Goner Fest 22
Last week, Goner Records hosted Goner Fest 22 in Memphis, Tennessee, and it was killer. Loyal Goner fans from across the country descended on Wiseacre Brewing and the Overton Park Shell (new venues for the long-running fest) and partied hard for four days straight. We were in the mix on Friday and Saturday and caught some excellent sets from Sharp Pins, The Whiffs, Tommy Wright III, Optic Sink, and more.
When moving through the crowd, it’s clear that the event serves as a punk rock reunion for hundreds of musicians, DJs, artists, and collectors. Some of these folks have been attending Goner Fest since the early days, and their knowledge of and loyalty to Goner’s history/ethos is on full display. That said, if you’re relatively new to the scene, the tight-knit audience is still pretty welcoming and easy-going. As long as you’re there to appreciate outsider music and culture, you’ll be embraced (or at least tolerated) by the old heads.
Goner Fest 22 poster by Sara Moseley
In addition to attending the main event each day, hundreds of these folks also make their way to the ever-expanding roster of after-parties at venues like Bar DKDC and B-Side. The after-party scene is staggering at this point—with some shows including acts from the official fest—and it’s where some of the harder partying and louder sets unfold. These late-night shows also serve as an entry point for some bands who aim to perform on the main stage in the future. According to Tommy Wright III, one of the standout performers this year, an after-party set at Murphy’s in 2016 propelled his career and set the stage for him to play the official fest almost a decade later. As Wright put it during a brief chat after his set, “History happened.”
We got a chance to talk with Tommy Wright III and a few other folks and captured their takes on what makes Goner Fest so distinct and special. Check out the video below and hear what everyone had to say:
