With a burgeoning audience and an ever-increasing roster of contributing artists, Worst Kept Secret Fest may need to consider changing its name in the not-so-distant future. This Friday and Saturday, the eighth installment of the non-profit, semi-annual music and art showcase will return to Skate Naked – a large indoor skate park selected by festival organizers earlier in the year when the event had outgrown the capacity of its original digs at The Dude Locker in Clintonville.
“The last couple of (events) we had there were crowded to the point where it was almost uncomfortable to be there during peak hours,” explains festival director, Joshua Ziegfeld. “The nice thing about Skate Naked is that it’s a similar space with a similar vibe – a warehouse with a DIY feel – but it’s much more expansive.”
A large outdoor area on the property will feature food trucks and other opportunities for socializing among concert-goers.
For all of its impressive growth, Worst Kept Secret Fest remains focused on a core principle – giving stage time to local bands who might not otherwise get the attention garnered by acts who are more widely promoted. According to Ziegfeld, finding interesting, lesser-known live music around the city can take some digging.
“I came back to Columbus about three-and-a-half years ago, and it probably took me a good six months before I could find the little shows… the stuff that was going on in the underground that’s just as compelling, if not more, than the bigger well-publicized shows,” he said. “That’s honestly what got us started doing what we’re doing in the first place — the whole idea of shining a light on (these artists) who maybe wouldn’t be brought to a mass audience otherwise.”
Twenty-eight bands will represent on the venue’s stage, including new Columbus area additions Sam and the Barbers and Fisher, and Cincinnati-based mr.phylzzz. Other featured acts include local favorites Friendly Faux, Gelatinus Cube, The Worn Flints, and Betsy Ross. On Saturday, the festival will welcome special guests Gregory McKillop and Shane Hall from Worcester, Massachusetts; both of whom have built a significant following on the Eastern Seaboard.
Accompanying the diverse musical lineup, works from seven visual artists will also be on display for the duration of the festival. Ziegfeld believes that element could serve as a catalyst for other forms of artistic expression at future iterations of the event.
“We’ve all talked about including other types of art, as well; not just music and visual art,” he said. “We’ve talked about film, literary (art), and poetry. We haven’t quite had the chance to do that yet, but it’s always something we’ve hoped to be able to do.”
Admission to the festival is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit The Dick and Jane Foundation – a Columbus-based charity that promotes collaboration between budding lyricists from local middle schools and area musicians to create professionally-recorded compositions.
“Worst Kept Secret Fest” VIII will be Friday and Saturday, October 2nd and 3rd, at Skate Naked, 3790 E. 5th Avenue, Columbus. Doors will open at 5:00 pm each day of the festival. Complete event information, including full artists lineups, stage times, and previews are available by visiting the Worst Kept Secret Fest VIII Event Page.
Photo Credit: Tiera Suggs.