Spokane welcomed Boom Jam, an independent outdoor music and arts festival, on Saturday. The event was held just off campus and featured 14 bands on two stages.
“It’s really an inspiration to try to be the best that we can be and to be a part of the whole Spokane music scene,” said Austin Hagel of local Spokane band Mama Llama. I think so,” he said.
Boomjam represented a variety of art forms, including music, visual art, food, and jewelry vendors. Festival events began at noon, with bands representing states from across the country coming together one after another.
Music artist Johnny Franco, one of Boom Jam’s performers, has signed a deal with producer Sterling Fox, who has collaborated with Lana Del Rey and Britney Spears.
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Boom Jam viewer Lorna Martinez said, “I was really impressed. There are some really nice sections and it’s really cute.” “I’m from Reno, but when I drove to Spokane I thought it was a bit dirty and strange, but then I remembered my hometown. In my experience, Washington is very calm, but… , [Spokane] Feels like a real city. ”
Boom Jam tickets cost $35, with a $5 surcharge for same-day purchases.
“If all goes well, I’ll come out of here with a new favorite band, a new favorite song, and some great people I met in Spokane,” Martinez said.
Several bands said this was their first time playing in Spokane.
Magenta Wave bass guitarist Nathaniel McCarley said, “This is our first time in Spokane. It could have been worse. We’re having a really good time and we’re happy to be here.”
The festival grounds featured eclectic seating areas, including a disco-themed living room with vintage chairs, mirrors, rugs, a foosball table, and a basketball set.
Participants had the flexibility to depart and return, allowing them to explore nearby restaurants and businesses.
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According to the festival’s website, “BoomJam is a space for people to enjoy community, support artists of all backgrounds, meet new friends, listen to cool music, and have unique experiences in a safe environment.” .”
For many, Boom Jam fostered a sense of community.
“The reason I do this is to connect with people, and if I can do that with something I’ve created, that’s really special,” Mama Llama singer-songwriter Isaac Marker said. Ta. “It’s really an amazing experience.”
Markar plays the piano and vocals for the band, and is also responsible for most of the songwriting.
“This is by no means the biggest festival even Spokane has had this summer,” Hagel said. “But it’s all about the atmosphere. Everyone here is on the same page, so this is something we want to be involved in.”
With sustainability in mind, Boom Jam displayed a large sign made from pallets and recycled paint.
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The entire event was independent and homegrown. Parents and family members of the band members wore T-shirts to represent them and recorded and signed autographs along with the performance.
“Everybody comes from different parts of the West and has different backgrounds, and we all come here to enjoy the sun, about 70-degree weather, and hang out in random parking lots. It’s coming, and everyone’s having a lot of fun,” Hagel said.
Musicians were given access to a warehouse on-site, isolated from the rest of the venue, to practice and spend time as needed.
“I often write really place-based images about friends who were important to me and may be gone,” said Kyle Lutz of the band Shadowbasket. “We like to showcase other artists and friends in our projects. All about [our music videos] It involves six or seven friends who act, draw, and dance. ”
Lutz said Shadow Basket is currently working on new music, expected to be released in the near future, and hopes to return to Spokane to perform live.
“It’s literally like handing out copies of my diary to strangers and having them sing the words back,” said Magenta Wave’s Grayson Thompson. “That’s beautiful.”
Thompson plays guitar and is the band’s main vocalist. He or guitarist Taylor Mastin often start a song with an initial idea or chord progression, then hand it off to the band to work on the music together.
“Inspiration changes every day,” Thompson said. “Writing lyrics and expressing your feelings for people to see is a really vulnerable thing.”
All four members of the Magenta Wave band live together in Seattle and practice in their garages. According to band members, they recently released their debut EP and are planning a headlining show in Seattle.
“Our songwriting is just an expression of who we are,” Mastin said. “As we experience more things in life, we change and our expressions change. As we grow closer and learn more about each other as people and musicians, it shows through our music. ”
Mama Llama frontman Markal incorporates comedy throughout his set, telling stories and creating dance moves for the audience to follow.
“I’m going to finish my part.” [a new song]then bring it to the band and tell them to make it good. Please do better,” Markal said. “And they are.”
Hegel also contributed to the band as a music theorist. Murkar writes music and, according to Hegel, often tells the other members whether the music is objectively correct according to music theory.
“We each write our own parts. Isaac has a kind of vision, so we might tweak it a little bit, but overall it’s laid out,” Hegel said. said.
Mama Llama has a series of music videos for her latest album, which together create the “Mama Llama Movie”, which can be viewed on YouTube. They plan to release more music in the near future.
The festival created a Spotify playlist with music from all the bands that played at the event. You can still find it on the app and on Spotify, as well as music profiles for Mama Llama, Shadow Basket, and Magenta Wave.