On Saturday, August 22, 2015, BLANKfest, a wide-ranging festival celebrating the city’s rich entertainment culture, will take place in Market Square. Presented by BLANK Newspaper and scruffycity.com, this year’s iteration will benefit Knoxville-based nonprofit agency Positively Living. In addition to the outdoor stage in the square, participating venues will include Scruffy City Hall, Preservation Pub and Cocoa Moon.
Beginning at 5:00 P.M., a musical roster comprising nearly 20 acts will perform across three stages, with noted comic/emcee/Knoxville ambassador Zachary Fallon hosting a self-curated cavalcade of local comedians, improv artists and burlesque presenters at Cocoa Moon. Explaining the inclusiveness of the festival, BLANK Publisher Rusty Odom says, “The goal behind BLANKfest is to celebrate each vein of the entertainment scene in Knoxville.
“The attendance last year proved a need to do it again, and we’re thrilled to offer a diverse lineup to those who want to find out more about the Knoxville arts experience or just experience our city's growing downtown.”
The Black Cadillacs, David Mayfield Parade and Lilly Hiatt will serve as music headliners and will apply their craft to the outdoor main stage. A who’s who of local talent rounding out the bill will take to the stages at Scruffy City Hall and Preservation Pub.
“We hope that folks find a new favorite local act or two that they can support when they're trying to decide what to do each weekend,” says Odom. “Most people in East Tennessee are aware of the depth of talent in the area, but knowing where to start can be a bit intimidating, so we try to bring as many acts as we can to the table on one day to make it easier for them. It’s also the perfect opportunity for visitors to experience what we have to offer, even if they just come to town for a day trip”
BLANKfest is sponsored by Visit Knoxville, Sugarlands Distilling, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Miller Lite, Preservation Pub, Scruffy City Hall, Cocoa Moon, Status Serigraph, Loch & Key Productions, WUTK, WDVX, Circa Wear, insideofknoxville.com and Knoxville Tours.
The complete list of performers, presented in alphabetical order, is as follows: Barstool Romeos, Black Cadillacs, Brent Thompson & the Wandering, David Mayfield Parade, Gamenight, Guy Marshall, J.C. and the Dirty Smokers, Johnny Astro and the Big Bang, Justin Kalk Orchestra, LiL iFFy, Lilly Hiatt, Madre, Mic Harrison and the High Score, Mr. ILL & the Medicine, Three Star Revival, Tim Lee 3, William Wild and the BLANKfest King Super Jam. The Jam will feature various local musicians both on and off the bill and promises to put an exclamation point on the festivities.
A ten dollar wristband will get you in to each of the venues throughout the day and a $40 VIP package will be available for those who wish to have a more intimate and relaxing experience. All info and tix can be found at http://blanknews.com/blankfest
