See 305 Fest's full lineup and set times -- plus Crossfade's interviews with Merchandise, Torche, Noothgrush, and Dropdead.
"The thing I like most about festivals," says Roger Forbes, half of live-music promotion powerhouse, Speedfreak Presents, "is that there's always going to be some bands you don't know."
In fact, Forbes believes pairing the familiar with the unknown is the absolute crux of a festival's success. The fans are baited and satisfied with artists they know and love. But their lust for tuneage keeps them around long enough to make a few accidental discoveries.
It's in this spirit of plunging headfirst into the new that Forbes and his partner-in-Freak (and Torche drummer) Rick Smith have revived the popular punk and hardcore music showcase, 305 Fest. And in doing so, the pair may be establishing Miami's most nationally relevant live music event since Ultra Music Festival.
After cutting his teeth in countless local punk and hardcore bands (many of which performed at the original 305 Fests), Smith says that joining Torche in 2004 "was a big turning point. Lots of things changed. I began doing real tours and playing bigger venues and festivals. I basically started to get my first taste of what it's like to do things on a more serious and organized level."
A half-decade later, he and Forbes co-promoted a comeback concert for legendary Miami sludge trio Floor, and the show was a total success. So these enterprising dudes decided to team up, making Speedfreak a permanent operation. And over the last 18 months, they've scored some major booking coups, bringing Providence, Rhode Island's Dropdead and New Orleans's Eyehategod to Miami. But this year's 305 Fest is undoubtedly their most ambitious project to date.
305 Fest 2012 Lineup
-Bastard Noise
-Iron Lung
-Dropdead
-Noothgrush
-Failure Face
-Assholeparade
-Torche
-Jacuzzi Boys
-Floor
-Mauser
-Capsule
-Shitstorm
-Black Mayonnaise
-Post Teens
-Merchandise
-Backslider
-Murder Suicide Pact
-Full of Hell
-Church Whip
-House of Lightning
-Rose Cross
-Cellgraft
-440
-Cop City/Chill Pillars
-Holly Hunt
-Radiation
-Nailbiter
-Sure Charm
-No Qualms
-The Heartstrings
-Teenage Softies
-Shroud Eater
-New Coke
-The Cost
-Alma
-Fourier
-Snakehole
-Life Chain
-Rapturous Grief
-Landbridge
-Meddling Kids
-No Children
-Devalued
-Guerrilleros de Nadie
-Baker Acted
-Slashpine
-Gorilla Pussy
Yet the multi-day marathon predates Speedfreak. It was actually established in 2004 as an extension of The Alley, a semi-secret DIY warehouse in Allapattah. At the time, the festival provided a survey of the local underage scene, featuring performances from cult Miami favorites like metalcore enthusiasts Adore Miridia and math-rockers Pygmy, in addition to acts from around the country, such as the sassy, screaming An Albatross and post-hardcore outfit Stop It!
In 2005, the fest returned for a second year. But there was a four-year hiatus before it was revived by now-defunct Firefly collective. And after two more editions of the festival, 305 Fest changed hands again as punk collective Miami Chumbucket took over operations.
Now it's Speedfreak's turn. And not only have Forbes and Smith rebooted the tradition, they've put together a totally insane 47-band lineup. While previous 305 Fests have struggled to lure national acts to Miami, the 2012 edition's musical roster looks like a heavy-music wish list, loaded with certifiable legends including Bastard Noise, Dropdead, and Noothgrush.
But the bands aren't the only ones traveling for 305 Fest. Fans and festival-goers from all over the U.S. are also planning a pilgrimage to Miami. "I get messages asking for hotel recommendations," Forbes laughs. "Mike Williams, the front man for Eyehategod, was like 'Why don't you fly me down there and I'll be the official host.'"
This is exciting stuff, because a festival can define a city. For many, Austin is synonymous with South by Southwest, the annual industry extravaganza that's replaced bright-eyed road-trips to NYC (or LA) as the definitive means of "making it." And of course, if you still want bright Big Apple lights in your eyes, you can still go north for the annual CMJ festival.
But for a certain swath of the southeastern United States' concert-going public who just want stage dives and high-fives, the Magic City may now be an acceptably moshable option for a midsummer musical vacation.
305 Fest with Bastard Noise, Iron Lung, Dropdead, Noothgrush, Torche, Jacuzzi Boys, Floor, and others, presented by Speedfreak. Friday, July 6, to Sunday, July 8. Churchill's Pub, 5505 NE Second Ave., Miami. Doors open at 4 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Three day passes cost $60 via speedfreak.bigcartel.com. Call 305-757-1807 or visit churchillspub.com.
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