Since the first number fest in 2001, the outdoor festival’s founders have produced similar events throughout the country. Last month’s AWOL Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C., for instance, hosted 4,100 people and performances from Mike Posner and Matt and Kim.
But the massive, muddy music fest’s roots lie in Ohio, a theme that organizer Dominic Petrozzi said is reflected in the lineup for Saturday’s 8Fest.
“This is more than just an Ohio University event at this point,” said Petrozzi, who founded the consecutive number fests with a friend during their senior year at OU. “It’s become a tradition for all Ohio college students.”
The first beers will crack open at 11 a.m. Saturday, and a large majority of Ohio musical talent will anchor the fest, including Cleveland-based headliner Machine Gun Kelly and rappers, rockers and DJs from all corners of the state.
And for the party’s eighth and potentially largest installment in Athens — about 15,000 people are expected to attend, compared to 11,000 at 7Fest — Petrozzi is going all-out.
“The scale and the scope of how big we’re doing it this year is crazy,” he said. “Three stages, 30 acts. It’s never been like that before.”
Colson “Machine Gun Kelly” Baker, a fast-flowing rapper from Northeast Ohio, said the 8Fest crowd should “prepare to rage” when he takes the KegFly stage at 5 p.m. Saturday with a few surprises in store.
“I’m so Cleveland it’s a …shame, and I can’t wait to feel the love on that stage,” he said. “Ohio love is like no other; that’s why I save the goodies for them.”
FROM OHIO AND BEYOND
Representing both Cleveland and Athens is iPhonic, a party-pop band that originated at OU and has played the number fests twice before. Coming off a year in which the band won a national contest and played shows at universities throughout Ohio, its members are “totally excited” to return to Athens, guitarist and keyboardist Matt Gibson said.
“This year, there’s way more kids there that are super excited about seeing us play,” he said. “We’re going there one year wiser and better at what we do. The show is just better, (and) the fan base is bigger.”
Leading the small fraction of out-of-state talent is Nate “Shuttle” Donmoyer, a DJ best known as electro-pop band Passion Pit’s drummer. Though he said he enjoys being in a band, he prefers doing his own thing on the turntables.
“The best way to let them know what I’m about is by playing the set,” he said. “They figure it out pretty quick, I think, the difference between my own music and what the band’s music is. There’s no better way to do it than to play it.”
Donmoyer got involved with 8Fest after his longtime friend, DJ Cornelius Jackson, recruited Donmoyer to headline his brainchild, the DJ-centric Pow Wow: a stage inside a 60-by-60-foot circus tent exclusive to the first 500 people who buy $5 wristbands.
“It’s gonna just introduce a lot of Athens kids to some different kinds of music that they probably don’t get to hear,” Jackson said, noting the growing DJ scene at OU. “All the DJs involved, they all have drastically different styles, so it will just open up everybody’s mind to different kinds of music.”
FUN FOR A CAUSE
Two years ago, Petrozzi partnered the number fests with Don’t Break the Bond, a nonprofit aimed at creating programming for children with incarcerated parents. In an added attempt to give back, the fest will support two other organizations this year.
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office sponsored two organizations that support senior citizen safety, Project Lifesaver, and Seniors and Law Enforcement Together.
Ohio University Foundation’s Veteran Services Program Fund will receive $1,000 of proceeds, along with a presentation at 2 p.m. featuring a Jimi Hendrix-style version of the “Star-Spangled Banner” performed by The Forties.
Capt. Bryan Cooper of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office said those planning to attend the party should be smart and cooperative with officers.
“We just ask people to be patient,” he said. “Wait for their rides, work with the deputies and law enforcement agencies, and we’ll get you home safely without charges so you can wake up in the morning and talk about the good time you had.”
Cooper added that there should be a few more officers at the fest than usual, mostly to help keep traffic moving.
Attendees are encouraged not to walk to the fest, especially if intoxicated, because they will almost certainly be arrested, Cooper said.
With a safe and coordinated environment in which to party — and one with fields that cannot flood as in past years, Petrozzi said — 8Fest is set to continue its tradition as a launching pad for musicians both in and outside Ohio.
“We’re good at spotting talent. Last year, Mike Posner performed and then he blew up,” Petrozzi said. “8Fest has become an event that just puts talent on.”
8Fest Lineup:
THE ONE MIC STAGE
12-1:30 p.m. – ETrayn & D-Lo
1:30-2 p.m. – The First Street Heat
2-2:30 p.m. – 6 Panel Driver
2:30-3 pm. – The One Eyed Show
3-3:30 p.m. – Santino Corleon
3:30-4 p.m. – FAM Fresh
4-4:30 p.m. – Kreg & Dez
4:30-5 p.m. – P. Blackk
5-6 p.m. – (nothing-Machine Gun
Kelly on Kegfly stage)
6-6:30 p.m. – Joe Moorhead
6:30-7 p.m. – Jared Mahone
7-7:30 p.m. – Aaron LaFette
7:30-8 p.m. – Bruno
8-8:30 p.m. – Dave Rave
KEGFLY STAGE:
12-12:30 p.m. – Ice Possible
12-1:30 p.m. – Dave Rave
1:30-2 p.m. – The Forties
2-2:30 p.m. – Swagg
2:30-3 p.m. – iPhonic
3-3:30 p.m. – Edski
3:30-4 p.m. – CJ & Freaky Franz
4-4:30 p.m. – Fly Union
4:30-5 p.m. – DJ E-V
5-6 p.m. – Machine Gun Kelly
6-6:30 p.m. – B.YONEST
6:30-7 p.m. – LE
7-7:30 p.m. – CG
7:30-8 p.m. – Shuttle
8-8:30 p.m. – Christian Wicks
8:30-9 p.m. – Patrick
POW WOW:
12-1 p.m. – Bruno
1-2 p.m. – Patrick
2-3 p.m. – Shuttle
3-4 p.m. – Dave Rave
4-5 p.m. – ETrayn & D-Lo
5-6 p.m. – (nothing-Machine Gun Kelly on Kegfly stage)
6-7 p.m. – Cornelius Jackson
7-8 p.m. – Edski
8-9 p.m. – DJ E-V
al106606@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCulture
