Annie Hart with Tierney Tough and Sandman Sleeps at Will's Pub
Photos by Miranda
@themirandajayne
The dreamiest show you could possibly imagine came to life with this stellar lineup.
As a film composer, solo artist, and 1/3 of Au Revoir Simone, Annie Hart has a diverse array of music to play and stories to tell (she might have possibly spotted Patti Smith at the airport on the way to Florida from New York, a mystery I'd love to know the conclusion to).
Central Florida's Tierney Tough belatedly celebrated her latest release, A Farce to Recon With. The EP was released last summer, but had not gotten the proper celebration it deserved in these uncertain times. Accompanying her was multi-instrumentalist and composer Jim Dreffen, who just put out a noteworthy EP of his own, entitled Brittle Branches. Both of them can be heard rocking out with The Pauses.
Sandman Sleeps is an incredibly vibrant group from South Florida that illuminates the stage with their energy and glittery tunes. Their debut album, Crisis Actor, comes out March 26th and you'll definitely want to keep an eye on them!
Check out a virtual scrapbook from the show below:
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Fest 19
Photos by Miranda
@themirandajayne
Rolling into Fest this year didn’t feel quite real until I was getting drizzled on in the photo pit, panicking that the sky was going to open up while I was photographing Spanish Love Songs. After their third song, I exited the pit with a sigh of relief that the rain was letting up and that I was actually back at a concert.
I spent my fifth year on the photo team mostly outside, loving the new additions of Heartwood Soundstage and 4th Ave. Food Park to the venue list. I also dipped a toe into photographing Fest Comedy, which I might have to make a staple in my routine. I sorely missed the international bands and fans (no shoeys this year, unfortunately), but in their place I caught a ton of amazing Florida-based acts. I’m really proud of my own backyard.
Fest was much needed this year by everyone in attendance and though it was a little different, its ability to adapt to the current times really speaks to the creativity and tenacity to the community that makes it happen.
I photographed 40+ bands and comedians this year. Here are my favorite shots:
Spanish Love Songs
Ska-tin’ at Registration
Virginity
The Wonder Years
Nathan Gray
SPELLS
Frank Turner
Ich
You Vandal
Danny Attack
AWAKEBUTSTILLINBED
Heartwood, with its gorgeous foliage
Kepi Ghoulie
Sheer Mag
Torche
Gordon Withers & friends covering Jawbreaker
Nervous Dater
Articles
Kali Masi
Signals Midwest
Into It. Over It.
Fest Comedy favorite shots featuring Anna Valenzuela, Ben Roy, Anya Volz, and Brandie Posey:
Fest 20 will be hitting Gainesville October 28-30, 2022. Go ahead and just take the time off now, because I have a feeling this 20th anniversary is not to be missed.
See ya there!
Our Previous Fest Coverage | More from the Fest photo team
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The Wonder Years with Free Throw, Spanish Love Songs, and Pool Kids Live in Orlando
Photos by Miranda Jayne
(@themirandajayne)
The Wonder Years hitting the road is always a sight to behold, but this tour is extra special. It’s like a mini pop punk festival, featuring some of the genres great and rising stars on one stage. I’m always for getting to shows early to check out the opening bands, but with this tour, it’s a must.
The tour celebrates Burst & Decay Volume II, which features stripped down versions of The Wonder Years’ hidden gem tracks. They’re performing twice every night, allowing concertgoers to catch their breath from the three powerful opening bands with a heartfelt acoustic set before launching into an electric set of their own.
Nashville’s Free Throw have been pretty busy this past year. Between a steady touring schedule, they released two new songs. Their most recent full length album, What’s Past is Prologue, made its debut last March.
Spanish Love Songs is one of my favorite Fest discoveries. They released their third album, Brave Faces Everyone, earlier this month to resoundingly positive reviews and even made their Billboard chart debut. After this tour wraps, they’ll be embarking on a North American headlining run of their own.
Pool Kids are another Fest favorite from Tallahassee, Florida. They released their debut album, Music to Practice Safe Sex to, back in 2018. If you want a sneak peek into their fun, energetic performance style, check out their Audiotree Live session.
Pool Kids
Spanish Love Songs
Title Fight
The Wonder Years
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La Dispute and Touché Amoré with Empath Live in Orlando
Photos by Miranda Jayne (@themirandajayne)
La Dispute, Touché Amoré and Empath reached the halfway point in their current US run with a stop in Orlando this past Saturday. For fans, this is a special tour that is not to be missed.
La Dispute is touring in support of their fourth album, Panorama, which was released in March. I hadn’t seen them play since Fest in 2012, but I was quickly reminded this band brings emotion to the stage like no other. This show was everything I could’ve hoped for as a reunion, culminating in hearing my favorite track of theirs, “The Last Lost Continent.”
As a special surprise for Orlando, they ended their set with fan-favorite, “King Park,” which had not yet been played on this tour.
This was my first time seeing Touché Amoré, which was long overdue. This year was all about the 10th anniversary of their first studio album, ...To The Beat of A Dead Horse, which they’ve been playing in its entirety to start their set. The band will be working on new music in 2020, so stay tuned.
If simply seeing the two close-knit bands grace the same stage isn’t enough, they’re also playing their 2010 split EP, Searching For A Pulse/The Worth of The World.
The icing on this tour’s cake are Philadelphia’s up and coming noise punks, Empath. The band has put out a steady stream of music since their formation in 2015, but just released their first full length album, Active Listening: Night on Earth, back in May.
Empath
Touché Amoré
La Dispute
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Fest 18
Photos by Miranda Jayne
I’ve been asked at least 100 times in the past few weeks, “how was Fest?” I respond the same way I always have, “the best ever.” I’ve gushed at length about Gainesville, Florida’s own punk rock convention, my history with it, and what makes it so special.
This year was my fourth on Fest’s photo team and I had a harder time than ever narrowing down my favorite shots.
Against Me! headlined two nights, playing highlights from four of their albums. White Crosses is my favorite and one I listened to almost incessantly during my time at UF. It was pretty cool to be in the photo pit for the beginning of that set, years later. In an iconic Fest moment, Laura Jane Grace also played a solo acoustic set later in the weekend that ended with her taking her guitar out to the street to play the final few songs. I unfortunately missed that, but the fact that it happened is amazing and encompasses the energy of the weekend so perfectly.
On the subject of Gainesville bands, here’s Frameworks, who I’ve been lucky enough to catch every year I’ve been shooting.
I could go on forever about how much I love Sunday’s International Showcase at Loosey’s. This year, I decided to make it a goal to photograph all thirteen bands that graced the stage, including:
Eat Defeat from Leeds, UK
Fresh from London, UK
Captain Asshole from Munich, Germany
Stanis and Sorry! We Are Silly from Italy
Transkam from Tokyo, Japan
Uberyou from Zurich, Switzerland featuring a trophy for the crowdsurfer who could snatch it from the top of an amplifier.
The Run Up from Bristol, UK
Of course, Sunday at Loosey’s isn’t the only place to get your international band fix. I also caught Lost Love from Montreal, Canada playing at Downtown Fats on Friday.
Running between venues all day can be a great way to find new bands from all over the world... and bands from your own backyard. Here’s Cool Grandma from Orlando!
Get Married has a super unique sound and I’m still bummed I didn’t get to see their Elvis cover set this year. They are quickly becoming a favorite Fest staple.
Signals Midwest is another one of my favorite Fest staples. They always bring great energy out of the crowd and have a knack for getting them involved in the show.
Joyce Manor played in overcast weather at dusk on Saturday, which was the perfect cozy vibe for their set.
Every year, I have the absolute honor of shooting a punk legend I probably never would have otherwise gotten the opportunity to. This year, it was Jawbreaker.
My favorite Fest moment this year was ending my Friday with a 1am mystery set at the Atlantic by a band that is very special to me, Spanish Love Songs. For those of you who have never Fested, each day brings a few “mystery band” sets. The sets are announced the night before and usually involve a band playing a set filled with deep cuts in a smaller venue than they would usually play. My second favorite Fest moment this year was seeing them tear down 8 Seconds the next day, complete with an on stage proposal.
Mark your calendars for Fest 19! It kicks off on October 30th, 2020 and I’m sure I’ve convinced you by now that it’s not to be missed.
For more Fest photo team snaps, check out our flickr page.
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Quit While You’re Ahead
Photos by Miranda Jayne
If you’ve been following this blog or crossed paths with me and chatted about music for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard this story told a few times in varying lengths.
I first heard Ghouls play on the porch of The Midnight during a sunny afternoon in Gainesville. It was my first Fest on the photo team. I was running around frantically trying to get my shots in and this venue happened to be on my list. I ducked in, planning on taking a few quick snaps of whoever was playing and trucking on. I ended up staying for their whole set, sitting on a picnic bench and listening to these Fest first-years from England tell stories. It was a fateful day.
I remember hearing “Being Me” for the first time and it resonating so deeply with all the weirdness and uncertainty that was at play in my life at that point. That remains my favorite Ghouls song and still hits close to home.
I was very fortunate to see them play two more Fests, culminating in last year’s electrifying at-capacity set. This indie band did a lot of amazing things in their time together, but that will always be my favorite memory. I was hoping to meet up with them for many more PBRs on this side of the pond, but all great things must come to an end.
When they announced their impending breakup in May, I was nothing short of devastated. They would be playing one last show in London in October. And what started as a “oh man I wish I could go to that,” quickly turned into a plane ticket and a whirlwind of a trip. Simply put, like a funeral for a relative, I wasn’t going to miss it.
After a seven hour flight on two hours of sleep, I arrived in London and took some of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken of the most beautiful example of why this all means so much to me. I even set my camera aside and got in the pit for a few songs, surrounded by local supporters and others, like me, who had flown in from other countries and continents. Music unites us across oceans and borders. It’s there for us in the most difficult and highest points in our lives, in many private moments when even our friends and family can’t be around. But in this community, you’re never really alone. This band meant a lot to so many people and I’m glad we had this one last opportunity to show them that.
I’m getting teary-eyed in a coffee shop writing this, so I’ll just get to the photos. Shot at Rich Mix in London and supported by the incredible, intense Riskee and the Ridicule and the fun, energetic Karl Phillips and the Rejects, here are my final photos of the kindest and most inspiring band that ever was or will be. Ghouls, 2013-forever.
That's the way life goes, I'm told.
They said I'd figure that out when I was older.
But so far, I only know one thing and that's
I just wanna be me.
And I might not play Reading, and I might not play Leeds.
I might not ever make it to Glastonbury.
And I might not play Warped Tour, I might not make it.
But at least I'll have the memories of the things we did.
Ghouls
Riskee and the Ridicule
Karl Phillips and the Rejects
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Red City Radio and Taking Back Sunday Live in Orlando
Photos by Miranda Jayne
Taking Back Sunday is celebrating 20 years as a band in the best way possible: a massive tour with fans having the opportunity to attend two nights of shows in each city. The band is playing two of their classic albums in their entirety at each performance. Both shows hear Tell All Your Friends, and a coin flip determines which will hear Louder Now and Where You Want to Be.
The band’s Orlando stop was a sentimental ride full of stories about songwriting, touring, and the making of the albums. It is definitely a must for anyone who started blasting TAYF in their car when they were 16 and never stopped.
Joining the tour is one of my favorite Fest bands, Red City Radio. They’re energetic, humorous, emotional, and the perfect addition to the celebration. Judging by the head banging I saw and the mosh pit that broke out half way through their set, I think the audience was loving them too. Even Adam Lazzara of Taking Back Sunday sang their praises on stage. If you’re attending this run of shows, be sure to get there early and show them some love. In the meantime, check out their new single, “Love A Liar,” and the photos under the cut:
Red City Radio
Taking Back Sunday
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PUP with illuminati hotties and Potty Mouth Live in Orlando
After more than a thousand days, Canadian punk rockers, PUP, returned to Orlando, Florida to play their first headlining show in the city. The band has been on an impressively lengthy tour since March supporting their third album, Morbid Stuff.
Orlando has waited a long time for PUP’s return and the energy from the crowd was relentless. As I was photographing the first few songs from the front of the house, I could feel the floor under my feet quaking from the crowd behind me. The setlist contained most of their new album mixed in with old favorites and a perfect cover of The Weakerthan’s “Plea From a Cat Named Virtute.”
Both opening bands brought so much fun to the stage. Los Angeles based illumiati hotties released their first album, Kiss Yr Frenemies, last year. The band welcomed Jeremy Hunter of Ska Tune Network for part of their set, which was a welcomed surprise!
Also based in LA and touring relentlessly, Potty Mouth released their most recent album, SNAFU, back in March. After they finish their run with PUP, they’ll be heading out with Masked Intruder later this month. If you’re lucky, you might be able to catch a flying prize during their set!
Potty Mouth
illuminati hotties
PUP
I've been very fortunate to have never experienced major technical difficulties while photographing a show, until this one. I wish I could say my problem was something super hardcore, like getting my camera kicked in by a crowdsurfer, but it wasn’t that cool. Long story short, a part in my lens simply gave out. This resulted in the lens not connecting with my camera properly, and me having to turn my camera off and back on again after every single shot I took throughout all three bands. This was definitely one of the most challenging galleries I’ve ever put together. Thanks for viewing!
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The Fest 17
Photos by Miranda Jayne, long live Fest snake
When someone asks me what The Fest is and why it matters so much to me, I struggle to summarize the impact this weird punk rock family reunion has had on me over the past few years. So here’s the long version.
My first Fest was in 2012. I was 18 and tumbling through my second fall at Gainesville’s own University of Florida. All I really wanted was to surround myself with live music as much as I possibly could. I had recently joined one of the programming entities that brought concerts to campus and was regularly skipping classes to spend all day assisting with the shows we had coming in. So when I heard about a huge music festival that happened every year just minutes from my dorm, I felt I had to be a part of it. I knew nobody else involved, had no idea what I was doing, and was very worried about not being taken seriously. But I went out on a limb and signed up to assist the stage manager at my favorite venue at the time.
Working that Fest remains one of my all-time favorite college memories. All the doubts I had lifted when I walked into the venue and found a welcoming crew of people who loved live music just as much as I did. I still have all the guitar picks and setlists the stage manager let me keep when we cleaned up the stage between acts.
Back then, I barely considered myself a photographer. I brought a disposable camera to take photos of La Dispute the following night and I don’t think I had any concept of where I would find myself a few Fests later.
This was my third year on Fest’s photo team. Our goal is simple: capture everything that happens during our annual three day Five Star Pizza and PBR powered gathering. It can be a daunting task considering our domain spans 20 venues and incorporates more than 400 bands, plus comedy acts, wrestling, and various other shenanigans. But we do our best.
I’m nothing short of honored to be able to work with and learn from a team of people so talented and passionate. I’ve found a place in a community that challenges me and allows me express myself as a journalist, as well as an artist.
Here are some of my favorite moments from Fest 17:
The Firewood Project
One of the coolest things I experience at Fest is the ability to meet people from all over the world. This year, I photographed bands from Brazil, Finland, Germany, the UK, France, and Japan in the same day, on the same stage. The Firewood Project came all the way from Tokyo!
Frameworks
From international to my backyard, here’s my favorite Gainesville band, Frameworks (sorry, Against Me!). I was first introduced to them back in college when they played a small show on campus. It’s been a special experience to be able to photograph them three Fests running.
Red City Radio
When I signed up for my assistant stage manager gig back at Fest 11, the headliners were a little band I’d never heard of called Red City Radio. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more out of the loop for not knowing a band and I will never forget the energy of working that set. They’ve now played every Fest I’ve been to. Seeing them is always like a cozy pat on the back, but seeing them play mainstage this time around was extra special.
Night Witch
If there were ever a time or place for a My Chemical Romance reunion, it would be at a Fest. Night Witch brought one of my favorite bands back to life for one night, and it was magical. Perched atop a tiny chair I was hoping wouldn’t break, I spent just as much time screaming along to this set as I did photographing it.
Just Friends
If you’ve listened to Just Friends, but have never seen them live, you’re not getting the full experience. I first photographed them last year upon recommendation from fellow Fest photographers and now they’ll forever be a must-see. They’re a very challenging band to shoot, given how crazy their sets can get and how many people they tend to squeeze on stage, but that’s what makes them fun!
The Get Up Kids
Fest has allowed me to photograph my share of punk royalty, including Against Me!, Superchunk, and now The Get Up Kids. This band has influenced so many of my favorite bands and it was an honor to photograph them!
War On Women
I first photographed War on Women at Warped Tour a few years ago and was blown away by their stage presence, honesty, and vulnerability. They are now a must-see for me and I also always enjoy interacting with their awesomely kind fans.
Aage Birch
Every year, I usually stumble upon an artist that I haven’t heard of before, but become a favorite performance of the weekend. This year it was a magical set by Onward Etc’s Aage Birch, accompanied only by an acoustic guitar and kick drum.
Masked Intruder
I love color and action in my photos and I can always count on plenty with Masked Intruder. Their set being at dusk this year made for some lovely light and almost too many good photos to choose from.
Riskee and The Ridicule
Alongside Ghouls, Riskee and The Ridicule participated in their first ever US tour down the east coast before landing in Gainesville for their first Fest. One of the most unique and poetic bands I’ve ever seen here, I’m hoping I’ll get to see many future performances from them. I love how open Festgoers are to new bands and it was wonderful watching the crowd let loose and welcome these guys to the family.
Ghouls
My first year as a Fest photographer, I popped into the Midnight to photograph whoever was taking the stage for one of their afternoon acoustic sets, and that turned out to be my favorite Fest discovery ever, Ghouls. Two years later, I was bursting with pride photographing this set in the middle of an at-capacity venue. To me, this kind of connection is what Fest is all about and I can’t wait to see the big things this band is going to continue to accomplish over the next few years.
Fun fact: Bassist Sam Muss played the whole tour for both Ghouls and Riskee and The Ridicule!
For more photos from the Fest photo team, check out our Flickr gallery.
Want an intro to the music of Fest? Wish you could just rewind time and go back? Either way, here’s a playlist to help.
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Eikon: Quiet Slang and Abi Reimold Live in Atlanta
Photos by Miranda Jayne
Philadelphia punk band Beach Slang’s dreamy alter-ego Quiet Slang is wrapping up its first, and possibly only, North American tour. Frontman James Alex has completely reimagined the band’s music for this project. The result is an entirely new listening experience with favorites from previous albums. Complete with backing vocals and piano by Charlie Lowe, as well as an ethereal stage setup, Quiet Slang’s live performance is inspiring, healing, and even a bit silly.
Joining the tour is solo artist and fellow Philadelphian, Abi Reimold. Backing her honest and moving lyrics are soundscapes she builds live using only her voice, a guitar, and a looper. She released her debut album, Wriggling, back in 2016.
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