Spring Break
Local metal festival raises money for charity
By: Lorelei Willett
Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: Features
Gorefest, a metal concert for all ages, will have its fifth annual festival Saturday in downtown Bryan. Gorefest will feature 16 bands and will raise funds for Scotty's House, a nonprofit organization for abused children that lost more than $20,000 in government funding. Gorefest will run from noon to midnight Saturday at the Stafford, with tickets ranging in price from $5 - $15.
"This is the first year it has been for a charity," said Gorefest creator and promoter Cody Hancock.
Scotty's House was voted off of the list of names offered to citizens who could pick a charity to send their jury pay. Hancock said he remembered representatives from the nonprofit coming to speak to his high school class and was saddened when he heard about their loss of funds. He said he felt the festival could help.
"A lot of what metal is about is abuse, like with bands like Korn," Hancock said. "We thought it would be good for the victims to be benefited by the music that writes about them."
In high school, Hancock was inspired to start the event after friends put metal fests together in other parts of the state. Some do charity work such as Loudfest, which raises money to build skate parks.
"We have music festivals here but I wanted metal to have one, because not a lot of bands play in this area and I wanted to give them more exposure," Hancock said.
Local groups and bands from Houston and Dallas will be at the event. Some performances include a one-man act from Houston who calls himself Insidious Decrepancy and MSC Town Hall Battle of the Bands contestant Convicted of Treason. More than $1,000 worth of prizes will be raffled off, including gift certificates for Baskin Robbins, Cheddars and tattoo parlors.
"I'm excited to see all the bands," Hancock said.
He said Gorefest usually happens around Halloween so people feel more comfortable and less intimidated. Many types of death metal bands come out for the occasion including ones that sing or 'growl' and others with political and religious stances.
"For some bands, if you take one of the 'Saw' movies, that's a death metal album right there," Hancock said. "I've seen people walk out because they're scared."
Hancock runs Aggieland Metal Productions with the help of his girlfriend, Cassie Hanks. Aggieland Metal Productions is a nonprofit company dedicated to helping the metal-rock music scene in the Bryan-College Station area. Hanks handles flyers and videos, while Hancock takes care of patrons.
"She helps me not lose my sanity while I'm there to make her go insane," Hancock said.
"This is the first year it has been for a charity," said Gorefest creator and promoter Cody Hancock.
Scotty's House was voted off of the list of names offered to citizens who could pick a charity to send their jury pay. Hancock said he remembered representatives from the nonprofit coming to speak to his high school class and was saddened when he heard about their loss of funds. He said he felt the festival could help.
"A lot of what metal is about is abuse, like with bands like Korn," Hancock said. "We thought it would be good for the victims to be benefited by the music that writes about them."
In high school, Hancock was inspired to start the event after friends put metal fests together in other parts of the state. Some do charity work such as Loudfest, which raises money to build skate parks.
"We have music festivals here but I wanted metal to have one, because not a lot of bands play in this area and I wanted to give them more exposure," Hancock said.
Local groups and bands from Houston and Dallas will be at the event. Some performances include a one-man act from Houston who calls himself Insidious Decrepancy and MSC Town Hall Battle of the Bands contestant Convicted of Treason. More than $1,000 worth of prizes will be raffled off, including gift certificates for Baskin Robbins, Cheddars and tattoo parlors.
"I'm excited to see all the bands," Hancock said.
He said Gorefest usually happens around Halloween so people feel more comfortable and less intimidated. Many types of death metal bands come out for the occasion including ones that sing or 'growl' and others with political and religious stances.
"For some bands, if you take one of the 'Saw' movies, that's a death metal album right there," Hancock said. "I've seen people walk out because they're scared."
Hancock runs Aggieland Metal Productions with the help of his girlfriend, Cassie Hanks. Aggieland Metal Productions is a nonprofit company dedicated to helping the metal-rock music scene in the Bryan-College Station area. Hanks handles flyers and videos, while Hancock takes care of patrons.
"She helps me not lose my sanity while I'm there to make her go insane," Hancock said.
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com