2010 Whartscape will be the last
This weekend's Whartscape will be the last, according to co-organizer Dan Deacon (pictured).
Now in its fifth year, the annual celebration of under-the-radar arts, music and culture has reached critical mass, Deacon said.
This year, the festival will feature about 120 performances on multiple stages, over the course of four days. Deacon expects about 1,000 people per day this year.
"I don't think it can get any larger," Deacon said. "We do it for the love of arranging the festival, and I still love doing it, but I don’t want it to become an institution -- something that just happens. I’d like to try something new next year and branch out." ...
Deacon and the other members of Wham City, who put on Whartscape, are considering starting a yearly outdoor festival with camping, he said. They're still not sure about the details.
"We'd want to keep it similar in size to the first Whartscape," Deacon said. "We've learned a lot over the last five years."
(Baltimore Sun photo by Elizabeth Malby)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
too bad it's the last, have had a great time every year that I've gone - this years lineup is stellar. We need more events in the city, not less.
That being said, I think a camping style show in the area could be great. As long as it's not in the middle of a heatwave ;)
Posted by: Geoff | July 19, 2010 3:21 PM
Seriously. Why should hippies have all the outdoor music festival fun?!
Posted by: derpydoo | July 19, 2010 4:32 PM
Sad news in the hipster world today.
Posted by: Bob | July 19, 2010 4:45 PM
Out of the 120 performances, roughly 6% are good. 10% are tolerable. The remaining 84% is like watching freshmen present their portfolio at art school. What will Baltimore do without this american apparel loving, fixed gear riding, ironic mustache having festival?
Posted by: The Truth | July 19, 2010 7:10 PM
Yah, generally only 7.2 of the 120 acts are any good
Posted by: Da Troof | July 19, 2010 11:48 PM
Camping DURING a heatwave would be choice. What many people forget is that the heat is so great in the city because we ARE in the city.
Posted by: Millet | July 20, 2010 12:47 PM
@Millet -- Unless you were camping IN the city. That's hot!
Posted by: Sam Sessa | July 20, 2010 12:54 PM
Its the .2 of the good acts that I really enjoy.
Posted by: Dave | July 20, 2010 1:30 PM
i wanna camp in clifton park
Posted by: Dobbiy | July 20, 2010 2:29 PM
i vote for branching out and camping in leakin park
Posted by: unbelievaboh | July 21, 2010 7:46 AM