With Riot Fest out of the way we move on to our last festival of the year. FEST14 kicks on in Gainesville at the end of October and has a mammoth line up, packed full of killer bands. To make things a little easier for you, or to perhaps help you branch out and find something new, Conor, Maryam and Jeff are here to pick some of their favourite bands playing.

MARYAM HASSAN

PODACTER

SATURDAY 31st OCTOBER, 5.30PM, LOOSEY’S

We streamed a track from the new Podacter album on Punktastic after I heard something new from them on The Runout and send an email that was pretty much just “I LOVE YOUR BAND SO MUCH” at them. I tweet a lot about how pop punk with substance was something I was craving and Podacter satisfy that. Catchy hooks, good melodies  and some proper substance in the lyrics, perfecto. I can’t wait to see them play at Fest even with the million clashes. I’m gonna have a good dance, a good sing and feel better about life once their set is done. Life is gonna be sweet. You should come do this too. 

DUDES NIGHT

SATURDAY 31st OCTOBER, 6.20PM, LOOSEY’S

I talk a lot about how at Fest you make friends that even though you only see them once a year seem are still awesome. I made friends with LA weenies Dudes Night over a bottle whiskey by the pool on Thursday night at Fest11 when we convinced someone to do an impromptu room show and gave one of them a Swifty shirt. I then went to watch their band two days later and had the best time. High energy, mega fun punk rock awaits you from some of the nicest guys you’ll meet all weekend, just be prepared to get a cat face drawn on you if you come along! #growingolddoesntmeanweregrowingup

JEFF TAKACS

OLD FLINGS

SUNDAY 1st NOVEMBER, 3.20pm, THE WOOLY

There are certain sets that I have seen at Fest over the years that have been super special to me.  Many times, it involves seeing bands that I love play the best weekend of the year for the first time.  Watching the elation of these bands as they encounter their hardcore fans all together in the same room as they play their songs in Gainesville can truly be magical.  One of those experiences occurred during Fest 12 as I watched the Asheville, North Carolina band Old Flings absolutely annihilate the crowd in Loosey’s that night.  Mixing elements of Revelation Records style hardcore with the pop sensibility of Cheap Girls or Gin Blossoms and singing the sappiest of songs about love, there is no other band like Old Flings.  They should definitely be on your must watch list!

BANDIT

SATURDAY 31st OCTOBER, 5.40pm, MARKET STREET

A newcomer to Fest to keep your eyes on is the Nashville, Tennessee trio Bandit.  Starting out as a solo project for singer Angela Plake to perform her work, she joined forces with guitarist Dan Bishop and drummer Charles Miller to become a new and rounded out unit.  Earlier this year, the band released their debut full-length, Of Life on Broken Circle and it remains one of my favorites of 2015.  It’s warm and lush tones throughout the record are the perfect partner for a cool October day and Plake’s voice is soothing and alluring, yet powerful.  This record is pretty brilliant and I am excited to see these three make their Fest debut.

CONOR MACKIE

ARMS ALOFT 

FRIDAY 30th OCTOBER, 9.40PM, HIGH DIVE

What can be said about Arms Aloft? This band is so criminally underrated that it’s ridiculous. They are consistently putting out great records and they are one of the tightest bands I’ve ever seen live. Yeah, sure, they might subsist purely on food they find in trash cans and have a penchant for the less-glamorous pharmaceuticals, but who are we to judge? Seriously, this band will be one of, if not THE, best band you’ll see at Fest. Just go and watch them.

FRAMEWORKS 

SATURDAY 31st OCTOBER, 6.20PM, THE WOOLY

Gainesville natives Frameworks are one of my favourite screamo bands. I’ve been hoping to catch them since hearing their EP ‘Small Victories’ in 2013 and I’m so excited that I get to do that this year. They have that consistently-listenable quality that you only find in a handful of the best screamo bands. No matter the weather or the mood, Frameworks always seem like a perfect fit. Man, this band is so good. I can’t wait to see them perform in their hometown during the best weekend of the year. What a blast.