BestFest successful, but poorly attended

9/28/11 7:00pm

Houston Press Best of Houston BestFest, held last Saturday and Sunday, may have been the most downplayed and underrated arts and entertainment festival in Houston this year. Whether the low turnout resulted from the METRORail service interruptions or the remarkably poor publicity efforts, no amount of free Monster Energy Drink, bar options or famous bands attracted crowds to the Midtown Superblock.

Unfortunately for the bands, vendors and uninformed Houstonians, this festival marked a cultural collective that was, yet shouldn't have been, missed.

The two-day festival boasted a non-stop music lineup comprised of both beloved Houston-based bands and nationally acclaimed performers. Two stages, the Main Stage and the Home Brewed Stage, anchored opposite ends of the Superblock, while tents exhibiting local eats, arts and crafts framed the perimeter. BestFest featured Houston Press' "Best of" award-winning vendors and restaurants, such as Kahn's Deli (Best Deli 2007) and Daniel Boone Cycles (Best Bike ?Shop 2005).

---

---

The music acts varied from prominent names, such as Bun B, Chamillionaire and Cake, to hometown favorites, such as Nick Gaitan & The Umbrella Man, Little Joe Washington and Los Skarnales. The BestFest lineup catered to all genres and tastes, showcasing music from the drum-heavy punk rock band, Hell City Kings, to the country-drawling troubadour, Hayes Carll.

In spite of the diverse musical styles, the BestFest bands all shared a discernible passion for experimentation, reformation and presentation of their music to both their grassroots supporters and prospective new fans.  Up-and-coming artists like Carolyn Wonderland and The Tontons impressed audiences with their refreshing talent. The sets from the more renowned veterans, like Deer Tick and the Toadies, also did not disappoint.

"Carolyn Wonderland was a great surprise for me, " KTRU local show disc jockey and Wiess College junior, Heather Olson said. "She's being called the Texas blues legend of our time, and I believe it. I've never heard someone belt out the blues like she did."

Olson, who attended both days at BestFest, experienced most of Sunday's lineup from her post as a volunteer promoting the Austin-based FunFunFunFest, coming up in November. The FunFunFunFest tent was one of a multitude of vendor participants, who were holistically just as varied as the music acts rotating on the stages.

"The vendors were friendly as you might expect," Kieran Lyons, KTRU Events Director, said.

Both Olson and Lyons, a Baker College senior, especially appreciated that the nationally prominent musicians, such as Bun B and Slim Thug, remembered to acknowledge their Houston roots during their BestFest performances. Grammy-winner, Chamillionaire, even went so far as to invite aspiring rappers from the crowd to rap on stage.

"I was impressed by how Chamillionaire brought rappers out of the crowd onto the stage — and how they were actually pretty good," Lyons said.

Moments like Chamillionaire's shared stage performance with amateur rappers highlight why it's a shame to see low attendance at local music festivals like BestFest.

These national headliners returned to their hometown not only to show their appreciation for the local support, but also to bring exposure to new artists looking to be discovered.

However, musicians can only give back to a community that's present, and regrettably, this past weekend Houstonians were nowhere to be found.

For those fortunate enough to attend BestFest, though the crowds were underwhelming, the music and art culture was not.

"I hope BestFest comes back next year — it's a really convenient location with great views and a chance to get a rundown of the good stuff that's going on in Houston and in Texas," Olson said.

 

---