The Daily Pinn  -  June 4, 2008

Today's Forecast: Partly cloudy, possibility of some Pinnstock

Promoters proud of everyone's hard work and look forward to more Pinnstock celebrations 

OJIBWA, WISC., 9/5/07 -- The First Annual Pinnstock Music and Arts Festival went off like fireworks this weekend thanks to what organizer Roe Pressley called an "amazing display of love and commitment by every single person involved."

Everyone came out to the Pressleys' Northern-Wiconsin getaway, which is rented out the majority of the year, for the same reason -- to commemorate their friend and family member Marcus Lendway, who died suddenly of an unknown aneurysm in his spleen in January. Marcus's impact on everyone's life was so amazing that Pressley wanted to "try to create a celebration that would leave an impact that reflected an element of Marcus's impact on people's lives and memories."

After three days of running the festival, two days of setup and breakdown, and a good 13-hour sleep, Pressley considers the festival a great success.

"Everyone had a great time I think, especially the performers," Pressley said from the bar of the Chippewa River Lodge, where the event occurred. "The lodge, the yard, the whole setting is just picturesque and has a lot of its own spirits."

The lodge, which sits on a prisitine 3-acre lot on the Chippewa River, served as a primary recording spot for Marcus's music project 2th and Nail, which he and Pressley began in 2004. The two found the place uniquely inspiring, and when the time came to throw a festival to commemorate his best friend, Pressley didn't even have to think about where to do it.

"There was nowhere else we could do it," he said.

With all the various efforts that occurred to make the festival happen so wonderfully, Pressley is quick to ackowledge the people who made it possible.

"There is no such thing as a one-man band, especially when it comes to something like this. Pinnstock never would have happened like it did without the continued support of the Lendways, my own family, my friends, the musicians, our sound technicians, stage hands, people who made the Marcus and Pinnstock memorabilia, our cooks, and everyone who volunteered for the various staff and security jobs that kept us running smoothly all the way through."

Though he believes it went well overall, Pressley also acknowledges the turbulence that comes with throwing a festival for the first time.

"Saturday night, we lost half of the power on the stage suddenly when Face Candy was playing," Pressley said, referring to a headlining set by the improvisational avant-garde hip-hop band, who released a record through Rhymesayers Entertainment. "While we scrambled about to get it back on, the whole band just kept going and used the situation as inspiration and eventually got an amazing audience-participation moment out of it. It was spiritual. And when the power came back, they picked it right back up without missing a step."

Another issue was fatigue. After two days of work, the staff and guests found themselves equally exhausted Sunday morning with a whole new day of work and music ahead of them. But perhaps the biggest bit of turbulence happened Sunday afternoon when the organizers became aware of complaints from up and down the Chippewa River about noise. The organizers had to make a sudden decision and eventually decided to move the music into the lodge's indoor stage, which had been reserved for weather issues and other unpredictable emergencies. Unfortunately, the change caused a shift in the day's remaining set times. Nonetheless, the team moved efficiently in getting the equipment moved and the sound running again.

"I can't thank everyone enough who helped us roll with the punches on that one," Pressley said. "Especially the crew that moved all the sound and accessories indoor once we knew what we had to do. They did it well, they did it fast, and I'm proud. And I'm thankful for the patience and understanding of the acts whose set times were dramatically affected by the shift, talented artists like jGreen, Simply Us and the 2 Sides of We, Sandman and the Band, Desdamona, Carnage, and Jimmy2Times."

Even with the unpredictable curve balls that come with implementing a festival of roughly 150 attendees, Pressley maintains that everyone kept their cool and had a great time. But will Pinnstock happen again?

"Of course Pinnstock will happen again," Pressley said. "We didn't call it the 'first annual' for nothing."

Though he assures all the festival's contributers, guests, and supporters that the fest will continue, Pressley released what he called a few "unsubstantiated rumors" regarding the next Pinnstock.

"It might be closer to the Twin Cities," he hinted. "It might have more headliners. It might only be one day of music. But these are all unsubstantied rumors... we'll just have to wait and see."

For more information, log on often to http://www.pinnstock.com/ or call or e-mail Roe Pressley, swee2th@gmail.com, 651-226-0652.

We're pleased to have you as guests at the First Annual Pinnstock Music and Arts Festival this Labor Day Weekend! We're gathering for many reasons: to hear great music, to party, to laugh, to cry...

But most of all, we’re gathered to remember and to celebrate a fallen friend, a family member, and a unique and powerful influence on all our lives, Marcus Lendway... and of course his obscure musical alter ego, Bobby Pinn (hence, Pinnstock).

September First is Marcus’s birthday, now an official Holiday in the towns of Stacy, North Branch, Linwood, Stillwater, Arcata, Ojibwa, and Winter, so it seemed only appropriate that we kick the music off Saturday, September First.

Campers are encouraged to arrive late Friday to set up so as not to miss the music, which will be starting at noon on Saturday. The music includes performances from Marcus's friends (DJ Swee2th, Kyle Peck, jGreen, etc.) as well as his family (The Hyde Brothers Band).

We're also pleased to present our headlining acts, Ill Chemistry (Carnage and Desdamona), Face Candy (Eyedea, JT Bates, Casey O'Brien, Chris Keller), Dessa and Turbonemesis of Doomtree, DJ Jimmy2Times, and Sandman and the Band. These acts, which hail from the Twin Cities' booming hip-hop realm, collectively and individually influenced Marcus's life and musical direction greatly, and we know he's just as excited as we are to have them play.

There is very limited lodging in the area since it's Labor Day, so plan to either camp on our property or sleep in the car! Speaking of cars, parking will be provided at no cost. Please respect our rules and DO NOT BRING RV's, CAMPERS, OR TRAILERS. We just don't have the space.

There are also NO PETS allowed. No one likes stepping in dog poop. Please read our other RULES AND GUIDELINES before planning for the event.

Because we're providing all these services FREE to Marcus's friends and family, we ask that you donate at least $20 to our sponsored charity, the Urban Arts Academy (http://www.urbanartsacademy.org/). Click to learn more. There will also be opportunities at the festival and after to donate to next year's Pinnstock.

Here's What's Going On...

• Friday, Aug. 31 - Guests arrive, set up camp, grill, etc.
• Acoustic music from some of our guests and musical acts.
• Saturday, Sept. 1 - Happy Birthday Marcus!
• Music from noon to midnight, with a memorial service around 9 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 2 - Music from noon to midnight.
• Monday, Sept. 3 - Break-down, clean-up, head-out.