Aquabear Legion has been advocating music in Athens since 2004 by running a website, giving away free music compilations and promoting events such as its annual Aquabear County Fair.
“It started off simply as a website,” said Brian Koscho, co-director of Aquabear Legion and marketing and promotions coordinator for Stuart’s Opera House. “The idea is to be a new and different thing; we never wanted to limit it to a way of just releasing music or just putting on shows.”
Sixteen bands will play at four venues for the sixth annual Aquabear County Fair Friday and Saturday, including Weird Science, Wheels on Fire, Sportfishing USA and The D-Rays. All events will be free of charge.
Freshkills, a punk band out of Brooklyn, will be coming back to Athens for the first time in two years for the event.
“I think (Athens) is the most rocking town in America,” Mishka Shubaly, bass player for Freshkills, said. “I’ve been playing a show at 2 a.m. on a Sunday and people come out to the shows drunk. It’s my home away from home.”
The band is joined by Jim Sclavunos, drummer for several punk bands — most notably Sonic Youth — for its current tour after he produced the band’s latest album.
“(Sclavunos is) a punk survivor,” Shubaly said. “Just yesterday he asked if there is anything he can improve. I’m like ‘can I be you? Where do you buy your cloths? Can I grow a beard like yours?’ ”
Since 2004, Aquabear Legion has worked with more than 185 bands and the 16 bands playing this weekend only add to those numbers.
Koscho prides himself and the legion on providing free concerts for the weekend, which is all part of their eventual move from an independent business to a non-profit organization.
Aquabear is still months away from completing the transition, Koscho said, but he feels that the non-profit model will better align with its goals and values as an organization.
“It’s a long process,” Koscho said. “There is a legitimacy that comes with becoming a non-profit. ...We’ve always joked that we are a no-profit, but this will help us to continue to grow.”
IYGB
What: Moon High, Sovroncourt and Chris Biester
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Donkey Coffee and Espresso, 17 ½ W. Washington St.
Admission: free
What: Weird Science, Sundown, Hex Net and The D-Rays
When: 10:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Casa Nueva, 4 W. State St.
Admission: free
What: Bonzai, Octopus & Owl
When: 3 p.m. Saturday
Where: O’Betty’s Red Hot, 30 W. Union St.
Admission: free
What: Dropdead Sons, Wheels On Fire, Freshkills, The Kyle Sowashes, Sportfishing USA, State Park, Weedghost
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Union, 18 W. Union St.
Admission: free
