Music has always been an integral, if not wholly necessary, part of the Fresyes Fest, with the lineup of bands serving as both homage to, and illustration of, the city’s musical landscape.
Organizers have tended to split things between current bands and legacy acts, sometimes even throwing in a surprise reunion (Gang’s Back in 2018). It’s never been wholly inclusive of less mainstream genres, but still pretty good as a kind of past/present/future snapshot of the scene.
For 2024, the festival expanded the number of bands to a dozen plus, playing over two stages (on Inyo across from Tioga Sequoia and on Fulton and Ventura avenue).
A third “Homegrown” stage has also been added, though the full lineup bands has yet to be announced (we’ll have it here when we see it).
EDIT: The lineup (and schedule) is now available.
Paris on Fire: 1:30 p.m.
Out of the Ring: 2:30 p.m.
Go in Grace: 3:45 p.m.
Paradise Blossom: 5:15 p.m.
Edward Hernandez: 6:30 p.m.
Near Avenue: 7:45 p.m.
Here is a breakdown of the rest of the main stage performers:
The returners:
The Carlos Montano Band (2023)
John Clifton Blues Band (2017)
Unlikely, Macondo and 1335 (who all played the Homegrown stage last year)
Punk, ska and reggae:
The cover bands:
The Box (the unofficial Fresyes house band will close out the night)
Make time for (IMO):
From Flower to Flies (prog rock)
Sydnie (pop singer/songwriter)
Brian Cade (R&B)
Banda Sinaloense Pura Cayeta (Mexican regional)
Chale Holmes and the Bottomless Barrel (??? some kinda country-twanged rock and roll)
Fresyes Fest happens 1 p.m. Saturday March 23, at Tioga Sequoia on Fulton Street in the Brewery District. It’s a free, all ages event.
Dying Suns teases new album ‘Periphera’
On Friday, Dying Suns dropped a music video for a song called “Bright Light.”
It is the first new music from the band since 2022’s “Starcade” and a teaser for a full album, “Periphera,” which is slate for release March 29 (with a release show April 4).
“Crafting this album has been an incredible journey of twists and turns but the path has lead us here,” the band wrote in a post on Instagram. “We’re eager for you to hear the passion and hard work we’ve poured into every track.”
“Bright Light” sees the band moving away from the heavier psych sounds of local counterparts like Westing or Sun Umbra and toward a lighter (though no less trippy) folk-pop psychedelia (especially apparent in the vocal harmonies).
That’s it for this week. Remember you can now hear me on the Homegrown Show Sundays at 8 p.m. on New Rock 104.1 FM. Follow my other writing at The Fresno Bee. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com