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The F.A.M. – An Ongoing History

Summer 2006:
The idea for the festival comes about on a sunny afternoon in West side Windsor. Local Film Maker, Ben Young, is trying to figure out how to screen his upcoming release, then titled ‘Gingerlip’. At the same time local artist and musician Murad Erzinclioglu operating under the name (wh)y.m.e.(??) is trying to find ways to exhibit his work and play live performances. Art produced for the film by local artist Maryam Yousif would also be exhibited and the concept for the first F.A.M. (Film, Art, Music) Show was born.

Fall 2006:
What was just an idea for a small screening and show, soon snowballs into Windsor’s first ever Independent Inter-Arts Festival. Ben & Murad partner with Meghan Carbone (Director of Student Life, U of W) to concoct a three level party to be held at the University of Windsor’s C.A.W. Student Centre in January 2007. Carbone’s support of the festival encourages the University of Windsor Student Association (UWSA) to provide financial backing for this first ever event. The organizing team then connects with Daniel Bombardier (D3N!@L), local Artist & Graphic Designer, who kicks the Festival’s promotional engine into full gear. Invitations go out to respected local film makers, artists and musicians to great response.

December 19th 2006:
The first ever FAM Show at the Phog Lounge! This Pre-Party features performances from Explode When They Bloom, James O-L & The Famous Last Words, 87 Things For The Future & (wh)y.m.e.(??).

January 19th 2007:
The first Harvesting the FAM Festival is a ten hour, three level celebration of all things creative in the Windsor-Essex county. Droves of culture fans descend upon the CAW Centre for a festival the plays host to 12 Films, 30 Artists and 21 Music Acts. The screening of Gingerlip is a major success packing close to 400 people into the Ambassador Auditorium for its premiere. A live tattoo session with local artists Rob Brown and Peter Baillie (Sanctuary Tattoo) has a constant audience throughout the day as they collaborated on a large chest piece on a local culture supporter. Musically, the festival features two stages. An electronic/acoustic stage on the CAW’s main level featuring the likes of Ron Leary, Tara Watts, James O-L, Rollz Royce and Furs among others. The Festival’s main stage located in the Uof W Student Pub is broadcasted live in its entirety by CJAM 91.5FM and features performances from Portia, The Miclordz, Days Fade, Cavan, Explode When They Bloom and headlined by insrumental post-rockers Measured In Angles. The Festival is a booming success with it’s all-free format, and becomes known as an area event unlike any other.

Spring 2007:
The FAM works along side local Fashion Designers Robin Angell and Amy Snook to create the Grandstand Fashion Show, an event held at Milk Coffee Bar which showcases the work of five independent designers pairing them with local electronic musicians. The event is a raving success, planning of a fashion show for the next official festival begins. The UWSA recognizes the FAM with an award for the event that contributed most to student life in the 2006/2007 academic year.

June 2007:
June played host to the first annual PHAM Days event series held at The Phog Lounge in downtown Windsor. The series features a live broadcast show with the Miclordz, Portia and Ron Leary, a group art show with involving over a dozen artists, film screenings paired with elecronic and acoustic performances as well as a performance by Explode When They Bloom which sees the release of their debut EP. Festival Organizers aim for a September festival, planning begins.

September 14 2007:
The second Harvesting the FAM Festival was promised to be even bigger than the first with the addition of an outdoor stage as well as the highly anticipated Grandstand Fashion Show. The festival drew out 25 Film Makers, 45 Artists and 35 Music Acts as well as an increased number of fans. The film portion of the festival saw a wide breadth of shorts and documentary’s and features an Animation spotlight on ‘Tradigital’ students from St.Clair College. The Grandstand Fashion Show draws out hundreds of viewers amidst a sea of visual artists. Musically the festival features three stages. Once again an electronic and acoustic stage on the CAW’s main level sees the debut of the now respected VEX and headlined by rising talent Tara Watts. The Outdoor Stage is opened up by Pop Echo recording artists The Golden Hands Before God and also sees brilliant performances from What Seas What Shores, James O-L, The Locusts Have No King, Dresden Sky, Portia and headlined by local legends Citywide Vacuum. The festival’s main stage plays host to the likes of Kero, Lodown, Lone Locust, Days Fade, Miclordz & Sauce Funky, Orphan Choir, Explode When They Bloom and once again headlined by Measured In Angles, this time joined by 87 Things For The Future to re-create their stunning release ‘History of the Engine’ live.

Fall 2007:
Despite the second festival’s increased turnout by both artists and fans, waning financial support from the UWSA causes festival organizers to see considerable financial losses. It is determined that a new plan and format for the festival needs to come into place.
Local arts supporter Emily Copeland joins the organizing team with vigor and zeal, her connection to Detroit is something that has yet to be tapped.

Winter 2008:
The FAM celebrates it’s one year anniversary at The Coach & Horses with musical performances form Measured In Angles, The Jet Trio, The Eric Arner Project, (wh)y.m.e.(??) & Sally Zori as well as an inpromptu live performance from Detroit Underground recording artist Kero. The event also features live painting by Peter Baillie, Rob Brown, Tracy Paterson and Chad Howson. Chad Howson, local artist and musician (of Another Saturday Knight) expresses interest in joining up with the FAM organizing team, hoping to parlay his past experiences as a volunteer at NXNE Festival.

Summer 2008:
The second annual PHAM Days event series kicks off with a CD Release party for Explode When They Bloom. The Phog is instantly packed to capacity as an act who were complete unknowns just over a year prior, release an album that is heralded as one of the strongest records Windsor has ever seen. The Festival’s new format is announced to the public. The festival would now have artist application fees and admission fees to cover the increasing costs of the event’s operations. The festival would now except applications from talents operating outside of the county. Organizers also relocated the festival to downtown Windsor to be housed in a variety of theatres, galleries and music venues.

September 12-14 2008:
The third Harvesting the FAM Festival once again upped the ante with even more talent than ever before. This three day event plays host to 30 Films, 60 Artists and 80 Musical performances. The Friday of the festival features a variety of film screenings at The Loop with post screening musical performances from What Seas What Shores, Detroit’s CFX & D-Bit as well as MC/Producer Marcus Flow & Matt Clark. The second day of the festival focuses in on visual arts featuring the unveiling of exhibitions at a variety of music venues and galleries. The Saturday of the festival also features the second ever ‘Freakshow’ headed up by Nancy Yim & Stephen Gibb, a collection of works by local sureallist and low brow artists including the likes of Marvel Comics’ Dave Finch, G.Hawk, Brandon Steen, Dave Kant, Supspiria and Christian Aldo among others as well as Stephen Gibb himself. The evening is capped off by musical performances from a number of artists including breakout performers and virtual unknowns Death Or Comber, the highly respected iNSiDEaMiND, and the newly formed Make Me Young. The festival’s third and final day focuses in on music featuring six stages and seeing over sixty performances. Noteable acts include Keepin’ 6, Square Root Of Margeret, Salt Of The Chief Cornerstone, The Peace Leeches, Nick Speed, Explode When The Bloom, The Rucks, The Twilight Sentinals, Miclordz & Sauce Funky, Days Fade, United States of Mind, Citywide Vacuum, James O-L & The Villains, Coco Love Alcorn, Perilelle, Kero, The Lyricists and many, many more. The festival’s new format works to create a better infrastructure for all involved and the festival sees even greater attendance despite a weekend filled with pouring rain and thunderstorms. The culture fans who come out over the three days are a testament to the future of Windsor’s ‘Scene’, literally weathering the storm in support of the event and the talents featured.

Fall 2008:
Coming off of the success of the festival, Organizers work to start booking FAM shows outside of Windsor. A connection is formed with Toronto venue The Savannah Room and The FAM begins doing one off shows there on a monthly basis to great success. The FAM continues to promote culture within the county as well, featuring a number of art shows and musical performances.

Winter/Spring 2009:
January 2009 sees the first ever FAM Mini-Tour which brought Explode When They Bloom & The Peace Leeches through Windsor, Chatham, Niagara Falls and Toronto. The two year FAM-iversary (Jan.19th) is celebrated with an open mic style jam featuring more than ten music acts from the festival as well as new collaborations and off the cuff improv sets at The Phog Lounge. The FAM continues it’s work with D3N!@L for his new brainchild ‘CRAP’ (Community Revitalization Action Project) where the goal is to bring public art to abandoned buildings and rundown areas in our city. The FAM also holds it’s first ever all female showcase in April 2009 at The Milk Coffee Bar. Through Women’s Eyes & Voices featured a dozen local photographers and saw three musical showcases throughout the month.