20 bands set to perform at Whyfest, Logan’s music festival
On May 4 and 5, Whysound will be hosting Logan’s very own local music festival, Whyfest. With 20 bands and multiple stages, there will be something for everyone.
Taking place on Federal Avenue, stages will be found in Whysound, The Annex, Lucky Slice and Barrel & Stave.
One local band, The Painted Roses, is a Logan classic. They will be performing on the indie rock stage inside Whysound on May 4 at 8:45 p.m.
Niall Thorley is a bass player and backup vocalist for The Painted Roses, as well as another band called Strawberry Jam. He said this event will be a special one for The Painted Roses as they are starting to settle into new personnel as well as new sounds and songs.
“I think it’s going to be a lot like what you’ve seen from us, six people on the stage and a lot of vocals,” Thorley said. “But the future of the band is definitely the same songs but new direction.”
Thorley said fans can expect more heavy metal and folk influence in the band’s future to highlight strengths between band members and to homogenize a new specific sound.
“I think we’re going to hear the beginnings of that at the Whyfest concert,” Thorley said.
Alex Schneider, guitar player for The Painted Roses and drummer for Cactus Tree, said he is very excited for the opportunity to play the festival alongside bands that have been around for years and the opportunity to hear some of the newer bands.
He said there is a special sound in Logan, with bands cross-pollinating and inspiring each other’s sounds.
“I think having a local festival that is largely to showcase that sound and the bands participating in that, does offer something special and put it on display,” Schneider said.
Cactus Tree, who has been playing for just over a year, is a folk-pop band and will be performing on the pop stage at The Annex May 5 at 6:15 p.m.
Lead vocalist and guitarist Tori Smith said fans can expect a couple new songs at the festival.
“It’s got some folk flare,” Smith said over the phone. “We whip out a harmonica sometimes, and have some songs that are fun to sing along to and dance to, but also some lyrically-driven songs that are more mellow and very folk inspired.”
She said this festival is a great opportunity for locals to hear underground music and become fans of bands they might not have heard before.
On the punk stage on May 4 at 7:45 p.m., concert goers can expect to see 44GO — a band established in Logan this year.
Guitarist Cole Evans said the audience can expect a lot of volume and fuzz from their performance.
Drummer Ashton McMahon agreed, adding they expect to bring a lot of energy to the festival.
“It’s a good way for local musicians to get more eyes on them,” McMahon said. “There’s a cool music scene here in Logan, so it’s nice they’ll get represented. And it’s a fun way to start the summer.”
Check out @the.whysound on Instagram for tickets and more information on the upcoming festival.