DIY organization Whiskers will host a concert featuring three touring bands and three local bands Friday.
The local bands performing at the event — named Whiskers Woodstock — will be Sneakthief, The Infinite Improbability Drive and Booty Holiday. The touring bands to be featured are Cutler Station, Routine Days and Shenanagram.
There is no cost for entry to the concert; donations, however, are accepted and will be given to the touring bands.
The DIY music scene recognizes the fact that some people get overwhelmed by crowds in Athens, and those involved aim to create an environment where those people can feel comfortable and relaxed while experiencing live music.
“I think people can get overwhelmed by the concentration of people in the bar culture. Athens is kind of scary sometimes, and those are things that the DIY community is concerned with,” Marco Omta, a senior studying media arts and studies and an organizer of the event, said. “We’re very concerned with the safety of the people that go to shows, as well as the bands in the shows.”
Those involved in DIY consider themselves a grassroots music organization and focus on appreciation for the art of music rather than the sometimes dangerous environments created by concerts.
“I like weird music, and the fact that we can be a platform to enjoy whatever we desire is super cool to me,” Noah Ross, a senior studying marketing, said. “This upcoming show is all over the place in terms of genres.”
Ross was the main organizer of Whiskers Woodstock and invited all six of the bands.
Ross and Omta are both directly involved in music themselves and are members of multiple musical groups.
Omta, a former Post columnist, said those involved in DIY sometimes feel dissatisfied with the current music scene because there is often sexism involved in the music being created, including in lyrics, videos and venues.
“I know women who have said they’ve had trouble being taken seriously by professionals in the music scene at venues because of their gender or anything someone can be discriminated for,” Omta said.
The DIY scene accepts people for who they are and does everything in its power to make others feel comfortable.
“(DIY) definitely is filled with activism,” Omta said. “DIY is very anti-homophobic, anti-racist, anti-transphobic, et cetera.”
Ross and Omta are willing to share their beliefs with those who are interested and possibly open the minds of those who cannot decide where they stand on certain subjects.
Sneakthief, one of the local bands performing, was asked for an encore at its last performance at Battle of the Bands hosted at The Union Bar and Grill. Sneakthief consists of OU junior Joe Fradette, recent graduate Daniel Palmer and senior Nolan Quigley.
Sneakthief is hoping to get into the studio to prepare to record its first EP. The group hopes to go on a tour this summer, which will include venues outside of Ohio.
“I think every band has a certain niche they fall into, whether they choose the niche or not. Bands kind of touch on things that are important to them whether that’s trans rights, gay rights, et cetera,” said Palmer, Sneakthief’s vocalist and guitarist. “The bands that tour the DIY scene tend to have the same niches.”
Sneakthief’s music can be found on Bandcamp, but the group plans to make it available on Apple Music, Spotify and more once its EP is released.
Sneakthief supports the ideals the DIY scene stands for.
“It’s one place where music overtakes, and you can put away everything that makes you different,” Palmer said. “It’s about the music, not about identities.”
