Harrisburg to host music fest

By CHRIS WITKOWSKY
Collegian Staff Writer

This weekend, Harrisburg will become the pathway to musical nirvana for many hopeful unsigned bands in central Pennsylvania, including five bands from State College.

These bands will be joined by acts from as far as New York and Philadelphia, all participating in the third annual Harrisburg music conference, called "Millenium '99."

"We try to showcase a little smattering of everything," said Vikki Walls, co-director of "Millenium '99."

"Central Pennsylvania provides mostly alternative and hard rock bands, even a few metal acts, but we also bring in some punk bands from New York, ska bands and there's a swing night at one of the (20 stages in Harrisburg)."

With more than 180 bands participating over three nights, Harrisburg will become one big party, with independent musicians performing and hanging out with producers, engineers and record label representatives.

On the 20 stages spread throughout Harrisburg's clubs, bars and coffeehouses, each band will get about an hour to put on its best show.

There's even a forum for kids to check out their peers' attempts at musical immortality. On Friday and Saturday nights, some venues will showcase younger bands for underage fans, said John Harris, co-director of "Millenium '99."

There's more to the festival than the nightlife. During the day tomorrow and Sunday, conferences at the Ramada Inn on Market Square, 23 S. Second St., will focus on speakers. The keynote speaker this year is Jim Fouratt, former vice president of Artist & Repertoire at Mercury Records.

"Jim has many credits. He owned nightclubs in New York, he discovered R.E.M., the B-52's and Hanson, and he writes articles for Rolling Stone," Walls said.

"He's a veteran at the music game."

Other speakers include producers and engineers, lawyers and publishers, indie-label representatives and major label reps from all corners of the industry.

"If you've got enough initiative and you're a good schmoozer -- and if you're smart -- you'll keep contact with the representatives you meet here and try to get them to show up at your next gig," Walls said.

"This is an education in the business of music. It's fun because everybody is out to see everybody and, for that weekend, this town is jumping."

Last year, a State College band, Dunston Ashe, attended the conference, but the band members came away disappointed.

Dunston Ashe performed on a Sunday night, after all the reps had pretty much left town.

"I think they kind of lead you to believe that you might accomplish something, like we'd be able to talk to these reps, walk up to these people and hand them your CD and boom, you're in," said Dunston Ashe guitarist Joel Hellman (senior-real estate).

"It's tough -- it's not as easy as that. There are so many bands being showcased over so many stages that it's unlikely your band will ever be seen," Hellman said.

Still, Hellman commended the efforts of Harris and Walls.

"I'm glad they're doing this though. It does give us a chance to play around these industry representatives, and being an original band, it's hard to compete with all the cover bands here at State College."

In addition to Dunston Ashe, The Box of Death, Dogtown Road, Skaterman and Broken will be representing State College this year.

Walls and Harris have been organizing these and other unsigned bands together for the Harrisburg music conferences for three years without profit.

"John and I haven't taken in any profit in three years. The money goes to the small details, the stages, the lighting, the hotels," Walls said. "I am hoping if there's any money left over, I could get a new computer or printer or something."

Walls said she does it purely for the love of the art and the possibility of helping some young performers achieve their dreams.

"I remember last year on the last day of the festival, Sunday night, this guy came up to me -- we were all sitting in this little bar relaxing -- and he had this vinyl of a performer from the '60s who was now a producer and had spoken at the conference," she said.

"This kid loved and respected this producer so much, and the guy was sitting right next to me, so he autographed the kid's album, and, wow, you should have seen the look on the kid's face. That was the coolest thing for me, the look on that kid's face.

"I had made his dream come true -- no amount of money can buy that."