About What The Heck Fest, or, Why We Do This
Long Version
A what the heck manifesto embraces the ethics and aesthetics of ambiguity. We invite revelers whose leaps of faith are granted the benefit of the doubt until jarred by the ground. How do you land this thing?
WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?
Then, in response to oneself: What the heck, I might as well.
It can get sketchy.
By extension, civility occurs when we freely talk toward understanding & respect.
This requires that we surrender even the fantasy of beating up an intellectual adversary.
Realizing there are no philosophical differences in politics other than:
SHUT THE FLUX UP
&
Feel Free To Speak.
Does taboo keep us one big happy family, or keep us from being one big happy family?
What price unity?
What price hypocrisy?
What price humanity?
What price song?
Unless directly acquired, the musical product is often a ruse if the consumer supposes the musician is rewarded by the purchase. If I hear a song and enjoy, it obligates me to pay attention to the source by forming a contribution respecting past and future output. I can believe enough to subscribe yearly until I no longer care.
What the heck fest is how we care; an unconventional gathering in warm traditions of food and music. New and old friends who give as much attention as they get, while keeping plenty in reserve until this marathon of song.
Production values increase as the artist’s respect for the audience’s imagination decreases…and in direct proportion to the replacement of Idealism with titillation.
The Attention Economy redefines wealth as a state of mind—quite literally self-possession of territory almost involuntarily ceded to corporate colonizers. The “goods” economy having turned into so much emotionally and environmentally toxic landfill. Acquisition of goods via debt demands IV extraction of our humane attention. Unless attention ceases to be an obligatory payment and is instead revered & preserved: Spent as if one were voting for the meaning of life.
Short Version
“What the Heck Fest” is an annual festival in Anacortes, Washington coinciding with a citywide rummage sale called “Shipwreck Day”. It takes place at various locations all over town during the third weekend in July. Performers will present music, movies, literature, art, and other undefinables. The thematic center of the festival is the “dinner” show which includes a full meal along with the concert, an actual community event! People have come from all over the world to participate in and attend previous festivals. It is always surprising and magical.
HOW TO PLAY AT WHAT THE HECK FEST:
Move to Anacortes.
A Contact Form for Questions
If you have a question about Heck Fest that is not answered on this website, you may consider using the following form to contact us. (NOTE: PLEASE DON'T WRITE ASKING TO PLAY.)