Calvin Johnson is no stranger to eccentric ideas for festivals. The K Records founder and mastermind behind seminal acts Beat Happening, the Halo Benders and Dub Narcotic Soundsystem has built a career around being different, organizing the legendary International Pop Underground Convention in 1991 and for the past five years the Helsing Junction Sleepover, which takes place once again from August 21st to the 23rd.
Helsing Junction began working with K Records in 2005; the organic farm is also the home of an 800 member strong Community Supported Agriculture Program and has been a major presence in Washington since 1992, which is what drew the attention of the K community. As one of the most important indie labels in the Northwest and a key component of the Olympia scene, K Records has always thrived on diversity and the sense of community.
Johnson describes Helsing Junction’s mission as a desire “to make organic farming a viable option for the Thurston and Lewis counties” in Washington state. “They decided to expand their efforts to include creative expression via music and film as part of their cultural mission,” Johnson said by e-mail. Organic farming and indie music aren’t as far apart as one would initially suspect; both enterprises focus on independently creating goods for the community without relying on high costs or the presence of large corporations.
This year’s Sleepover is a well-coordinated mix of veteran K acts and up and comers, with headlining slots from Mirah, Kimya Dawson, and Calvin Johnson himself as well as earlier performances by much-hyped groups LAKE, Desolation Wilderness and Karl Blau. The focus is on more intimate performances from singer-songwriters and acoustic-driven ensembles, to emphasize the tranquility of the setting. The stage itself is usually little more than slabs of wood set on top of bales of hay, rows of crops behind the crowd and trees in front.
Unlike the bigger festivals of the Northwest, most notably Bumbershoot and Sasquatch, Sleepover is almost a family affair, the bulk of the artists hailing only as far as Olympia and all directly tied to K Records. That’s a big portion of what makes it stand out; the crowds more likely to be knitting together than burning trash cans or hassling security guards, the bands hardly likely to blow out any decibel meters. For many in the indie community, it’s a welcome getaway from the typical punishing festival experience, a chance to take part in community action and enjoy some beautiful scenery.
For Helsing Junction, it’s also a chance to educate young people about the value of small farming, something they feel is very similar to the value of locally produced music. The funds it raises help out the farm but more important is the awareness it raises of the organization’s mission, especially at a time when local businesses are disappearing under the burden of increased costs and low sales. But from August 21st to the 23rd, all that matters is everyone enjoys the “rambunctious outdoor shenanigans.”
Helsing Junction Sleepover
August 21-23
$30 for Advanced Passes (includes camping)
$35 pass at doors
Individual day passes $8/$2 camping
Full day passes $12/$2 camping
by Morgan Davis
