North Park music festival features and all-star lineup, on the cheap

By Logan Broyles | SDUN Reporter

In this era of sold-out shows, arenas and music-festival tickets that cost an arm and a leg (and a month’s rent), it’s rare to find great music at a reasonable price. Luckily, this year’s Rocktoberfest has the cure for those over-priced ticket blues.

Coming back for it’s third go-around, the annual San Diego Rocktoberfest is an outdoor beer and music festival being held on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 3 to 11 p.m. in the vacant parking lot behind the Birch North Park Theatre, located at 2891 University Ave.

Presented by The Casbah, FM 94.9 and North Park’s West Coast Tavern, this will be a 21-and-older-only event that will feature nine bands on two outdoor stages. Appearances will alternate stages, giving attendees the chance to see and hear all nine sets.

For $15, there will be a full line up of some of San Diego’s best bands, including a couple 2012 San Diego Music Award winners.

“We played the debut year of Rocktoberfest two years ago and it was a really fun event, so we are happy to be back,” said Joshua Zimmerman, lead guitarist and backup singer of The Silent Comedy.

With “wild live performances” and “genre-bending sound,” The Silent Comedy have been playing music since 1996, when Zimmerman and his brother formed the band. They released their first studio EP in 2008, and were Best Pop winners and Artist of the Year nominees at this year’s Music Awards, held in August.

Music Award Best Electronic winner, Hyena, will also be in attendance, as well as a performer from last year’s Rocktoberfest, Transfer, and the up-and-coming local band, Family Wagon.

“This is our first time playing Rocktoberfest and we’re happy to be involved,” said Michael Cooper, the drummer for Hyena. “Great line up, a lot of these bands and fellas are great friends and old band-mates.”

There will also be a headliner performance by Los Angeles-based Mariachi El Bronx, a unique group that somehow manages to fuse two seemingly contradictory styles of music: punk rock and traditional Mariachi music, complete with full, matching Mariachi suits for all members.

“Rocktoberfest is actually held in the parking lot behind West Coast, so the experience is really unique,” Zimmerman said. “The outdoor environment is really great for bands, and the crowd has a much better view of the band than at many venues. The stage was enormous when we played a couple years ago. Our band really enjoys that because we can move around freely.”

Other acts include Mrs. Magician, Family Wagon, New Mexico, Euphoria Brass Band and Blackout Party, including guitarist and singer Tim Lowman of Low Volts. Lowman also performed at last year’s event.

“Fans can expect to have a great time,” Zimmerman said. “There will be beer flowing, a great sound system and stage, and an amazing lineup. It really is an incredible event for such a low ticket-price. You can’t go wrong with an outdoor show in North Park with an ample supply of beer. What’s not to love?”

For more information and tickets visit sdrocktoberfest.com.

Rocktoberfest 2012 line up
Mariachi El Bronx
The Silent Comedy
Transfer
Hyena
The Blackout Party
Mrs. Magician
Family Wagon
New Mexico
Euphoria Brass Band