FoCoMX: Year 3

The weekend of April 8-9, 2011, will mark the return of the third installment of the FoCo Music Xperiment festival. With over 250 bands, artists and DJs performing this year at a variety of venues, FoCoMX is growing in new and exciting ways, for both the city of Fort Collins and its budding musicians.
During the first year that FoCoMX presented itself to the community, only 112 bands performed. This year, the festival has grown to include more bands, and new aspects, such as a more buses for easier transportation and a karaoke lounge at Gelazzi, according to Greta Cornett, the president and co-founder of the Fort Collins Musicians Association, who also organizes FoCoMX.
“There is definitely a growth within the festival and the local music scene,” Cornett said.
The “silent disco” is a new feature of the festival, attracting a new sort of musical experience. “We are working with Silent Events, who present the silent disco at Bonaroo, SXSW and Wakarusa,” Cornett said. “They bring all of the gear and we provide the musicians. So we'll have two DJs mixing at the same time at the silent disco. Each person who is attending will receive a pair of headphones and can pick which DJ they want to listen to. So essentially to the passerby person, there is no music in the venue, it's all in the headphones and you may see people dancing together who are dancing completely to a different song. It should be fun.”
With so many bands to choose from, the process of choosing them to perform is a tough one for the many volunteers who track down the local scene and listen to what it has to offer.
“The committee is made of up different talent buyers, promoters, and local musicians from the area, so they have a great feel for the local music scene,” Cornett said.
Two bands that are new to performing at the festival include Jay J Mattot and the Arctic and Hunter Reece.
Jay J Matott, who plays at 9:15 p.m. Saturday at the Armadillo, and who has been playing with his band for about a year and a half, was asked to play last year but was unable to because of previous engagements in Denver.
“I did check some of the festival out last year and it was super fun. I love the community and music so I’m way glad to be a part of it this year,” Matott said.
After being seen by Cornett at a Fierce Bad Rabbit Show, Hunter Reece was already in the running to be on the lineup for the festival this year.
“I emailed Greta to check us out so that we could be a part of the show, and she already knew who we were and liked us, so we were super pumped,” Reece said. Hunter Reece plays at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Cheba Hut on Laurel Street.
With so many new bands and venues to choose from this year, Fort Collins will certainly be satisfied with their local music fix, at least for a weekend.