XFEST - coordinator (CURRENT ROLE)

XFest started in 2008 with Walter Wright at 119 Gallery in Lowell MA. Initially a reaction against local festivals that failed to include local talent, the event developed out of a community of performers who knew each other by reputation, but had no opportunities to experiment with each other. It is now an annual 3-day festival in Massachusetts, with semi-annual partner events.

Participants using sound, movement, and video are grouped in small ensembles for two nights of improvisational performances. Along with these public performances, the festival hosts public workshops, and a day dedicated to showcasing participants’ bands and artist curated projects. The event is held at the end of February/start of March when few other New England festivals are planned due to winter weather.

XFest MA has been hosted at 119 Gallery, UnchARTed Gallery, LTC and UTEC in Lowell MA; Gateway City Arts and City Hall in Holyoke MA; Block City Arts in Greenfield MA; Easthampton City Arts in Easthampton MA; Dorchester Art Project in Dorchester MA; and Firehouse in Worchester MA. XFest International locations include Edale UK and Mazotos Cyprus.

The event is organized and funded by volunteers.

XFest can occur anywhere and be organized by anyone, following the basic premise of challenging performers by grouping them in unfamiliar configurations.

More information: xfestma@gmail.com

common ground on Martin’s mountain
2009-2013

I helped to organize and staff Common Ground on Mountain’s Martin. It was wonderful, life-affirming, and a great learning experience. I am thankful for Jon Felton, Soulmobile Eternal, and the many beloved friends and creative connections I made through this event.

Here’s a blurb from Common Ground’s promotional materials:
"We start with the idea that we have some responsibility to this ground beneath our feet, and to each other because we hold this ground in common.  So what should we do? How shall we live? Why?  A diversity of presenters share skills, experiences, and information that are part of their own attempts to answer these questions.  Musicians and artists articulate visions and give us common cause to celebrate."

Fake Ficus

Fake Ficus was a 5 bedroom row home in Harrisburg where I lived with my friends for several years. It’s where the first soundbath took place. It was also one of our scene’s porch hubs. A lot of people moved in and out over the years.

wet pillow

Wet Pillow was a house and performance space in Carlisle, PA that I helped to organize between 2011-2013. It had very difficult-to-move pocket doors and once I started a fire in the kitchen. Many artists and bands from all over the country came through. It was usually a good time, sometimes things got a little too loose. For a while we had a thing where we passed a bottle of gin around and soaked our feet in hot water during shows.

Granville Haus

Granville Haus was a single-wide trailer deep in the Appalachian woods where I lived and booked shows with a rotating cast of friends and lovers. I got to see lots of my favorite bands perform in my living room and yard. We laughed and drank and practiced music and hollered into the mountains. Josh built a lot of things. Joy gathered up plants. I slept outside a lot. It was a special spot where plenty of good things happened.