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You may remember Dave Mann, erstwhile City Paper cover boy and founder of last year’s two-headed DIY juggernaut, Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie. If you don’t, here’s a recap: Last summer, Mann improbably pulled together a sprawling rock festival at a handful of Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants around town. The thing kept growing, but ticket sales remained flaccid, so he made it free. Then he did it all over again in October. Both festivals hosted more than 100 bands each.
Now, Mann’s back with an even bigger STPP fest, scheduled to take place Oct. 5-7. But for this one, he’s fundraising.
“After the two festivals last year, I realized that paying the bands really works in your favor,” he says in an email. “Even though this year we plan on having 200-300 bands at 12 different venues, we hope to be able to provide the out-of-town bands with gas money at the very least while the locals are still playing for exposure only.”
Mann originally aimed to raise $5,000 via Eventstir. Since then, he’s scaled down the goal to $1,000 (“Just because of the time constraints involved,” he says). This summer, Black Cat hosted three fundraiser shows, which helped him bring in $1,500, which he’s put toward flyers and promotion.
“Please keep in mind that the festival is still free,” he says, “but by allowing attendees to purchase the pre-sale wrist bands, it gives the attendees an opportunity to support this music festival.”
The Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie Festival runs Oct. 5-7 at various venues. See the festival website for schedule information.