining bands Superchunk and Shipping News were not able to perform. Two bands did not perform on Saturday May 30 due to one breaking up and another breaking down in Pennsylvania; one of the bands that played on Friday May 29 was asked to play a second set on Saturday to compensate.
Friday, May 29
Apocalypse Hoboken Grade Silent Majority The Enkindels The Suicide Machines
Saturday, May 30
Automatic BoySetsFire Buried Alive Coalesce Converge Speak 714 Snapcase Ten Yard Fight Today Is the Day Torn Apart
Sunday, May 31
Elliott Empire State Games Jejune King for a Day Metroschifter Shipping News Superchunk Uzeda
May 21–23, 1999: Krazy✻Fest 1999!
Location: The Belvedere.
Notes: Cave In did not perform due to a van fire earlier in its tour. Ink & Dagger was scheduled to perform, but did not show up.
Friday, May 21
H2O Kill Your Idols Out The Enkindels The Get Up Kids Saves the Day
Saturday, May 22
Braid Buried Alive Burn It Down Cave In Fastbreak Jejune My Own Victim Shai Hulud Sick of It All Silent Majority Snapcase Zao
Sunday, May 23
Elliott Jimmy Eat World Le Shok Metroschifter Red Sun Sarge Shipping News The Jazz June Victory at Sea
May 19–21, 2000: Krazy Fest 3 K2K
Location: The Belvedere.
Notes: In addition to Initial Records, the festival was also sponsored by eMusic. The Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Dimitri Minakakis injured audience members by swinging his microphone chord during the band's set and hitting people in the face with the microphone. The festival was announced as By the Grace of God's final show, though the band would perform one more show at the BRYCC House a few weeks later.
Friday, May 19
BoySetsFire Burn It Down River City High Skam Impaired The Enkindels The Suicide Machines
Saturday, May 20
AFI As Friends Rust Brother's Keeper Cave In Drowningman Grade One King Down Reach the Sky Saves the Day The Dillinger Escape Plan The National Acrobat Time in Malta
Sunday, May 21
Buried Alive By the Grace of God Good Clean Fun Hot Rod Circuit King for a Day Moods for Moderns Stretch Arm Strong The Jazz June The Juliana Theory The Movielife
July 27–29, 2001: Krazy Fest 4
Location: Louisville Water Tower.
Notes: The Dillinger Escape Plan played with special guest vocalist Sean Ingram.
Friday, July 27
Avail Pflanz Holy Angels Hot Water Music Planes Mistaken for Stars Small Brown Bike The Story So Far
Saturday, July 28
American Nightmare Bane Blood Red Botch Burnt by the Sun BoySetsFire Christiansen Converge Ensign Harkonen Poison the Well Stretch Arm Strong The Dillinger Escape Plan The Hope Conspiracy
Sunday, July 29
Alkaline Trio Dashboard Confessional Elliott Fairweather Further Seems Forever Hey Mercedes Hot Rod Circuit Saves the Day The Jazz June The White Octave
June 21–23, 2002: Krazy Fest 5
Location: Louisville Waterfront Park.
Notes: Planes Mistaken for Stars and The Jazz June were booked for the festival but cancelled their appearances in May 2002. Planes Mistaken for Stars was replaced by Most Precious Blood. Drowningman was originally scheduled to perform on Friday June 21 but it was moved to Saturday June 22.
Friday, June 21
Bane Reach the Sky Sick of It All Snapcase Stretch Arm Strong The Hope Conspiracy
Saturday, June 22
AFI As Friends Rust Black Widows Blood Red Converge Corn on Macabre Drowningman From Autumn to Ashes Most Precious Blood NORA The Dillinger Escape Plan The Glasspack Tiger Army
Sunday, June 23
Cadillac Blindside Christiansen Elliott Milemarker Onelinedrawing Small Brown Bike The Reputation The Rocking Horse Winner Thursday Ultimate Fakebook
August 1–3, 2003: Krazyfest 6
Location: Louisville Waterfront Park.
Notes: The Beautiful Mistake was booked to play on Friday August 1 but cancelled their appearances in July 2003; the band was replaced by Elliott.
Friday, August 1
A Static Lullaby Blue Sky Mile Elliott Midtown Reggie and the Full Effect This Day Forward Ultimate Fakebook
Saturday, August 2
Andrew W.K. Anodyne Atreyu Black Cross Burnt by the Sun Every Time I Die Hatebreed Hopesfall Mastodon Planes Mistaken for Stars Playing Enemy Terror The Blood Brothers The Hope Conspiracy The Locust The Suicide File Throwdown With Honor
Sunday, August 3
Armor for Sleep Dillinger Four Bear vs. Shark Cave In Christiansen Fairweather Helicopter Helicopter Hey Mercedes Paint It Black Recover Roy Rye Coalition Sense Field The Bouncing Souls The Explosion The Jazz June The Reputation
May 20–22, 2011: Krazy Fest 2011
Location: Expo Five.
Notes: The 2011 come-back event was the first to include more than one stage; the bands were split onto three stages.
Friday, May 20 Stage A
Against Me! Bane By the Grace of God Chamberlain Lions Lions Moving Mountains Xerxes
Stage B
End of a Year Kevin Seconds Reading Group Small Brown Bike Strike Anywhere The Bled Tigers Jaw
Saturday, May 21 Stage A
7 Seconds Anti-Flag Cave In Dead End Path Evolett Fireworks Hot Water Music Lemuria Pianos Become the Teeth
Stage B
Disembodied La Dispute Make Do and Mend Title Fight Touché Amoré
Stage C
Another Mistake Defeater Former Thieves Hostage Calm Native
Sunday, May 22 Stage A
Coalesce Hot Rod Circuit I Hate Our Freedom Lucero Onelinedrawing The Bouncing Souls This Is Hell
Stage B
Ensign Frontier(s) Samiam
Stage C
A Great Big Pile of Leaves Dave Hause Daytrader Straight A's
References