Ten years have passed since the second NYC Wizard Rock Festival wrocked Brooklyn. For this installment of Into the Pensieve: Wrock in Retrospect, we’re looking back at how this festival was more epic than the first, which is saying a lot, because the first one was pretty darned epic.
CW: Mention of Ministry of Magic. Appearance of Alex Carpenter in a group photo.
If you read my last post, you may remember that NYC Wizard Rock Festival ’08 was the first of its kind in the Big Apple, and was a sold-out show. The success of that event opened doors for us in 2010, allowing me to take our proven track record to concert booking managers at larger music venues. Unlike in ’08, we were not required to rent space or to put down a deposit – we just had to give the venue a percentage of ticket sales.
Music Hall of Williamsburg, a short walk from Public Assembly where the first festival took place, was the perfect venue for NYC Wizard Rock Festival 2010, with double the capacity. No need to turn people away at the door, as was the case in ’08. And because the venue partnered with Ticketmaster, we didn’t have to deal directly with ticket sales like last time.
The Music Hall was a LEGIT concert venue with an amazing sound system and professional tech crew. Not to mention, the enormous indie cred of the place. Bands like Sonic Youth and They Might Be Giants performed there! Multiple back stage rooms made the bands feel like rock stars. But the basement merch room/ lounge provided a space for wizard rockers and wrock fans to connect with one another.
Because the Order of the Festival didn’t have to worry about renting event space or stress out about meeting a break-even threshold with ticket sales, we could focus on getting as many awesome wrockers as could comfortably fit in our allotted timeframe. Though we invited back some old favorites, we were thrilled to feature bands that had never performed in New York City before, such as The Cruciatus Curse and Diagon Alley.
NYC Wizard Rock Festival 2010 had a great turnout. We didn’t sell out the venue, but there were nearly five-hundred people in attendance, enough to make the day feel like a huge party, but not so crowded that concert-goers felt cramped.
With a large stage and no shortage of professional equipment, performers could really shine their brightest as full bands or solo artists. Some of the most epic collaborations in wrock history happened on the NYCWRF2 stage. Diagon Alley and Swish and Flick teamed up to perform a cover of “Big Poppa”, originally by Brooklyn’s own Notorious BIG. Another dream team was formed when The Blibbering Humdingers invited members of Hawthorn and Holly, The Butterbeer Experience, and Swish and Flick to perform “Nobody Expects”. Snidget assembled a super group for their set, featuring Scott from the Humdingers on flute, Lauren Fairweather on bass, and Ashley Hamel on guitar and backing vocals. Justin Finch Fletchley performed with Brian Ross and Diagon Alley serving as his Sugar Quills, in what may have been the most unique (gotta love that violin) and longest-running rendition of “Krum” ever. Make sure you click those hyperlinks to watch video of these truly historic performances.
Here’s your opportunity to relive the day, or live vicariously, through photos and videos of NYC Wizard Rock Festival 2010!
Lineup In Order of Appearance
Madam Pince and the Librarians
The Cruciatus Curse
Snidget
Diagon Alley
Blibbering Humdingers
Hawthorn and Holly
Celestial Warmbottom
The House of Black
Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills
Tonks and the Aurors
Swish and Flick
The Whomping Willows
The Remus Lupins
Draco and the Malfoys
Ministry of Magic
The Order of the Festival: Volunteer Staff
Day-of Operations Staff and Organizing Committee: Ana Gondring, Chris Cabeza, Deanna Benfante, Debbie Schneider, Jenna Lawrence, Jessica Mercado, Jon Rosenthal, John Pisani, Liz Lewis, Megan Williams, Muggle Mike, Olivia Garcia, Staci Ortiz, Stacy Santiago Pisani, Thom Kulesa
Stage Managers: Stephanie Anderson, John Pisani
Head Coordinator: Stacy Santiago Pisani
Visual Artists and Graphic/Web Designers: Paul Liaw, Jessica Mercado, Olivia Garcia, Liz Lewis
Photo Credit: Jonathon Rosenthal
Massive YouTube Playlist: NYC Wizard Rock Festival 2010
Irvin’s YouTube Playlist: NYC Wizard Rock Festival 2010
Chris Berdoz’s EPIC Compilation Vid: NYC Wizard Rock Festival 2010: This video features all the high-energy moments at the show, aptly titled “End of Hallowfest” to mark the final event of HP madness in NYC surrounding the film premier of Deathly Hallows.
Promo Videos: These promo vids, though poorly produced (by yours truly) are worth a watch just for the photo montage of past wizard rock shows and HP events.
Article in the New York Post about NYC Wizard Rock Festival 2010
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