This April 21-23, serious music fans in Providence are in for a real treat. Terrastock, the official festival of the internationally acclaimed UK underground music publication, The Ptolemaic Terrascope, will be landing on these shores for its sixth big go-round. Like the magazine, Terrastock will give voice and ample girth to an international field of talented, mind-altering musical acts, amassing musicians (and their fans) from every corner of the globe.
Folks who have been around a while might recall that the very first Terrastock was held in Providence back in 1977. It was a hugely successful event, attracting national and international “outsider” music fanatics and garnering press on the same scale. It was one of Providence’s most significant musical occurrences and a highlight of the decade.
Terrastock returns to Providence after splashing down in Boston, London, San Fran, and Seattle. This year’s lineup features more than 30 bands spanning four continents, from Japan’s Acid Mothers Temple and Ghost to lost Brit-folk icon Bridget St. John and the granddaddy of eerie psychedelia, Tom Rapp of Pearls Before Swine. Jeffrey Alexander, one of our city’s music impresarios, is nearly singlehandedly overseeing the event.
“This is a really important festival that will be very good for the city of Providence,” he says. “It’s a great community for an event like this, because we feel like there’s more appreciation for arts and music here than in so many other places. There are many people pulling together to help get the show on the road.”
Of course, more than a few people are needed to put a festival like this over the top. The most important thing right now is for local music fans to get out, put their money where their mouth (and aesthetics) are, and buy a ticket. “The festival isn’t cheap,” Alexander admits, adding that the three-day all-ages ticket runs $110 ($100 if you buy it at AS220). “But let me tell you that no one’s making any money on this, not even the bands. It’s a totally non-profit venture. We ran into lots of expenses because we had to fly a lot of bands over here, over 150 musicians total plus gear, and put them up, some in hotels, which has been costly.” Keep in mind that each of the past five Terrastocks have sold out in advance.
Still, the Herculean effort required to pull Terrastock 6 off will be completely worthwhile. Festivalgoers will be able to catch 35 bands at two venues and rub elbows with a melting pot of likeminded enthusiasts. “Ninety percent of the tickets we’ve sold have been purchased by people overseas,” says Alexander, “which should make it really colorful and exciting.” Now Providence needs to reach out and support what could quite possibly be the city’s biggest musical undertaking in 2006.
“This is going to be a huge party,” says Alexander. “Many of these bands don’t ever get a chance to play in the States at all, and many others function way under the radar.” Avarus, for example, a hugely popular band from Finland, will be playing their first and only show here in Providence.
