By Chris Beswetherick
For the third year the Miniham music festival returns as “Miniham 3.” This year the festival features rock and folk music. There are a total of 17 bands performing throughout January 27 and 28 at the Make.Shift Art Gallery as well as the Tillie Lace Gallery and School of Fine Arts. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. at Make.Shift, and 7 p.m. at the Tillie Lace Gallery both nights. Tickets cost $6.
Make.Shift
January 27:
Keenan Ketzner
Opening the festival at the Make.Shift is this electronic ambient artist. Ketzner experiments with the keyboard, guitar and noise to create dark, ominous tones that sound like they’re bouncing off of cave walls. Interlaced throughout his songs are soft, out-of-tune notes played one at a time. Ketzner’s music is deliberate and uses multitudes of noise.
Redwood Sol
This rock group performed at Wild Buffalo for a back to the school show. The group’s guitar sounds like it comes from the past with a Red Hot Chili Peppers energy. Their sounds waver between groovy and heavy, which helps broaden the list of people who can appreciate their music.
Billy Ward and the Other Guys
Following the groovy rock show, this folk-rock group of friends will share their emotional songs. Frontman Billy Ward sings about his experiences with those around him, and their activities. His album “Riggins, ID” shares these accounts in an alt-country, indie style. Ward utilizes guitar, vocals, drums and bass in his music. His set will be relaxed and pleasing to hear, like the others preceding it.
Bob Fossil
This group, familiar to venues such as Mosh Eisley, Jacuzzi House and Karate Church, released their album “Case Sensitive” on January 6. Bob Fossil makes an appearance once a week in Bellingham and travels to Seattle and beyond for tours. Their album, recorded in Fairhaven’s new studio, mixes funk, blues and rock. The group uses high pitched vocals alongside quick guitar, all laid over an organ while they sing “And now you’re just a password.” This sound is how they try to tell stories of the human experience.
Rivers to Roads
Originally two members, Tyler Decker and Sasha Thomas banded together recently with four other musicians in order to make their newer music fresher. Sounding like “First Aid Kit” with their soft strong voices, this alternative folk group will integrate well in the evening’s concert, made up of several other folk bands. Guitar and vocals are the epitome of the group’s
sound in their earlier works. Now, having added four others, they will produce more volume for their passionate music.
January 28:
Monica Parshotam of Momo Grace
Performing independently of her band, Monica Parshotam, the lead singer of “Momo Grace” has a deep voice reminiscent of Adele or Florence and the Machine. The group writes slow, heavy melodies using strong piano and light drums. Usually five members make up the group, however, Monica will brave the stage alone with her voice to open the second night of the festival.
Cat Valley
This folk duo has transformed their love of cats to art. The group utilizes cat noises in their melodies, like in their track “Cat Valley” as a way to show their brand within their music. The dark melody and slowness of “Cat Valley” has the intensity of a Swans song, but they show their true sound through their lyrics. The band wants to make their audience laugh and think, like in their song “Consent,” which simply states the necessity for communication.
Switch Addictions
The music will shift once this band begins. This punk group invites its crowd to mosh to their music.
Modern Day Astronauts
This rock group will intrigue the crowd with high energy notes, played calmly. Their long, beautiful tones and their electric guitars create culminating crescendos that will put listeners on their toes. The group has a psychedelic quality as well. Their piano layered beneath their bass, vocals and guitar chaotically expresses their sound. This is a cathartic band.
Judy Just Judy
The singer of this pop-jazz fusion band emotionally sings apathetic lyrics along with clear bass and drums, unifying each element creating a total work. The group’s bass rhythmically drives the strength of their music, while the present drums accentuate every other member’s part.
Tilli Lace Gallery and School of Fine Art
January 27:
Tyson Ballew of Cat Positive
Tyson Ballew has been around a lot of important music, like group “Mount Eerie,” singers Kimya Dawson and Jeffery Lewis and local Seattle bands like “IJI.” His work is calming and loving, and reflects one of lo-fi’s greatest contributors Daniel Johnston, making him a must see for fans of the Bellingham music scene.
Chantel Renee
A classically trained violinist became a folk artist due to her love of nature and her experience with personal battles. She plays gorgeous folk guitar as her breathy and dreamy voice waves over the guitar and flows fluidly through her melodies. Renee sings about being human and how life flows, while trying to make her audience think.
Casa Nova Music
With tunes of alternative country music, guitar pleases the ear, and catchy vocal melodies on top bounce through the audience. Their music evokes happiness and fun. The very first “Fleet Foxes” EP, released over a decade ago, compares well to Casa Nova Music. The low-pitched vocals carry well through the song, while their psychedelic instrumentation matches the energy of the lyrics.
Impressions
To change the pace of the show, “Impressions” a Bellingham jazz group will grace the stage. The soft, luscious lyrics of the lead singer and the slow drum beat together makes it an easy listen. The skilled keyboardist and guitarist also add soft qualities to music. This group will quietly close the first evening at the gallery.
January 28:
Wonder
This dreamy artist from Oregon has angelic melodies and hard beats that sound like a heart. The instrumentation layering elevates her music making it full and powerful. Songs like “Ghosts” feature horn instruments, guitar, harmonies and stringed instruments all at once. Wonder’s voice has the power and energy and darkness of “Florence and the Machine.”
Maddy Smith
Last year Smith performed at the Western Gallery concert series with a soft-country voice and skilled guitar stylings. Her vocals carried through the gallery, making her appear more close and personal with her audience. Lately, she has performed at Make.Shift Art Gallery and KZAX 94.9 FM.
Matthew Lindblad of Rebel Revive
Emotional singer of this Orange Country band is performing a solo show of his heavy, pop-punk music. Alone, his set will be more tame than with “Rebel Revive” however, the power of his lyrics will remain. Lindblad has been playing rock, punk and pop for over a decade and explores the genre with songs about personal experiences, love and growth.
The Katie Gray
Another familiar Bellingham local, who has been making sweet and meaningful tunes for the past few years about love, and learning about herself. “The Katie Gray” has shifted her sound from a heavier, psychedelic R&B style, to a more simple style in her most recent album “Songs About Stuff.”
ABOVE: KUGS has featured music from many of these artists on their radio station. Photo by Janna Bodnar // AS Review