Suburbs Fest 2021

The following is a Facebook post about the Rockin' the Suburbs SuburbsFest that I decided to also post in the blog:

(I arrived at the Dulles early just to be on the safe side. Plane doesn't board until 1:00 PM).

This weekend at SUBURBS FEST!! - Oct 1-3, 2021 can trace its origins to 2014(ish) when "two middle-aged guys who have not lost their passion for rock 'n' roll" started a podcast through USA Today called Dad Rock. I'd guess that many of us stumbled upon the podcast by accident or word-of-mouth. Jim and Patrick, from the beginning, had a fun and lighthearted (yet passionate) approach to all kinds of music subjects.

When these "two middle-aged guys" left USA Today, they started a new podcast called Rockin' the Suburbs. Over time, an online/social media community developed. Meanwhile, Jim and Patrick championed people still out there playing music while living regular lives with families and day jobs (which probably describes most musicians, really). So bands like Justice Fuller, Wingtip Sloat (Patrick's band), Dot Dash, Apollo 66, and Frank Muffin. These were the bands that performed at the Fest.

When the pandemic hit and we were all locked in, Jim and Patrick started the Friday night "Hootenannys" on Zoom that gave the RTS community an opportunity to connect and perform music. The Hoots helped many of the podcast fans get through these terrible times with at least most of their sanity intact.

RTS also has a Facebook community that talks about music, shares pictures of music acquisitions, musical passions, and just about everything under the sun. It has always been a "no judgement zone." People are kind and supportive of each other regardless of musical taste. (In fact, we have all educated each other on music).

All of this culminated in these three wonderful days in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Folks arrived from as far away as California, Oregon, Louisiana, Indiana, Minnesota, Kentucky, New York (state AND city), and Michigan. (The RTS community also has folks from outside the U.S. who, unfortunately, could not make it here).

What happened this weekend represents the actual good side of the interwebs and social media.