Spring Break
Rock the Republic comes to Bryan
By: Rebecca Bennett
Issue date: 10/8/09 Section: Features
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Here are the five essentials you need to know about Rock the Republic:
1. It's not a festival.
The first thing the event's staff will tell you is that Rock the Republic should not be called a festival. Staff said they wanted to create something that has never been done before.
"The reason that we said we're not a festival is because this is Texas, there's a festival everyday, and it's kind of lost its meaning. When you hear 'festival,' you might just think there are eight bands and a hot dog stand…it sounds like something you could miss. No, this is a spectacle of sight and sound," said entertainment director John Wesley.
2. What in the world is a spectacle?
You're probably wondering what exactly that last phrase means. Rock the Republic will feature a variety of performing and fine arts related entertainment, attempting to cater to everyone's interests. There will be live music, a poetry slam, variety show, dance contest and a free-style BMX race. Paintings and other local original artwork will be displayed throughout the different venues.
Stephen Sargent, sponsorship director for the event and a political science professor at Texas A&M, said the event aims to combine the worlds of rock music and spoken word poetry. He is a poet himself, helping found the Mic Check Poetry Night at Revolution Café & Bar, as well as being a member of a Ft. Worth-based team, which placed third in the 2005 National Poetry Slam competition.
"Slam poetry is big, but it's still kind of underground," he said.
Attendees will see exemplary demonstration of this contemporary art form when two-time Individual World Poetry Slam Champion, Buddy Wakefield, performs some of his work. Additionally, four poets from the HBO television program "Def Poetry" will be at the event.
3. The Music Scene
The band lineup was hand-picked on the basis of quality by individuals actively involved within the music industry. While there are 100 bands on the lineup, all are scheduled to perform 60-90 minute sets, as opposed to a few selections from their press kits.
"These are full concerts. So (the bands) are not being rushed onstage, being rushed off…You're going to really see the depths of the artists," Wesley said.
Audiences will be able to enjoy performances from some of their favorite local acts, including strawberryJAM and Flawless Escape. There are also many groups hailing from Texas' larger metropolitan areas, such as Austin-based The Black and White Years, which has won five major Austin Music Awards. Also scheduled to play is Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights, whom have opened for both Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kid Rock.
"It's not just random bands that could be speared together. These are the best in Texas," said Matt Traylor, public relations coordinator.
4. The Location
The staff members said they chose Downtown Bryan as their location because they felt that it held immense unfulfilled potential. "This is an amazing place to be with a lot of young people who are craving great music…they don't always want to have to drive 200 miles to hear it or see it," Wesley said.
Roby Fitzhenry, creative director, said it was a little embarrassing that the area is lacking in a vibrant music scene, considering the over 48,000 students at A&M. He said Rock the Republic is part of a movement to turn that aspect of local life around.
"All of those people who want these awesome events, and want to see creative change in the area, and want fun things to do, this is step one," he said.
Their intention is to turn Bryan-College Station into one of the live music capitals of Texas. "We're really trying to tell people 'We love Austin, we love Dallas, we love Houston, but you don't have to go there to see great live music,'" Sargent said.
Eclectic venues for the event will not only include the usual suspects, such as Revolution Café, Stafford Main Street and the Stage Center, but additionally antique stores, alleyways and parking lots.
5. How to Go
The staff said they want A&M students to be there. Tickets are $10 for a one-day pass and $25 for the full three days; they are expected to sell out. Sales end on Monday, Oct. 12.
Interested individuals can view a complete band lineup, detailed schedule, and purchase tickets online at rocktherepublic.com.
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