KISW - Loud and Local Fest 2024
Event Review:
Loud and Local Fest 2024
Someone told me once that Let’s Talk About the Music was the leader in supporting independent musicians, both locally and globally. That might have been true back in 2015-2019 when LTATM was going strong, and before I placed my project on a six-year hiatus for my mental health and to attend Green River College, where I enrolled in classes at the famous radio station KGRG FM (now 899theCurrent). But if it wasn't for the hiatus, I wouldn't have met the true leader in supporting independent musicians in the Pacific Northwest: Mr. Kevin Diers of Loud & Local.
Local and Loud with Kevin Diers
Kevin’s Loud & Local podcast is dedicated to showcasing the best of the Northwest music scene. Since his teenage years, Kevin has loved ferreting out unknown artists, and he has now turned that passion into hosting regular shows that highlight the fantastic talent in the PNW, one of the most vibrant music scenes in the United States for all rock genres. Loud & Local airs live every Sunday on KISW from 8 pm to 10 pm PST, or it can be found on TuneIn or 99.9 KISW on the Audacy app.
His Earlier years
Kevin attended Green River Community College, starting classes in 2003. He first became involved in radio at the campus station, KGRG. (Personally, it feels very good to be following in the footsteps of someone so prominent in promoting local music!) In 2004, he kicked off a hardcore punk radio show called Dead Air which is still running today. Ian Reas joined the team shortly after as co-host. Kevin credits his time at KGRG for teaching him many vital components of the industry, from promotion and networking to the importance of radio in the music community. He later pursued a four-year degree at Western Washington University in Editorial Journalism. Kevin is currently based out of Seattle as a freelance writer and radio host for both Metal Shop and Loud & Local on 99.9 KISW.
THE Festival — Loud and Local
The inaugural Loud and Local Fest took place at Club Hektic in Lynnwood, WA. Generously sponsored by 99.9 KISW, the festival hosted 26 different bands from rock, punk, and heavy metal to support and promote independent musicians, but also to pay respect to Kevin Diers and 99.9 KISW. Glenn Cannon announced on Day 2 that Wyatt from Wyatt Olney and the Wreckage and the band Crossing Crusades also had a hand in putting the festival together
The two-day festival featured dual stages with each band performing a 30-minute set. Once it started, there was no stopping the music. As a band performed on one stage, the next band prepped on the other stage. This went on all through the night until the last band performed.
Will there be a Loud and Local Fest next year? I seriously hope so! However, music venues are few and far between these days thanks to the lingering effects of Covid. We can always keep our fingers crossed for a repeat because this festival was simply amazing.
The Lineup, Day 1
Doors opened at 6 pm, with the first performance at 7 pm by Evelyn's Casket on Stage 1. Eight additional bands followed throughout the evening. As Evelyn’s Casket finished up thirty minutes later, The Sky Rained Heroes kicked off on Stage 2. As soon they were completing their set, the herd of rock-a-holics rushed back to Stage 1 to catch Crossing Crusades at 8 pm. And so forth throughout the night, as the audience was treated to performances by Beautiful Freaks, Jericho Hill, Chrome Lakes, College Radio, and Witch Ripper. The headliner, King Youngblood, capped the night off with the final performance at 11 pm. Every band played an excellent set, and the fans enthusiastically appreciated every jam-packed moment!
The Lineup, Day 2
The venue opened its doors earlier on Day 2, at 2 pm, allowing seventeen bands to take to the stages throughout the afternoon and evening. The magic began again at 3:30 pm with Dedelectric rocking Stage 2. Once again, the music was continuous and uninterrupted as bands alternated between the stages: The Villains Inside, Hannah Duckworth, Cryptamnesia, Glass Skulls, Pretty Awkward, and Karmic Unrest carried us through the afternoon and into the evening. Hangfire lit up Stage 1 at 7 pm, followed by Sorcia, The Requisite, The Lion & the Sloth, Glenn Cannon & the Damage Done, Asterhouse, and Wyatt Olney and the Wreckage. Greyhawk on Stage 2 and Accused AD on Stage 1 wrapped up the final night of Loud and Local Fest. Once again, rock enthusiasts of all kinds were treated to one blazing performance after another. AD.
Hope to see you at
Loud and Local Fest 2025!
Local and Local podcast on Spotify
I am still going through the photos that I took,
I will place them all on LTATM’s Facebook!
Sponsored by
Hosted by
Vendor
Announcement:
Let's Talk About The Music didn’t have the opportunity to watch all the bands due to work-related reasons.
I am excited to share with you all the band's social media links and each interview from Loud and Local Podcast on Spotify.