Inside Music is a podcast about the lives of professionals in the music business. Each week, host James Shotwell chats with an artist or industry tastemaker to learn how anyone can navigate the world of entertainment.
On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, James sits down in a crowded coffee shop with Allison Lanza to discuss her career in music. Like many aspiring professionals, Allison started her relationship with music as a fan. She tells James about waiting in the snow for concerts, and how her dedication to music lead to a career that has taken her around the country several times over. Allison is currently on tour with The Wrecks, but has also worked with Vans Warped Tour and Nothing But Thieves, among others.
In other news, Inside Music is now available on YouTube! Click here to stream the latest episode on our official channel. You can also subscribe to the show on iTunes, as well as any other podcast streaming service.
Vans Warped Tour, the summer camp of punk rock. Every year many people get their start shooting shows by covering Warped Tour. I didn’t get my start shooting Warped, but covering it did prepare me for how to handle shooting an all-day music festival in the scorching heat without water. It’s an experience unlike any other and sort of a right of passage for music photographers, especially for those in the punk/alternative field. I’ve decided that not doing a tutorial guide on how to shoot warped tour would be irresponsible, so here are some of my tips (I know Todd Owyoung has a great article on the same thing and I purposely haven’t read to avoid any plagiarism).
Gear (Technical and Professional):
You can shoot warped tour with almost anybody and any glass. You’re shooting outside, and your equipment doesn’t need to be top notch. Afraid of using your kit lens because of its aperture limitations? Bust it out! You’re shooting in daylight!
Remember to bring extra cards, and batteries. It’s an all-day event. Sometimes we all need a reminder to bring extra cards and batteries.
Warped tour is an all-day event. Make sure you have sunscreen, comfortable sneakers, and appropriate clothing. And please wear deodorant, your pits will smell at the end of the day when you’re shooting verticals
Check out smaller bands:
The reason for this is simple – the little bands are the ones that are going to get big next year. Imagine having photos of Katy Perry from that one summer she spent sweating it out with the best punk had to offer on Warped Tour. I wish I did!
Last, but not least, be creative.
If you shoot vigorously like I do, then you can shoot 10+ bands at Warped. Do something different. Yeah, that jump shot is great, but the only way to separate warped photos from you and every other person shooting Warped is to be creative and different.
Nick Karp is your favorite photographer’s favorite photographer. He captures the moments the rest of us miss. Follow his work.
The temperatures are finally starting to rise, which means festival season is upon us. The popularity of music festivals has exploded over the last five years, and 2018 is shaping up to be the busiest season on record. Every week there are numerous events taking place all over the globe, each drawing thousands to see upwards of twenty, thirty, or even fifty artists. The competition for attention will be fierce, but if you start right now, you can use the exposure these events provide to your advantage.
Every festival is different, and depending on the genre you perform in the culture around the event may be somewhat unique as well. It is important to recognize that every festival has its own sense of community and vibe, which you should consider when planning your marketing efforts. That said, these 5 tips will help get you started:
Set goals now and begin working toward them immediately
Festivals are crazy places where thousands gather to enjoy art and consume overpriced food. The number of things vying for the attention and money of any one person is too high to count, but you can take a step toward cutting through the noise by setting goals for your time on-site as soon as possible. These goals should be reasonable and achievable. For example, you’re not going to make 10,000 new fans, but you could plan to distribute 500 promotional items and sell X amount of merchandise. You could also plan to engage with fans by hosting a gathering or hangout at your tent that you promote in the weeks leading up to the event. Anything goes, just keep it simple.
Work the line or, if a line does not exist, simply engage festival goers
The hours before your performance should be spent on promotion. Most smaller artists playing festivals will have sets early in the day, which means those performing will have to work hard to get those unfamiliar with their sounds to show up. The best approach to making this happen is also the most personable one. Get out there, shake some hands, give some hugs, share your tunes via a mobile device, and ask people (politely) to consider checking you out. Not everyone will come, but those that do could easily be converted into new, long-term fans.
Network your ass off
In addition to offering small acts the chance to say they played with some of the biggest names in entertainment, festivals also provide an opportunity for up and comers to network with people who may be able to help them both nationally and far more locally. Festival sponsors, for example, are often companies and people who fund a wide variety of music-related projects. They also tend to know others who do the same, which means they or someone they know could probably help you get ahead if they like what you do. While the same can be said for artists, most up and comers never think to approach the sponsors, and they are arguably far more likely to take a genuine interest in what you do. Don’t let the opportunity to meet with the movers and shakers of your community pass.
Instagram stories / Live
To make the most of a festival appearance, you have to find the best way to bring the experience of that show to those unable to attend. Instagram’s Stories feature and live streaming capabilities make it ideal for bringing your global audience into the festival experience. Share images, videos, and Boomerang clips from your initial practice sessions through the event. Showcase your load in, merch setup, merch location, and – of course – clips of the set.
You may also consider pitching an ‘Instagram takeover’ to a music publication. Sites often allow artists to control their Story feed for a single, twenty-four hour period. This will allow you access to their audience, which in turn creates the potential to convert new consumers to your music.
Consider a Snapchat Geofilter
Snapchat is one of the most popular messaging apps on the planet, and the company’s recent decision to allow practically anyone to create custom geofilters has given artists of all sizes a new tool in the war for consumers’ attention. Fans can capture your performance, or even just their time at the event, and use your filter to promote the experience to their followers. Rates for geofilters start as low as $10 (cost varies based on length of campaign and size of the area you want to be covered).
Market your upcoming gigs
People who enjoy your performance will likely be interested in seeing you again, so make it a point to advertise where you will be next during your time at a festival. This includes mentioning gigs during your performance and through one on one engagement at your merch table. You should also collect email addresses so you can remind new listeners of upcoming events once their festival buzz has worn off.
On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, host James Shotwell calls Bradley Walden of Emarosa to discuss his band’s new album, 131, which arrives in stores on July 8 through Hopeless Records. Bradley tells James about the inspiration behind the album, as well as the story the band is telling with their recent music videos. James also speaks with Annie Schindel, an up and coming singer-songwriter from California, about her budding career in music.
The first song you hear in this episode is “Don’t Really Know What We Want,” which can be streamed on Annie Schindel’s official Soundcloud page. The second song you hear is “Miracle,” which is taken from Emarosa’s upcoming album, 131.
You may already know this, but Inside Music is available on iTunes. Click here to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
We first ran this post in 2015, but with Warped Tour set to begin again on June 24 we figured an updated reissue made a lot of sense. If you’re going to Warped this year as press, please comment below with your date and maybe we can cross paths!
Vans Warped Tour, the summer camp of punk rock. Every year many people get their start shooting shows by covering Warped Tour. I didn’t get my start shooting Warped, but covering it did prepare me for how to handle shooting an all day music festival in the scorching heat without water. It’s an experience unlike any other and sort of a right of passage for music photographers, especially for those in the punk/alternative field. I’ve decided that not doing a tutorial guide on how to shoot warped tour would be irresponsible, so here are some of my tips (I know Todd Owyoung has a great article on the same thing and I purposely haven’t read to avoid any plagiarism).
Gear (Technical and Professional):
You can shoot warped tour with almost any body and any glass. You’re shooting outside and your equipment doesn’t need to be top notch. Afraid of using your kit lens because of its aperture limitations? Bust it out! You’re shooting in daylight!
Remember to bring extra cards, and batteries. It’s an all day event. Sometimes we all need a reminder to bring extra cards and batteries.
Warped tour is an all day event. Make sure you have sunscreen, comfortable sneakers and appropriate clothing. And please wear deodorant, your pits will smell at the end of the day when you’re shooting verticals 😉
Check out smaller bands:
The reason for this is simple – the little bands are the ones that are going to get big next year. Imagine having photos of Katy Perry from that one summer she spent sweating it out with the best punk had to offer on Warped Tour. I wish I did!
Last, but not least, be creative.
If you shoot vigorously like I do, then you can shoot 10+ bands at Warped. Do something different. Yeah that jump shot is great, but the only way to separate warped photos from you and every other person shooting Warped is to be creative and different.
Nick Karp is a professional photographer and freelance music writer. He recently relocated to NYC and dyed his hair bright pink because that is the kind of thing people do in the music business.
On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, host James Shotwell calls Avion Roe vocalist Evan Couture to discuss his band’s new album, In Separation, which arrives in stores on June 17 through Epitaph Records. This is Evan’s second appearance on the show, and he shares everything the band has been through since he and James last spoke. Evan also walks James through the new record, as well as process of creating it, and even shines a little light on what fans can expect from the band moving forward. Avion Roe will be on Van’s Warped Tour from June 24 through July 21. We expect them to tour all fall and winter as well, but right now those details are under wraps.
The Avion Roe song you hear in this episode is titled “Violent Lights.” If you like it, please consider buying the band’s new album, In Separation, on June 17.
You may already know this, but Inside Music is available on iTunes. Click here to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
If you’re a fan of the alternative music scene then you know Van’s Warped Tour spent the better part of 2015 buried in controversy. The reason for this, and the reason so many are still hesitant to return to the tour in 2016, is due largely to a perceived lack of concern or action from tour organizers in response to allegations of sexual assault, rape, and other sex crimes supposedly perpetrated by artists on the tour. The decision to allow alleged sexual predator Jake McElfresh to perform at the Nashville stop of Warped 2015 was the most notable story to cause outrage last year, but it certainly wasn’t the only decision that upset tour supporters.
In the wake of Warped Tour 2015 coming to a close, founder Kevin Lyman made a promise to make changes ahead of the tour’s return, and today we found out (at least some of) what those plans entail. According to a new press release, Warped Tour has officially partnered with A Voice for the Innocent, a non-profit dedicated to giving a voice to victims of rape and sexual abuse. Together, Warped organizers and A Voice For The Innocent will work to educate musicians and tour attendees in hopes of reducing the number of sex crimes, as well as empowering those who have been victimized to share their truth. You can view a video outlining the partnership below:
The press release announcing the partnership reads:
APRIL 11, 2016 – A Voice for The Innocent, a non-profit dedicated to giving a voice to victims of rape and sexual abuse, will partner with Van’s Warped Tour to launch Save Our Scene, a campaign aimed at reducing sex crimes in the music industry through education. Warped Tour has a history of supporting social causes that resonate with young music fans by partnering with non-profit organizations, but A Voice for the Innocent will be the first to bring a comprehensive education and prevention program targeted at sex crimes. Through this partnership Warped Tour hopes to spearhead a cultural shift and set a new standard within the music industry. Save Our Scene is an unprecedented effort to curb sex crimes through workshops on identification, prevention, and intervention to help ensure the safety of fans and musicians during the entirety of the tour. Classes will be held for fans and bands alike, to teach the impact of sexual violence, how to identify problematic behavior, as well as effective bystander practices so the community has the tools necessary to empower change whether they are on stage, or just hoping for a backstage pass. Music festivals are more popular than ever as every summer sees the return of long time favorites like Warped Tour and the addition of new festivals in nearly every genre. With more people attending larger events more often, rates of assault, rape, sexual imposition and harassment have seen steady increases across the music industry. The prevalence of sex crimes has not gone unnoticed by music lovers, who are often drawn to bands and tours which offer a sense of community and acceptance. Seeing their communities in danger, fans have taken to social media to voice increasing concern, and to demand real change that will make festivals safer and more enjoyable. Through the Save Our Scene campaign, A Voice for the Innocent is poised to impact these unfortunate statistics through the support of Warped Tour. During the month of April, A Voice for the Innocent will launch a crowdfunding campaign via Generosity.com to cover additional costs of Save Our Scene that remain after a generous donation from Van’s Warped Tour. More info can be found and donations can be made at SaveOurScene.org.
A Voice For The Innocent is a community of support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. It is a safe, anonymous space for sharing stories and fostering strong relationships between people who have had similar experiences.
We imagine Warped Tour will reveal similar partnerships and collaborations in the coming weeks, but we cannot confirm whether or not that is true at this time. What we do know is that Kevin Lyman has stayed true to his original promise of working towards making a change, and we hope to see the impact of his efforts as Warped Tour gets underway later this year.
What do you think of Warped Tour’s latest partnership? Will it be enough to make a difference?
There may be no better place to kickstart your career in music writing than by covering the ever-accessible alternative scene, and if you’re going to go that route then you owe it to yourself to spend at least a few years walking amongst the genre’s target demographic at Van’s Warped Tour. Today, just over two months away from the tour’s official kickoff, the application for press accreditation was made available online.
So here’s the question: Should you apply?
The simple answer: Yes.
But we can get more specific…
Are you a relatively new journalist hoping to establish connections with a bunch of artists and PR? Yes, you should apply…
Are you a seasoned alternative music writer who is looking to get scoops on the next breakout bands and/or fulfill some freelance obligations involving headline acts: Yes, you should apply…
Are you interested at all in where music is headed and what it might sound like in the future? Yes, you should apply…
Are you wondering whether or not the tour has made any changes to how it operates in response to complaints about the 2015 outing? Yes, you should apply…
Do you meet these basic requirements:
– You MUST be on editorial assignment with an outlet (print, online, radio, etc.)
– Photographers must have professional grade equipment. iPhone/camera phones will not be permitted in the photo pits.
– Your outlet must be active with current music coverage (updated within the last 2 months)
Yes, you should apply…
BUT
If you’re going to complain all day about overpriced water, long waits for parking, a complete lack of shade, scheduling conflicts, and the fact your one dream interview is with the right band, but the wrong member? No, please do not apply.
There is no training ground quite like Warped Tour. It’s challenging, but so is life, especially for those who choose to pursue a career in music. Consider your time at Warped as a crash course in surviving the entertainment business. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.
Does Warped Tour sound like a place you need to be this summer? Click here and apply for press credentials today!
The lineup for the 2016 run of Van’s Warped Tour was unveiled last week, and it won’t be long before bloggers, vloggers, and podcasters from all corners of the country are submitting their press credentials in hopes of covering the world’s largest traveling music festival. There are more than 50 bands on the lineup this year, and among them are some of the biggest name the alternative scene has ever known, including Good Charlotte and Sum 41. Both those bands are great, and we definitely think you should catch their sets, but if you want to make your coverage of Warped Tour unique we urge you to find time for the smaller bands on the bill as well.
Warped’s main stage acts will most likely bring in clicks for your website at a faster rate than articles pertaining to the younger acts, but in our experience the best coverage often arises from time spent with those still trying to find their footing in the music business. These are the same bands who wake up early every day to work the lines before gates open, and then spend every waking minute possible on the festival grounds in hopes of meeting or making fans. Those individuals and groups are the ones making the most of their Warped Tour experience, and they’re likely to see the biggest return for time spent as a result. In fact, many of the tour’s biggest bands today were once artists hustling CDs outside the gates, and that will no doubt continue to be true with the next round of alternative headliners.
By stepping away from the obvious draws and seeking something worthwhile in other corners of Warped Tour you open yourself, not to mention your audience, up to a world of possibilities that could lead in a million different directions. Perhaps you discover the unknown band who will headline the festival two years later, or maybe you meet an artist whose got a story that you know your readers will want to hear. The point is, you will find something to cover that is different than what will be covered by everyone else at the festival, and as a result you will be able to forge relationships and connections with people who may be able to help you down the line. The networking opportunities at Warped for aspiring professionals is one of the more underutilized points of entry to the music business with easy access in the industry, which is precisely why we’re here telling you to take advantage of it.
The following bands are the 10 act we think you should consider covering, but it’s really just an effort to get you to consider something different with your tour coverage. Some names may seem bigger than others, but we believe they all offer unique perspectives on music, the industry, and the state of the alternative community as a whole that have gone largely untold up to this point. Like their peers before them, these acts are in need of strong journalism and word of mouth to make it over that last horizon of viral/buzzworthy popularity so that they might be able to make music their full time careers. You have the power to help change their lives, and we’re asking you to consider doing so following your time at Warped Tour this year:
Avion Roe
Former Inside Music guests Avion Roe are no strangers to appearing on Van’s Warped Tour, but this will be the group’s first major outing since signing with Epitaph Records in the fall of 2015. The band has already completed their debut album, but it’s not the end of March and we have yet to know anything about the record or when it will be available. The band’s music should speak for itself, but as longtime supporters we can attest to the fact there are few bands on Warped that will be able to match the energy this group brings to the stage. We predict this summer will be the one that establishes Avion Roe as the genre heavyweights they appear destined to become, and it’s a story you won’t want to miss.
Sykes
We caught Sykes during an unofficial SXSW showcase our friends at The Catalyst Publicity Group hosted earlier this year and were immediately taken by their unique twist on classic pop rock tropes. The band has already developed a fervent following outside the US, so it’s not a leap to assume their stint on Warped will make them equally popular here in the states. Just try and experience the song above without wanting to hear everything the band has written. We dare you.
Mother Feather
Mother Feather is a band that should need no explanation. The name alone is enough to spark your curiosity, and the visuals that help promote the group only amplify that interest. When you do hear their music, be prepared to discover an infectious combination of classic rock sensibilities and modern rock attitude that just won’t quit. In fact, we had to stop writing this paragraph several times while the band’s music was on because the urge to play air guitar and dance around the office with our cats was too strong to resist.
Prof
Prof’s 2015 video for his single “Bar Breaker” was one of the wildest clips to his the internet last year, and we have a feeling his live show will be just as crazy. Warped Tour rarely selects more than a handful of rappers for the festival, and this year is no exception to that rule, but the addition of Prof shows Warped still knows big potential when they see it. Of all the bands on this year’s lineup, Prof is among those least known by the tour’s core demographic, but we’d wager that will change in no time at all.
Coldrain
At first glance, Coldrain feels like an odd addition to the Hopeless Records roster. The label has housed their fair share of modern rock acts over time, but in recent years Hopeless has been viewed by many as a pop punk brand. What you realize when listening to Coldrain is that Hopeless ˙has never been a label focused on one particular, but rather a feeling only felt when a certain kind of music is played. It’s like a sudden rush of blood to the brain ignited by music that offer deep and true expression of the human experience, and that is exactly the kind of art this group creates.
Against The Current
If there is such a thing as being a ‘sure thing’ in music, Against The Current would be it. For the better part of two years now this band has been skyrocketing through the pop and rock underground, carried by the powerful talent of singer Chrissy Costanza. Some will compare her to Paramore’s Hayley Williams, but if that happens it’s only because people don’t know who else to compare someone to when speaking about female vocalists in the alternative world. The truth is Costanza, much like her bandmates, is a true original.
Palaye Royale
Palaye Royale may be the best kept secret in Sumerian Records history. Their sound is a cross-section of radio ready rock and punk aesthetics that will have you bobbing your head in no time at all, and their live show has been the talk of the underground for what feels like forever. Warped has more straightforward rock bands than at any other point in recent memory on the lineup this year, and that bodes well for Palaye Royale’s ability to win over new listeners. If you haven’t heard the group’s label debut, “Don’t Feel Quite Right,” we urge you to pick it up as soon as you are able.
Bad Seed Rising
The youngest band signed to Roadrunner Records, Bad Seed Rising is a force unlike anything the rock scene has experienced in a decade or more. Where many young bands tend to write about their personal experiences and the struggles of growing up, Bad Seed Rising have always had their eyes on the bigger picture. This bands writes song that can and hopefully will one day change the world. Everything they do is done for the purpose of not only furthering their own careers, but mankind as a whole, and they’re only getting better with age.
The Heirs
We have a feeling The Heirs could to Warped Tour 2016 what PVRIS has been in years past. Just edgy enough to be considered alternative, yet catchy enough to grab the attention of pop tastemakers, The Heirs offer an infectious mix of ideas that is both fun and captivating. Most people don’t consider Warped Tour to be a place where people go to dance is if they were in a club or in their room alone, but The Heirs might change that when songs like “Ecliptic” are played.
ROAM
We’ve written at length about ROAM, and with each new mention the group seems to be inching closer to pop punk domination. Warped Tour could be the tipping point, and even if it’s not the pits for this band’s sets will be ones you do not want to miss. If you’re looking for a group that is connecting with the next generation of Warped Tour regulars, this band is the answer.
We have been trying very hard to find the right way to bring the controversy surrounding the artist known as Front Porch Step and his role in Vans Warped Tour to our blog, but so far our best attempts have been scrapped long before making it to this page. Suffice to say, if you don’t know anything about this situation yet, you will need to do some research in order to understand everything that will follow. We suggest using this link to get started.
What you’re about to read was written by the incredibly talented Kelly Doherty for Absolutepunk. If you like it, visit the original post and speak with Kelly about her work. Also, tell all your friends to read and share her thoughts.
This time last year, there were so many of us challenging structures like the Warped Tour on their refusal to accurately represent female artists on their bills. We talked about the way it acts as a barrier to women who wish to get involved in alternative music and the message it sends to female fans that their place is solely in audiences, looking up to male artists and being treated only as groupies, “fangirls” or, if they’re lucky, backstage staff. We called upon Kevin Lyman and his peers to buy into the concept that they have a certain social responsibility to the people that they make their money from.
Today, Front Porch Step is playing the Warped Tour and may possibly play the rest of its run. This comes in the aftermath of Lyman denying (here and here) that he would be playing. This year, rather than simply refuse to represent women accurately and passively engage in systematic patriarchal oppression, Lyman has opted to support an artist who has manipulated the blind trust of his underage female fans for his own sexual gratification. He has given this artist the seal of approval and is willing to attach his name to the actions of Jake McElfresh. By allowing him to play today, Lyman is saying that, on balance, the more important aspect of McElfresh’s character is his ability to play shitty three minute songs as opposed to the active harms he has caused against others. Much like a football team who is still willing to field a player who has been engaging in domestic abuse, Lyman is sending out a message that McElfresh’s actions aren’t really that important and that all the fuss has been about nothing. Considering how many young boys in their early teens are present at Warped Tour each year, it’s particularly damaging that they’re being told that it is okay to treat girls the way that McElfresh did. Lyman is, with this move, telling them it was just a mistake and it doesn’t matter. This is telling young girls that if something like this occurs to you, it’s not really a big issue and, by hell, there’s no point in speaking out against it because nothing will happen.
Furthermore, this is a message from Lyman that he does not care about your behaviour, no matter how morally reprehensible it may be – you can still get on his stage, he will still look after you. Given the past 12 months and the constant awful behaviour we’ve seen, with multiple figures from the scene either being involved in sexual assault claims or engaging in victim-blaming, this serves to show that if young bands act that way, Lyman will still back them. Warped Tour still has a big enough audience that a stint on the festival can make a band. This decision means there is little long term backlash for an artist who’s sexually assaulted an underage girl, if they can still fund their career from the youngsters who attend Warped. It makes the scene into even more of a skinny-jeaned freemasons – boys will be boys and it doesn’t matter what they do because Grandpa Kevin will still help them out.
The darkest thing about McElfresh playing Warped, however, isn’t just message based. His actions involved young female fans that he established contact with through shows and festivals: festivals like Warped Tour. Lyman is placing McElfresh straight back into a position where he has access to young girls and could easily start the cycle once again. Whether or not he does, I find it both disgusting and dangerous hat Kevin Lyman is willing to put the young people who fund his festival, and his life, at risk when he knows fully what he is doing. Lyman is giving FPS a platform to be looked up to and admired by young girls. Lyman’s actions are those of someone who simply doesn’t care. We’ve gone beyond the point of asking him to volunteer and engage in his social responsibility, to the point where we are asking him not to actively put young girls in danger for the sake of a few bucks and that’s so twisted.
Beyond everything else, what’s particularly weird about Lyman opting to include Front Porch Step on Warped today is that he seems to gain very little from it. For once, Warped Tour can’t mask itself behind a cloak of ‘we’re doing it for the money’. Chances are, the inclusion of Front Porch Step against the will of the thousands of fans who signed petitions, shared tweets, and called for action will put fans off attending Warped. It’s likely that McElfresh is to walk out on stage to no more than a handful of people who are there to boo him, because he wasn’t a particularly interesting or good musician in the first place. It makes no negative impact on the sales of Warped Tour to not include him. No one ever said “aww, I was going to pay a load of dollars to go to Warped, but Front Porch Step isn’t on the line up so I guess I’ll play Xbox instead.” In fact, the tickets for this date were already sold at the point of announcing the act, so there is literally no benefit. Inclusion of Front Porch Step feels like a giant “fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me". It feels like a pathetic act of rebellion from a man who’s been coming under fire because his festival is the anti-thesis of what it once was, and that makes breaking away from Warped and everything it stands for all that easier.
It’s time that we stand up and say a resounding ‘fuck you’ to the Warped Tour and all that goes with it. Our mistakes last year came from trying to engage with and ask the likes of Kevin Lyman to change their actions and become fairer and more accepting. That’s never going to happen. Scene culture that goes hand-in-hand with Warped Tour 2015 is never going to change. It has no interest in changing because that would mean those in control would have to loosen their grip. It’s time that we make like bands such as Touché Amore and say we don’t need institutions like Warped. We will create a fairer scene on our own terms. We’ll start festivals and host shows that promote inclusion and safety. We’ll promote bands like Mitski, Speedy Ortiz, Joanna Gruesome, Perfect Pussy and so many more acts that give a fuck and care about their fans. Not only do we need to breakaway from the norm, we need to counteract its harms. We need to build counter-narratives, writing articles and promoting music that engages young audiences and make them realise the importance of equality, acceptance, inclusivity and responsibility. We don’t need the establishment, that’s not what punk rock was meant to be about in the first place. Let Warped Tour’s actions today be the moment that radicalizes a whole new generation of people who live for punk rock, and don’t want it to be killed by the very people we turned to punk rock because of in the first place.
