LouieFest 2012 is Seeking Artist Vendors

The festival finale is always a rousing singalong of “Louie, Louie”. Photo courtesy of LouieFest.

Great news for artists and craftspeople: on July 28-29, 2012, one of Tacoma’s favorite music bashes – LouieFest – will take place in the city’s newest icon – LeMay – America’s Car Museum - and the organizers are seeking vendors! “We anticipate 5,000 in attendance over the two days, but that’s conservative considering the venue,” says festival organizer Merri Sutton. “[The $20] LouieFest tickets include admission to the America’s Car Museum, which is truly amazing.”

Forty bands, one weekend. Photo courtesy of LouieFest.

Named after the song Louie Louie, made famous by The Wailers in 1961, LouieFest is a marathon American music festival featuring 40 bands that will rock the house with blues, rock and acoustic/Americana. “Because LeMay decided to do this in March, we’re trying to do in three months what usually takes us a year. Most vendors are obligated by now” so the event is in desperate need of craftspeople, says Sutton. Food providers, however, are good to go. As an added enticement, booth fees are reasonably priced ($150 for the weekend + $15 utilities and City fee) and participants will get 20% off next year’s entry fees.

Founded in 2003, LouieFest showcases new and established bands from around the region and is a fundraiser for the Wailers Performing Arts Foundation supporting youth music education. The festival is legendary for its closing: “The finale is Louie Louie, performed by The Fabulous Wailers, members of The Kingsmen and many others on stage,” says Sutton. “An electric grid is laid out on the event field where people can plug in their amps and play along! It’s really something. In 2007, at our last event, it monsooned – we only had a few hundred guitars. This year we hope to have 1,000!” For more information, click on www.louiefest.com, e-mail louiefest@comcast.net, or call Merri Sutton at 253.381.8374.

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About the event:

WHAT: LouieFest

WHERE: LeMay – America’s Car Museum, 2702 East D Street, Tacoma, WA  98421 (across the street from the Tacoma Dome)

WHEN: July 28 – 29, 2012, 10 am-7 pm
GENERAL ADMISSION: One-day pass: Adults $20 (advance $15); two-day pass: Adults $30 (advance $25) through www.lemaymuseum.org. Kids under 12: $10 for full weekend pass.  Ticket to LouieFest includes admission to America’s Car Museum!