The music for Athens Halloween Block Party has consistently highlighted local talent, and this year is no exception with 10 bands ready to rock the bricks Saturday.
The music will begin at 7 p.m. on the North Stage with dadRAM and continue until 2 a.m. as many of these local groups try to prove their talent on stage.
“Some bands use Halloween as a springboard,” said Jonathan Holmberg, chairman of the Clean and Safe Halloween Committee. “Bands like Papadosio, Ekoostik Hookah and The Werks have all started off much less known (before Halloween).”
One group in particular, Uptowne Buddha, has quickly moved up through the ranks of the Athens music scene since their arrival in April of this year.
The seven-piece funk and hip-hop group has worked to establish their group in the Cleveland area, but shifted their sights on Athens when guitarist Sam Terkel enrolled at OU.
The group has been fortunate to move from playing at house parties during Palmer Fest in April to a spot on the Halloween stage. Terkel said their secret has mainly been luck.
“We’ve definitely been trying to play around Athens more,” Terkel said. “I ran into Jonathan at the right place at the right time … I feel like a lot of things in life come together like that.”
But not all the bands are new to the stage. Hellnaw and Dune will be returning for more heavy rock after last year’s performance.
Andy Shaw Band might be new to Athens Halloween, but they are not strangers to oversized crowds — the full-time group devotes the majority of their time to touring and live performances.
“The Andy Shaw Band is from out-of-town, doing a really great job out of Columbus,” Holmberg said. “I’ve tried to get them to the Halloween main stage for a couple years in a row and it just hasn’t worked out so I’m really happy to have them.”
Andy Shaw plays alongside his brother, Chris Shaw, and his father, Jim, to deliver a mix of genres to the block party. Much of their work is centered in folky acoustic riffs, but Andy said they have more planned for Saturday.
“It’ll be more rockin’ for an Athens crowd,” Andy said. “A crowd like Athens Halloween is in a league of its own.”
wh092010@ohiou.edu
IF YOU GO:
North Stage
7 p.m. — dadRAM
8 p.m. — Bright at Night
9 p.m. — Dave Rave
10 p.m. — 4Loko Costume Contest
10:30 p.m. — Dune
12 a.m. — Hellnaw
1 a.m. — Closing Announcements
South Stage
7:30 p.m. — Uptowne Buddha
8:30 p.m. — Burning River Ramblers
9:30 p.m. — The Porters
11 p.m. — Andy Shaw Band
12:30 a.m. — Rumpke Mountain Boys
1:30 a.m. — Closing Announcements
