Weekend Shots!
WMC Fest Edition

If you’re bummed you’re not at Bonnaroo this weekend, never fear! Cleveland has something magical of its own: Weapons of Mass Creation Fest.

Weapons of Mass Creation Fest began in 2010 by Jeff Finley, co-owner of Go Media, who wanted to bring creative people, such as musicians and artists, from all over the nation to Cleveland to showcase what the city has to offer and allow its attendees the opportunity to collaborate with one another. The first year showcased film, graphic design, and music. This year’s Fest features twenty speakers, twenty designers, and over thirty bands. The Fest is coordinated by founder Jeff Finley, Jesse Sloan, and Joseph Hughes.

This year’s bands will be performing at Saigon Plaza, which boasts twenty foot ceilings and wooden floors. There will be two stages—one outside of Saigon Plaza and one inside. We had an opportunity to speak with Jesse Sloan, the music coordinator for Weapons of Mass Creation Fest. Here’s a little head’s up on how things happen and who he thinks you shouldn’t miss.

How do you pick the bands for WMC?

We take submissions, I personally like to ask the whole team who they want to see. I feel like our identity is in bands that are independent and doing things for themselves outside of just the mainstream. We’re into more of the punk or DIY way of doing things. I feel like we pick bands that people don’t just come to see to sit back and have a good night; you come see bands that you want to be inspired by.

Which bands that you’ve seen in previous years have been most memorable?

Busman’s Holiday. They were really awesome. Memoryhouse from SubPop was really good, too.

Who are you most excited to see this year?

Eluvium, Algernon Cadwallader, Tristen, Cloud Nothings…I want to see all of them. Blueprint, who’s an awesome DIY rapper from Columbus. We’re opening up to more hip hop this year. He’s headlining on Saturday with Algernon. And I love all the locals, they’re all my friends.

How can people get involved?

People can head over to the website and signup. We can definitely still use volunteers.

What would you like to see happen with WMC in regards to growth in the future?

We want to keep it true to our roots—keep the independent spirit and not go big just because. I feel like we’ll probably stay at Saigon next year, too. There’s a lot of pressure for us to be a larger and larger Fest, but I think we’d go about it by keeping true to the artists from Cleveland, and not being overrun by the corporations and big money coming in.

I’ll have a good Fest if everyone who is involved—all the volunteers and attendees—have a good Fest.

Cleveland, here’s the complete lineup for Weapons of Mass Creation Fest 2012:

6/8 at Saigon Plaza:
7:00-7:30- Bethesda
7:50-8:20- The Lighthouse and the Whaler
8:40-9:10- She Bears
9:25-10:10- Gregory & the Hawk
10:25-11:15- Eluvium

6/9:

Speakers at Reinberger Auditorium:
12:15-12:45- Glen Infante
1:00-1:30- Austin Kleon
1:45-2:15- Mike Kubinski
2:30-3:00- Jen Myers
3:15-3:45- Nate Utesch
4:00-4:30- Rachael Novak
4:45-5:15- Margot Harrington
5:30-6:00- Tad Carpenter
6:15-6:45- Chuck Anderson
7:00-7:45- Johnny Cupcakes

Bands at Saigon Plaza:

Inside:
12-1- Breakdance Battle Registration
1:00-1:45- Kids 10 and under breakdance competition
2:00-3:45- 2 vs 2 B-boy and B-girl breakdance competition
4:00-4:30- ESQ
5:00-5:30- Northwestern
6:00-6:30- Hop Along
7:00-7:30- Cherry Cola Champions
8:00-8:30- Signals Midwest
9:00-9:35 empire! empire! (i was a lonely state)
9:45-10:20- Into It. Over It.
10:40-11:25- Blueprint
11:40-12:25- Algernon Cadwallader

Outside:
4:30-5:00- En Garde
5:30-6:00- Dowsing
6:30-7:00- Worship This!
7:30-8:00- Cut Teeth
8:30-9:00- Annabel

6/10:

Speakers at Reinberger Auditorium:

12:15 – 12:45 Jackie Bebenroth
1:00 – 1:30 Brian Andrew Jasinski
1:45 – 2:15 Julia Kuo
2:30 – 3:00 Matt Stevens
3:15 – 3:45 Tuesday Bassen
4:00 – 4:30 Friends of Type
4:45 – 5:15 Jennifer Daniel
5:30 – 6:00 Jeff Finley
6:15 – 6:45 James White
7:00 – 7:45 Kate Bingaman Burt

Bands at Saigon Plaza:

Outside:
1:30 – 2:00 Harvey Pekar
2:30 – 3:00 Worlds Scariest Police Chases
3:30 – 4:00 The Ground is Lava
4:30 – 5:00 Public Radio
5:30 – 6:00 Humble Home
6:30 – 7:00 Two Hand Fools
7:35 – 8:15 Cheap Girls

Inside:
1:00 – 1:30 Communication
2:00 – 2:30 Goodmorning Valentine
3:00 – 3:30 Lowly, the Tree Ghost
4:00 – 4:30 Ashley Brooke Toussant
5:00 – 5:30 Metavari
6:00 – 6:30 Total Babes
7:00 – 7:35 Saintseneca
8:15 – 8:55 Pomegranates
9:15 – 10:00 Tristen
10:20 – 11:05 Cloud Nothings

 

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