The Chronicles of Sactown Speedfest
The Chronicles of Sactown Speedfest
Flyer with updated location (which was not even the final one)
Oh where to begin... I will start by saying, even though things did not go as planned for one reason or another, I do not regret it, not even a little bit. It truly was a weekend I will never forget, and I would not change a single thing. (besides being able to compensate the bands better lol).
It was a chaotic experience, but it reminded me of why I do this, and the real meaning of DIY, punk, and community.
...and before I begin the chronicles, I want to say, HUGE thank you, to everyone that was there. To all of my friends that helped me make this happen, to all of those that supported "El Crusty Cristo Bookings" wether it was the week of the show, or since 2016 when we first started. Seriously, thank you.
There would be way too many to thank, y'all know who you are <3
There would be way too many to thank, y'all know who you are <3
The Chronicles....
Pt. 1 Earlier In The Week...
I only add this section because it is highly relevant to all of the chaos that unfolded later in the weekend.
It was Wednesday morning, two days before the event when I get a text message from the awesome (lol) owner of "The Garden", telling me he actually did not have permits for his venue like he had originally told me, and that the city was actually looking to come out and shut down the event, therefore, we needed to find a new location, two days before the fest.
This is when all the stress unfolded, however, I was mainly pissed about being lied to about permits, especially after giving the venue a $750 deposit (from which I was only refunded $224), and now having almost 30 bands at risk of not playing the show... Anyways, shit happened and things were done, and all I could do at time was to find solutions to the problem we had.
After multiple calls to different venues, halls, and even random businesses, I finally found a suitable place out of a sketchy Facebook Market post... a big hall in an industrial area of Sac, they wanted a lot of money, but they were down with it. Beggars can't be choosers, so we took on it, and everything seemed just fine, until the day of the show came..
It was Wednesday morning, two days before the event when I get a text message from the awesome (lol) owner of "The Garden", telling me he actually did not have permits for his venue like he had originally told me, and that the city was actually looking to come out and shut down the event, therefore, we needed to find a new location, two days before the fest.
This is when all the stress unfolded, however, I was mainly pissed about being lied to about permits, especially after giving the venue a $750 deposit (from which I was only refunded $224), and now having almost 30 bands at risk of not playing the show... Anyways, shit happened and things were done, and all I could do at time was to find solutions to the problem we had.
After multiple calls to different venues, halls, and even random businesses, I finally found a suitable place out of a sketchy Facebook Market post... a big hall in an industrial area of Sac, they wanted a lot of money, but they were down with it. Beggars can't be choosers, so we took on it, and everything seemed just fine, until the day of the show came..
Pt 2: It's Speedfest time
Day 1 Updated flyer @ The Big Hall (11/1/2024)
The day came, it was Speedfest time! We were all stoked, we all had the day off from work so we could properly prepare for the evening and get things rolling. It was all looking great, the "venue" staff was very friendly, location had way more than enough room, and we were all stoked.
Fast-forward to around 7-8pm during the second band's set. Code Enforcement and Sacramento PD show up to the venue demanding to personally talk to me, and next thing, they tell me that they just had paid a visit to "The Garden", and they were told there about the new location for our event, I still don't understand why.
I was just upset and could not understand why someone would do that to us.
Long-story short, after lots of questioning, the cops wanted to come inside the building to see what other tickets they could give me on top of the "event without permit citation" they were already going to give me.
As I entertain them piggies, I offer them that they could come in, but that if they saw that things were safe, they could ticket me, but they had to let the show continue. After them talking to each other, they agree to my request.
Piggies went in the venue, everything looked fine to them, so they just give me a souvenir of a $3k ticket and tell me I can finish the show but that they'd be back the next day to actually shut it down if I had it there again.
(fun fact, they denied going inside the venue at court lol).
After all of that happening with them pigs, I was honestly not even tripping about the ticket, I just wanted to make sure the show continued, and that all of the bands got to play the next day. Time to find solutions again.
So while the show continued, the homies and I discussed where we could move the show to and what we could do. Immediately asked all of the spots we knew, but came with the conclusion that our best bet was Granite Skatepark...
After the show, we loaded up all the gear back up in the U-Haul, and I went home to a very sleepless night due to the amount of stress and anticipation I was dealing with.
After the show, we loaded up all the gear back up in the U-Haul, and I went home to a very sleepless night due to the amount of stress and anticipation I was dealing with.
Due to the situations while the show was happening, I was not able to see any of the bands besides Human Effluence and RLU (which both ripped). Luckily for me, Mondo from Crust_Tech and Angel from AngelizePhotography were there, and the show got fully documented! (thank you both, always)
Check Out Day 1 at:
Videos:
Check Out Day 1 at:
Videos:
Day 2 Updated Flyer @ Granite Skatepark (11/2/2024)
I get up after about 2 hours of sleep due to the stress and I start to inform everyone about the third and last change of venues, this time at Granite Skatepark (AKA Power Inn), plus having to start the show earlier than usual, and wish nothing but luck and hopes that everything goes well and no piggies show up.
Time of the show came, and after a very difficult gear load in, people and bands started to arrive and things were looking good, but the stress I had due to the situation could not go away, or at least not until the last band has played and finished their set.
Time of the show came, and after a very difficult gear load in, people and bands started to arrive and things were looking good, but the stress I had due to the situation could not go away, or at least not until the last band has played and finished their set.
It was around 4pm when everything was ready and Throat Rip began playing their set, ripper as always. The rest of the locals played as people continued to arrive to the skatepark, it was bound for a great time this Saturday evening in Sactown.
Everything was truly going great, band-after-band straight up killing it, it was surely going quick, full fastcore mode as it should be for the occasion.
If you have ever been to a Speedfest, you know how it rolls!
If you have ever been to a Speedfest, you know how it rolls!
Fastcore, mud mosh, modelos, lots of skating, and straight up having a good time.
The only way Sacramento knows how to do it. I was surely still stressed, but with all of this good times going on, and also getting lots of encouragement words by good friends about the situation being faced.
I was optimistic and motivated to finish the night and make sure everyone is having a great time.
The night went on, and great times were had by everyone. Every single band killed it. I could not stop being too stoked while Laughing Dog started to play. So many bands to mention that are absolutely killer throughout the weekend, literally 30 of them. It was a great time.
Once Iron Lung began to play, my stress finally went away, they could now come arrest me if they wanted to lmao.
The show happened, and that was all I could care and be stoked for at the moment.
Time to clean up came, and a lil' tear almost came out of my eye due to seeing how many people stayed to help us clean up the park, move equipment, and just overall helping on taking care of the spot.
It just reminded me how the 916 is truly a community, and how I will always love this place.
There could be so much more to add, but all imma say is, this was truly a:
Saturday Morning Power Violence <3
Check out Day 2 at:
Pt. 4 thank u's to homies
Too many to name, but you know who you are <3
I am seriously nothing without my friends. Thank You.
I am seriously nothing without my friends. Thank You.
Next, I gotta seriously thank and give a shout out to absolutely all of the bands that played.
Not only for already being down to travel hundreds of miles (thousands for a couple), to play a fastcore DIY festival in the rando city of Sacramento CA, but also for being so understanding, and straight up very supportive with all of the chaos that the weekend went thru.
Every single band that played: you are amazing, as bands, as homies, thank you.
Every single band that played: you are amazing, as bands, as homies, thank you.
There are not enough words to thank y'all, I can only hope you had a great experience <3
Finally, I wanna thank everyone that went & supported what Sactown Speedfest was.
Whether you went to all 5, only 1, or just digged the idea overall, thank you.
We were told we were crazy back in 2018 for thinking this type of thing could ever work in Sacramento, safe to say is that it worked, and that we are indeed crazy regardless.
Will I do it again? I don't know. Definitely not anytime soon in the next years.
But I do highly encourage anyone that has a sick idea of making something happen in da 916 to do it.
Take that risk, make things happen. You won't regret it.
Take that risk, make things happen. You won't regret it.
FASTCORE FOREVER // 916 FOR LIFE
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Endings are new beginnings.....
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