What happened to Edgefest.. it all started once Hole headlined.. The absolute axe to the alt-rock era was Creed headlining.

This year's line up has headliners such as: Yellowcard, The All-American Rejects, Hawthorne Heights, Story of the Year... "and much more!"

Is it me or has Edgefest become Emofest? No offense to emo, because if you're into it that's great, but if you're like me and only dabble here and there, I don't know if i'll be able to take it. I always thought Edgefest was more about alt-rock, and not emo/pop punk. I left my bangs in the 80s, and Manic Panic blue hair dye in year 2000 so i'm not sure if i'll be able to make this one.

BUT WAIT. I just realized that it's called "Edgefest II" - perhaps that means it's a different theme. so my question still remains, where is Edgefest? The old days of Molson Park in Barrie are over - Edgefest II is at the amiptheatre.. So what is the new outdoor festival?

HILLSIDE FESTIVAL.

Hillside Community Festival is a weekend getaway of music, community and hippie love. Last year marked their biggest year with such acts as Arcade Fire, Stars, Broken Social Scene, Weakerthans and Feist. Course, 3 of those bands are interrelated, but isn't the local indie scene all incestious?

This year the weekend passes were sold out in less than 3 days! I was not as 'in' on the scene since I could not get tickets in time. The "early bird" was supposed to go until the end of May.. More like "get as fast as you can b/c it's a bargain".

I have to say one thing that makes hillside so amazing is the lack of intense marketing and sponsorship (ironic how i'm in marketing). It's a breath of fresh air to see something so grassroots (there's marketplace vendors, arts/crafts, sessions on organics and gardening) growing so fast.. without blonde beer girls getting their way through college or credit card salesguys. Perhaps it's due to the Canadian "indie" scene which has exploded into the internatioal spotlight.

End of the day - I missed out on the boat (again). Last year I missed out b/c of my buddies wedding. This time? Scenesters beating me out!

How do these scenesters know ALL the hot concerts going on? Do they sit online at pitchfork or rotate this for the next show? do they have jobs? I just don't get it. I'm always 10 steps behind. Perhaps there's a publication that i'm missing out on, where all the rich information comes in, of which you need speical privilidge to get in. The question is: do the scenesters REALLY like the music, or are going just BECAUSE there are some hot bands there and pitchfork says to go?

Perhaps it's a closed indie society where membership is only granted by invitation.

Wardrobe: Oversize shades, sport jacket/pink shirt combo, dusted $200 buffalo jeans, pearly white sneakers
Hair: "Fashionable" Mullet (oxymoron in my opinion)
Communication: myspace, black moto-razor (pink for women)

In that case, you can have it!