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Fluff Fest

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Fluff Fest
GenreHardcore punk, punk rock, extreme metal, experimental
DatesThursday–Sunday in late July
Location(s)Rokycany, Czechia
Years active2000–present
FoundersMichal Kočan, Tomáš Kadlec
Attendanceseveral thousand
Websitewww.flufffest.net

Fluff Fest is an independent hardcore punk festival held each July at the Czech town of Rokycany, near Pilsen.[1] A significant event for the European DIY punk subculture,[1] the festival is fully vegan, informed by an anti-capitalist and anti-nationalist stance, and associated with movements such as anarchism, animal rights, feminism, anti-fascism, and straight edge.[2][3] Positioned within the wider DIY music scene in Czechia, it draws audiences from across Europe to an international lineup of bands oriented mostly on hardcore, crust punk and grindcore, post-hardcore and screamo, punk rock and post-punk, sludge metal and metalcore, and post-metal, as well as talks and literature.[1][4][5][3] Vegan catering is provided by local animal rights organization Svoboda zvířat.[6][7] Prices of food, drink, and entry (for which there is no presale) are generally low.[8]

Fluff originated from Y2K HC Fest, an event organized in August 2000 in Pilsen by Michal Kočan and Tomáš Kadlec. They renamed it for the 2001 edition and moved it to the Rokycany airfield in 2006. Attendance exceeded 3000 by 2012, when the Psych Tent, organized by Jakub Ďuraško of Stoned to Death Records, became part of the festival.[9] It showcases a separate lineup, oriented on mostly experimental music including electronic, psychedelic, avant-rock, ambient, and noise, for free outside the paid Fluff Fest entrance.[1][10][3] Fluff currently runs for four days, starting on Thursday with a free warm-up and ending on Sunday night, and incorporates several side stages as well as dance after-parties each night.[3] Additionaly, "pre-Fluff" and "after-Fluff" parties featuring some bands from the festival lineup are held on Wednesday and Monday at Café na půl cesty, a small venue in Pankrác, Prague.[6]

Location

Rokycany townscape. The airfield is located just beyond the centre-left forest.

Rokycany is a town located 17 km east of the regional capital Plzeň, with a population of just over 14,000. The Rokycany airfield is within walking distance of the town centre and train station. Two paths can be taken from the station: the more frequented one passes by the town's swimming pool (which is very popular with the festival audiences on hot days)[11][5][12] while the slightly faster one leads through a forest and hillside which is a protected natural area.[10] The airfield lies between this forest and a highway.[10]

Fluff Fest has been described as a "strain" on Rokycany,[13] which is otherwise unaccustomed to large numbers of foreign visitors and extreme music adherents. It brings a business boom to the town, especially in sales of vegetarian and vegan food.[14][13] The police, including local municipal units, road units, and investigative units, monitor Fluff with the stated goal of preventing crime, tackling theft, and making sure transportation runs smoothly.[15]

In a 2011 interview, Michal Kočan reflected that the festival's location in Czechia is ideal as a meeting point between "tired" Western Europe where there are always many hardcore punk shows and "raw" Eastern Europe where hardcore scenes are still forming. He stated his hopes to showcase more Eastern European bands at future editions.[16]

History

Y2K HC Fest

Around 1996/1997, Michal Kočan, Tomáš Kadlec, and Míra Kafka visited Ieper Fest in Belgium for the first time and decided to create their own hardcore punk festival. In 1999, the techno-oriented venue Exist formed in Plzeň, entrusted with the premises of a former swimming pool. The building included a hall with a capacity of about 500 and the adjacent ground provided a large camping area, which allowed Kočan and Kadlec to start planning Y2K HC Fest in the summer of 1999.[17] It was held on 4–6 August 2000 with some 1000 attending and over 30 bands performing,[17] including Good Clean Fun, Point of No Return, Cripple Bastards, Heaven Shall Burn, and numerous Czech ones.[18] Perhaps a week prior, the police seized the premises due to Exist's connection to the drug trafficking present in the techno scene, the club's owner having been arrested. Finally, they allowed Kočan and Kadlec to go through with the festival and even pressured the city to grant them a camping area. Although the amount of work involved led the duo to decide that it would be a one-off event, they reconsidered due to positive feedback and the number of contacts they had already made.[17] Kadlec has been responsible for the festival lineup ever since.[16]

Fluff Fest 2001

The 2001 edition was held on 3–5 August at the Plzeň exhibition ground and drew perhaps 2000 visitors. It was organized by Kočan and Kadlec along with their English translator Jenny and some 15 friends who worked at the festival from about 2 days prior until its end.[17] They named it after Bellybutton Fluff, an epithet under which they had promoted shows at the 007 club in Strahov, Prague in the years 1997–2000.[16] They decided to only advertize the festival within the hardcore punk scene: online, in zines, and through posters and flyers.[17] Performing bands included Vitamin X, Heaven Shall Burn, Caliban, Endstand, and Cataract. At the Vitamin X show, a conflict between stage-diving audience members and organizers who sought to prevent damage to on-stage gear resulted in an early finish.[17]

Fluff Fest 2002

The 2002 edition was held on 2–4 August and closed by Point of No Return and Good Clean Fun.[19][17]

Fluff Fest 2003

The 2003 edition was held on 1–3 August. Performing bands included Caliban, Deadlock, and I Shot Cyrus.[20]

Fluff Fest 2004

The 2004 edition was held on 23–25 July. Performing bands included Heaven Shall Burn, Analena, the Idoru, and Endstand.[7] The zine library as well as a large number of distro stalls had become features of the festival, as had movie screenings and dance after-parties. Disputes with area owners and the police over camping took place.[7]

Fluff Fest 2005

The 2005 edition was held on 15–17 July. Performing bands included Walls of Jericho, the Ocean, Deadlock, and Purified in Blood.[21]

Fluff Fest 2006

The 2006 edition was held on 21–23 July, having moved from Pilsen to the Rokycany airfield. It drew about 2500 visitors to a line-up which included Good Clean Fun, 31Knots, the Suicide File, Rise and Fall, and Endstand. The Cinema Tent was established, screening documentaries on topics pertaining also to human rights and music.[22]

A few people who had worked on the festival criticized the purported DIY ethic of Kočan and Kadlec due to estimating that the duo's final income was about 755,000 Kč, after substracting expenses of over 550,000 Kč (including €300 for New Winds, €300 for Good Clean Fun, and €500 for the Suicide File) from their estimated gross income of 1,310,000 Kč.[23] They also noted that Svoboda zvířat made perhaps 130,000 Kč selling food.[23]

Fluff Fest 2007

The 2007 edition was held on 20–22 July. Performing bands included Maroon and 108 on Friday, Victims, Set Your Goals, and Vitamin X on Saturday, and La Quiete, Oi Polloi, Rise and Fall, These Arms Are Snakes, and Converge on Sunday.[5] Various workshops were held throughout the festival.

Fluff Fest 2008

The 2008 edition was held on 25–27 July, preceded by a welcome movie screening on Thursday 24 July. Performing bands included War from a Harlots Mouth, Meneguar, and Raein on Friday, Daïtro and Maroon on Saturday, and Cataract, Amenra, Death by Stereo, and Bane on Sunday.[24] Side stages had been introduced, including the Arty Tent.[24]

Fluff Fest 2009

The 2009 edition was held on 24–26 July and drew about 3000 visitors.[2] Performing bands included Trial, An Albatross, Have Heart, Victims, Ratos de Porão, Fall of Efrafa, Analena, and Rise and Fall.[25]

Fluff Fest 2010

The 2010 edition was held on 23–25 July, preceded by a welcome movie screening on Thursday 22 July. Various movies were screened throughout the festival. Performing bands included Carpathian, Comadre, and Ruiner on Friday, Ampere and Amenra on Saturday, and Cruel Hand and Municipal Waste on Sunday.[26]

Fluff Fest 2011

The 2011 edition was held on 22–24 July and drew about 3000 visitors.[16] Announced acts included Ceremony, La Dispute, Black Breath, the Carrier, Blue Note, Victims, Touché Amoré, Ensign, Raein, Rosetta, Polar Bear Club, Dangers, and Joe Lally.[27] Additionally, a diverse group of Czech bands performed.[28] Amnesty International appeared among organizations presenting themselves at the festival. The Cinema Tent held screenings and talks pertaining largely to human and animal rights topics. It also held some electronic and hip hop shows. For the first time, a large share of the main lineup appeared on a second tent stage aside from the classic main stage.[16]

Fluff Fest 2012

The 2012 edition was held on 20–22 July. Performing bands included Verse, Pianos Become the Teeth, Trapped Under Ice, Defeater, Self Defense Family, Loma Prieta, Code Orange Kids, Landscapes, No Omega, and Light Bearer.[29][30] Movies were screened at the Cinema Tent.[29] The Psych Tent was a part of the festival for the first time, organized by Stoned to Death Records, a label which had just been founded by Jakub Ďuraško in Prague.[1][3]

Fluff Fest 2013

The 2013 edition was held on 25–28 July and drew audiences of between 6000 and 8000.[11] For the first time, bands also performed on Thursday, with We Came Out Like Tigers closing this warm-up. Other bands included Code Orange Kids, Harm's Way, Circle Takes the Square, and Full of Hell on Friday, Downfall of Gaia, Brutality Will Prevail, Dangers, Vitamin X, and Catharsis on Saturday, and Mouth of the Architect, the Black Heart Rebellion, Birds in Row, Coliseum, and Strike Anywhere on Sunday.[31] Side stages included Psych Tent II and the first Queer Noises Tent, oriented on electronic music.[32][12] A speech on the contemporary anarchist movement was given by Brian D. of CrimethInc. while Greg Bennick held a workshop on becoming a hardcore punk vocalist/lyricist.[4] Refundable cups had been introduced to reduce the environmental impact of the event.[12]

Fluff14

The 2014 edition was held on 24–27 July and closed by We Came Out Like Tigers, No Omega, Backtrack, D.O.A., and Bane on Sunday.[33] Side stages included Psych Tent III, which was performed by Andrea Belfi on Friday,[10] and Queer Noises Tent 2.[4] Large numbers of activist stalls had become a feature of the festival area.[4] A pre-Fluff matinée was held at Café na půl cesty on Thursday.[4]

Fluff15

The 2015 edition was held on 23–26 July. Performing bands included Raein, Endpoint, 7 Seconds, Loma Prieta, Trial, MDC, Birds in Row, and Dangers.[34] Movies were screened already on Thursday. Side stages included Psych Tent IV, Queer Noises Tent 3, a grindcore-oriented stage, and an open stage.[8]

Fluff16

The 2016 edition was held on 21–24 July. Performing bands included Oathbreaker, Earth Crisis, Graf Orlock, Blacklisted, RVIVR, Rosetta, Totem Skin, Archivist, the Black Heart Rebellion, Dawn Ray'd, Swain, No Omega, and Jungbluth,[35][9] while La Quiete were announced but had to cancel. Side stages included Psych Tent V, Queer Noises Tent 4, a grindcore-oriented stage, and an open stage.

Fluff17

The 2017 edition was held on 20–23 July and headlined by Doom and City of Caterpillar on Friday, Vitamin X, Burn, and Chokehold on Saturday, and Racetraitor, Birds in Row, and Sect on Sunday.[6][36][37][3] Side stages included: Psych Tent VI; the grindcore-oriented All Go No Slow stage; an open stage; the Underdogs' Tent, which was curated by a different promoter each night; and the Infoshop Tent, which held acoustic performances on Friday (including Jonah Matranga) and Sunday (including Throw Me off the Bridge, the project of Birds in Row bassist Quentin Sauvé). On Saturday, the Infoshop first held talks including a speech by Greg Bennick[36][37] and a discussion on the SHAC campaign, before staging several hip hop shows by Czech and Slovak acts.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Sanna, Jacopo (20 September 2017). "The Sincere and Vibrant World of the Czech DIY Scene". Bandcamp. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b Kuhn, Gabriel (2010). Sober Living for the Revolution: Hardcore Punk, Straight Edge, and Radical Politics. PM Press. p. 137. ISBN 1604860510. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Fluff Fest potvrzuje svou centrální roli v evropském DIY hardcore punku" [Fluff Fest confirms its central role in European DIY hardcore punk] (in Czech). Klubovna. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e Mittens XVX (2 August 2014). "Fluff Fest 2014 Highlights". DIY Conspiracy. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b c "FLUFF FEST 2007" (in Czech). MarastMusic. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Kamiński, Karol (24 April 2017). "Fluff Fest 2017 Details". Idioteq. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "FLUFF FEST 2004" (in Czech). Czechcore. 26 July 2004. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Fluff Fest". GuardianWitness. September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Špína se těší na Fluff Fest: Kauzy, kauzičky, třípatrové pogo a hardcorový blitzkrieg" [Špína is looking forward to Fluff Fest: Affairs, small affairs, three-storey pogo and hardcore blitzkrieg] (in Czech). Radio Wave. 17 July 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  10. ^ a b c d "Psych Tent III. – Fluff Fest" (in Czech). MarastMusic. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  11. ^ a b Fencl, Ivo V. (8 August 2013). "Festíky a jeden Fluff Fest Open air Na letišti i na koupališti v Rotaunu" [Small festivals and one Fluff Fest open air on the airfield and swimming pool of Rotaun] (in Czech). Britské listy. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  12. ^ a b c "Kočky na Fluff Festu" [Cats at Fluff Fest] (in Czech). 11 Koček. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  13. ^ a b Vaníková, Jana (26 July 2015). "Fluff fest, to je nápor na Rokycany" [Fluff Fest is a strain on Rokycany] (in Czech). Rokycanský deník. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  14. ^ Havránek, Václav (20 July 2017). "V Rokycanech začíná Fluff fest" [Fluff Fest begins in Rokycany] (in Czech). Klatovský deník. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  15. ^ Kroftová, Hana (19 July 2017). "Festival – FLUFF FEST" (in Czech). Policie ČR. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Rozhovor s Michalem (Fluff fest)" [Interview with Michal (Fluff Fest)] (in Czech). Czechcore. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g "Michal Kočan – FLUFF FEST" (in Czech). Czechcore. 21 September 2001. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  18. ^ "Nejasná zpráva o Y2K Summer Hardcore Festu" [Vague report on Y2K Summer Hardcore Fest] (in Czech). Czechcore. 15 August 2000. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  19. ^ "FLUFF FEST 2002" (in Czech). Czechcore. 7 August 2002. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  20. ^ "FLUFF FEST" (in Czech). Czechcore. 1 August 2003. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  21. ^ "FLUFF FEST 2005" (in Czech). Czechcore. 2005. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Fluff Fest 2006" (in Czech). DIYcore. 8 August 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Fluff Fest 2006 řečí čísel při pohledu z jedné strany" [Fluff Fest 2006 in numbers from the viewpoint of one side] (in Czech). Silver Rocket. 30 January 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  24. ^ a b "FLUFF FEST 2008" (in Czech). Periferia. 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  25. ^ "FLUFF FEST 2009 – Rokycany, Letiště – 24. – 26. července 2009 – pátek" [FLUFF FEST 2009 – Rokycany, Airfield – 24. – 26. July 2009 – Friday] (in Czech). Metalopolis. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  26. ^ Vaněk, Matty (16 July 2010). "Program Fluff Festu" [Fluff Fest Programme] (in Czech). CoreMusic. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  27. ^ "Fluff Fest" (in Czech). CoreMusic. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  28. ^ "22. – 24. 7. 2011: Fluff Fest; Rokycany" (in Czech). CoreMusic. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  29. ^ a b "FLUFF FEST 2012" (in Czech). MarastMusic. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  30. ^ Hošek, Matěj (1 August 2012). "Foto: Fluff Fest, Rokycany, 20. – 22. 7. 12" (in Czech). Muzikus. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  31. ^ Chodil, Davey (25 March 2013). "Víme o pár kapelách, co budou na Fluff Festu 2013!" [We know of a few bands set to appear at Fluff Fest 2013] (in Czech). CoreMusic. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  32. ^ "Alprofest 2015: Vítejte na Fluff Festu" [Welcome to Fluff Fest] (in Czech). Vývařovna. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  33. ^ "Redakce Kids and Heroes doporučuje z line-upu Fluff Festu 2014" [Kids and Heroes editors' choices from Fluff Fest 2014 lineup] (in Czech). Kids and Heroes. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  34. ^ "Redakce Kids and Heroes doporučuje z line-upu Fluff Festu 2015" [Kids and Heroes editors' choices from Fluff Fest 2015 lineup] (in Czech). Kids and Heroes. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  35. ^ "Fluff Fest 2016" (in Czech). Full Moon Zine. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  36. ^ a b "FLUFF FEST 2017 – Bands, friends, vegans, thinking, talking, playing, swimming & d.i.s.c.o" (in Czech). Metalopolis. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  37. ^ a b "Nic's FLUFF FEST 17" (in German). xclusivx. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
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