A different kind of revolution
Columbus' Independents' Day a celebration of label-free music
By Adam Scoppa |
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It's been a busy summer for the Couchfire Collective, the passionate ensemble of Columbus artists that refuses to sit still. In May, they opened their headquarters to the public, bringing thousands of art enthusiasts to the sixth and largest Agora festival at Grandview's Junctionview Studios.
Yet as early as April, they began laying the groundwork for the second annual Independents' Day, which promises to bring even more patrons to the heart of downtown Columbus on September 19th.
You may remember the first Independents' Day seemingly coming out of nowhere last September. You may have wondered why Gay Street was sectioned off by police barricades, and even began cursing the prospect of another construction undertaking before realizing there was something curiously more fun going on.
That's because when the city couldn't get enough steam to throw a block party as it had planned, Urban Ventures Coordinator Mike Brown turned to the Couchfire Collective to take the reins. At that point, there were precious few weeks to get organized.
"We had a month to get it together," recalled founding Couchfire member and current president Adam Brouillette. "We ran around like crazy people."
Tackling obstacles from alcohol permits to parking meters to sound ordinances, the Collective dived in and worked feverishly. "It was literally a full-time job for a month," Brouillette laughed.
The hard work resulted in a block party as envisioned by some of the most creative minds in the city, with a strong focus on independent artists, entertainers, and entrepreneurs. It drew about 12,000 people to its vendor booths and live music stages, more than doubling the expected turnout.
That can only mean good things for this year, as more support has been garnered from the likes of the Columbus Music Co-op; Dine Originals, Columbus; and Via Colori, to name just a few.
Independents' Day '09 will take place primarily on Gay Street, spilling over into Lynn and Pearl Alleys with several music stages, more than 200 vendor and artist booths, street chalk art, restaurant showcases, theater performers, and whatever else can possibly fit into a roughly 12-hour time frame.
Held just before the first day of fall, it will be an excellent finale to the festival season and a successful summer for a group who loves nothing more than to see creative collaboration bear sweet fruit.
The Independents' Day web site proclaims "All For One, One For All," and the citywide effort certainly reflects that Musketeer rally cry.
"It's kind of a DIY mentality," said Brouillette. "You serve yourself and help yourself, but at the same time you're helping the greater good."
Independents' Day
E Gay Street
12pm on Saturday, September 19
www.thisisindependent.com
Originally Published: September 1, 2009
