"For 4 years now Wham City has been organizing the WHARTSCAPE. What started as a summer warehouse party turned into a much bigger, multi-day outdoor festival with thousands of bands, performers, and folks traveling to Baltimore from all across the US and Europe.
Since, we organize this festival out of pocket and in our spare time, it is important for us to keep it comfortable and enjoyable for us to do. One thing we talked about at the end of last year's festival was shrinking it down slightly and having it feel more community based and familiar.

This year isn't focused around headliners, but mainly performers and friends that make up the community we tour, work and live in.
We are also greatly reducing the number of MEGA-PASSES (the 3 day pass ticket that grants you entry to every show and every day).
ONLY 300 Mega-Passes will be sold; this is the only guarantee that you can see all the shows.

Tickets will be sold to the individual shows, but it is strongly suggested that you buy a Mega-Pass, as it saves you money and assures you take in the entire poo-poo.
Whartscape will take place July 10-11-12 at the Baltimore Museum of Art, Maryland Institute College of Art Studio Center Parking Lot, and Load of Fun.
We will begin selling tickets at 12 Noon, Monday, June 29th.

Continue reading "Whartscape - 2009 Wham City festival dates & lineup "

photos by Bao Nguyen

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Ponytail

Bao spent all day Saturday (July 19) running from Siren stage to Siren stage taking pictures and watching bands. In a heat wave. He didn't really feel like going to Whartscape in Baltimore the very next day (July 20), but he did (just a little late).

At a minimum he was hoping to report back on the very first performance of Who Is The Tunafish Man? (aka the Dan Deacon, Girl Talk & Spank Rock supergroup). Unfortunately, lack of permits and cops stopped that from happening, AND Black Dice didn't get to play because of rain. White Williams, Adeventure, Dan Deacon, Trey Told Em, Grand Buffet, Double Dagger and many others played before Bao got there, which was in time to catch Ponytail and then Parts & Labor (the only band on Sunday's 14-hour Whartscape bill that were also at Siren the day before). On top of that, Bao forgot to charge his camera battery, it was hot again (especially at the late part inside that got busted), and the whole festival was eventually running almost 2 hours behind (not that it ultimately mattered). More on the timing, who played, and a few pics (he didn't take that many to save battery life for the headliners) below...

Continue reading "Cops & rain messed w/ Whartscape, Who Is The Tunafish Man? (Deacon + Girl Talk + Spankrock) didn't play, poor Bao"