365 Things to Do in Memphis #259: Gonerfest
365 Things to Do in Memphis #259: Gonerfest
Hear the sounds! Smell the smells! Drink the beer! Assignment #259 in the 365 Things to Do in Memphis is to go check out Gonerfest, Memphis' annual indie, punk and garage rock festival.
In, 2004 the guys that founded Goner Records launched Gonerfest. Every September, they bring several dozen bands from around the world to Memphis for four sweaty days of rock 'n' roll.
Start your Gonerfest right with the opening ceremonies at the Cooper-Young Gazeebo on Thursday, September 22. Between then and Sunday night's closing party (back at the Gazebo) more than 35 bands will perform at Railgaten, a sprawling outdoor venue and bar just up the street from Cooper Young on Central Avenue.
See the full schedule here.
For Memphians, the festival is a chance to see some of the best garage bands from far away places—this year as far as Australia (multiple bands), Berlin (The King Khan & BBQ Show), and Switzerland (Leopardo).
For the hundreds of out of towners who flock here every year, it's a rare chance to see some of Memphis' finest (Bennett, Aquarian Blood, Sweet Knvies, AWFM, Compulsive Gamblers, The False Starts, and more). In between sets, Railgarten and Goner will keep the beat going with DJs.
While there's just two main venues for the "official" festival, there are plenty of afterparties around town. Central Station will host free afterparties on Friday and Saturday nights with DJ Edan of NYC, Bar DKDC has post-Gonerfest later night shows, plus shows at the Lamplighter, B-Side, the HIt-Tone, and more.
Alex Greene over at the Memphis Flyers has a great cover story on Gonerfest, plus another piece here about all these afterparties and extras.
Go there:
Gonerfest 19
Sept. 22-45
Cooper Young Gazebo / Railgarten
After parties:
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