It’s about time we start talking about this year’s Fresno Urban Sound Experience — or simply, F.U.S.E. Fest, which is, believe it or not, right around the corner.
For the unfamiliar: the festival is a celebration of Fresno’s local music scene, with dozens of bands playing at a various downtown venues for one all-you-can-listen-to ticket price.
A few more bits of info to get you salivating:
DATES: Yes, that’s dates, as in plural. This year, the festival expands to two days — Sept. 30 (a Friday) and Oct. 1 (a Saturday). This is year No. 4 for the festival, so it’s nice to see it growing at a steady pace.
VENUES: On Friday, the festival announced its venues, and it’s more obvious why they’re splitting into two nights. There are two clusters of venues separated by a big chunk of downtown. Organizers figured it’s best to have one day with Chukchansi Park-vicinity venues and another with the Mural District venues. That schedules out to Club One Casino, Karma, Joe’s Steakhouse and Heroes on Sept. 30 and Fulton 55, Tokyo Garden, the African-American Museum’s outdoor stage on Oct. 1. Iron Bird Cafe was supposed to be a venue –we’ll have to see what happens with that.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Once again this year, the F.U.S.E. folks have set up a Kickstarter campaign to support the festival. Like last year, there are a number of rewards for people who donate — from exclusive festival swag to big corporate sponsorships. They have a goal of $4,444 (it being the fourth year and all) to be reached in 44 days. More in the video below.
Judging from previous Beehive posts, many people around here are proponents of Fresno developing a more dynamic mobile cuisine scene. Now, chef Martin Franco (formerly of Pangea, among other local restaurants) is hoping Fresnans will put their money where their appetites are. Specifically, he’s looking to locals for help Kickstarting his new culinary endeavor — a food cart he’s calling Taste Kitchen.
Using Kickstarter (as Creative Fresno and Blake Jones did), Franco is hoping to raise $4,000 in the next month. Donors receive incentives ranging from a hearty thanks ($1) to a free salad or side ($10) all the way to a private meal for four and your own sandwich ($1,000). Here’s Franco explaining more with the help of the some mouth-watering visuals:
Obviously, I’m a big supporter of Fresno’s local music scene. So one of the things that makes me most optimistic about the scene here in the Fresno Urban Sound Experience festival. It showcases local musicians of all genres, seeks to unify our local scene — and brings people downtown to do.
This year, as the Fresno Urban Sound Experience enters its third year (save the date for Oct. 23), the festival organizers have put together a campaign on Kickstarter to raise $2,500 for the festival in a month. I wrote in my column this week that we should try to help them meet their goal. But I’m willing to take it one step further.
I’m starting my own incentive program here on The Beehive. If you contribute money to the festival, you’ll get something from me in return. It’s a bit silly — but fun at the same time.
Here’s how it will work:
If you contribute $10, I’ll write a haiku in your honor.
If you contribute $15, I’ll draw a picture in MS Paint for you. (I got a D in art, btw)
If you contribute $20, I’ll record a video shout-out to you.
If you contribute $50+, I’ll do all three.
If someone wants to pony up, $100 I’ll think of something else fun. (A Fresno taco tour, perhaps?)
