The Hoodstock Music Festival in Oakland This Weekend
Hoodstock Music Festival lands in Oakland this weekend. There’s been a lot of buildup for this event with hush-hush venues, stay-tuned-for headliners, and a recently announced third day event called “Acoustic Hangover Relief” (hangover cures built right into the festival!). Check out the Facebook invite for more info and the huge list of performers (including Shannon and the Clams, Japanther, and the Blank Tapes). I caught up with one of the event’s organizers, Roberto Miguel aka Miggy Stardust, to talk about the lineup, the venues, and the meaning behind it all.
Roberto Miguel aka Miggy Stardust
Introduce yourself!
I’m Roberto Miguel. I play folk music and also play trombone in Citizen Fish and Star Fucking Hipsters and I dj as Miggy Stardust. I make art. I put on a lot of shows too. I’m hella busy, actually.
What is Hoodstock?
Hoodstock is a DIY fest built around showcasing a diverse music scene at an accessible price. We started in Oakland and I brought it to Brooklyn and next is Los Angeles.
How did it all begin?
It was started by Albert Luera(DJ Handsome Neto) and Gabe Santos. They put together an awesome show with their friends and other local bands . They had been consistently booking awesome shows at the housewhere they lived, “Locos Only.” The next year I linked it up with Brooklyn artists Japanther and Ninjasonik in an attempt to help fuel new collaborations and spotlight Oakland’s underground to other cities. I also incorporated local hip hop artists in an effort to bring them into Oaklands DIY punk scene. The result was the best kind of complete insanity, starting with the craziest party I ‘ve ever been to and continuing to the present, filling most of my life with shows, dance parties, and fests.
I got involved because I’d seen a lot of cities with awesome events like” Best Friends Day” in Richmond,VA or BlackLabel’s Bikekill and thought that Oakland really needed something like this. Gabe and Albert are amazing and gifted at putting on shows and I had toured throughout the U.S. and lived in New York and we were all pretty driven so we collaborated and turned Hoodstock into the insanity it is today.
Where did it all begin and how did it get to NY and LA ?
It started in here in Oakland. Me and Albert hooked up with “Dirty Finger,” my favorite DJ in Brooklyn, and Bikes in the Kitchen. I called in favours from all the bands I’d booked on the West Coast and everybody really came together and made it something unbelievable. I knew we had to take it to other cities after that.
What’s up with the venues?
The main night is at Oakland Metro Opera House. It’s amazing and was pretty much the only place big enough. I had been there numerous times for “Tourettes Without Regrets”, a crazy ass poetry slam/MC battle. The Sunday venue is a big open space in West Oakland. I saw it for the first time when they showed Warriors there for free after a community bike ride. I was sold.
One of the sponsors is Bikes 4 Life. Who are they?
Bikes 4 Life is a grassroots bicycle shop serving the community of West Oakland. They put on a lot of events and bike rides promoting peace , health, and unity. I’m really glad to be working with them.
How much are the events?
It’s cheap, its $7 dollars for Saturday night and the rest is by donation.
What is the newly added event on the 6th about (“Acoustic Hangover Relief”)?
The sixth is for singers and songwriters to showcase their stuff and to help raise some money for Blackdot Café. Its also a mellow end to a crazy ass weekend.
What IS the best hangover cure (aside from acoustic music)?
Well I’m vegan straightedge so I’m not really the best to ask about a hangover cure but I hear Menudo works best.
Yaaay! Another vegan non-drinker makes it onto BrokeAssStuart.com! That officially makes 2 of us. Where can people find out more about the events?
There is more info at Kickitforlife.com.
That’s a pretty rad website name. How did that start up?
“Kick it for life” came from a song by “Tha Pessamist.” It became the chant for Hoodstock last year and, for better or worse, some people’s personal motto.
Hoodstock 2010
Saturday September 4th, Sunday September 5th, & Monday September 6th
All over Oakland
$7 for Sat night, by donation for the rest of the events
