SUNCAN Festival

A Saturday evening in Vegas could be spent in a plethora of ways: shooting some pool at Cue D’s, studying and grinding at Madhouse café, taking a walk around the park (while it’s still nice outside), playing a game of Smash at the Ready Player 1 bar, or going to a concert in the Art District. Out of all of those options, I spent my Saturday evening enjoying some music from local bands and partaking in the local vendor’s merchandise at the SunCan Festival. This festival had everything; boozy drinks, quality food from the restaurant inside the venue, mosh pits, high-energy music, and a beach ball (if you didn’t read that in Stefan’s voice, you’re lying to yourself.)

A concert’s only as good as its location and the SunCan Concert was held at Fergusons Downtown . What used to be a shell of a run-down motel has now been converted into a tranquil business plaza. The hotel rooms are now quaint shops, the pool has been drained and refurbished into artificial turf (the steps from the pool made it easier for people to sit in close proximity to the stage), not to mention there was an on-site restaurant called Peyote and a cafe called Mothership roasting. The property is expansive and what it utilizes in its space is a wide variety of sculptures, worthy for any Instagram post. Vendors were able to set-up shop comfortably, without feeling cramped. The vendor booths were the first on display when gaining access to the venue. Patrons had the choice to browse through the shops while the live music performed in the background.

This was a show that I’m glad I did not miss because all of the bands that performed were phenomenal. Staring the concert off was the band White Noise , introducing themselves to the audience with fast paced drumbeats, the singer’s punk voice, and intense guitar solos. The singer chanted to the crowd to “Open up the pit!” and one must follow the singer’s orders; especially when the order is to form the pit. The swarm of moshers relentlessly bumped into one another but showed kindness when someone fell to the ground. Whoever was closest would yank the person from the floor and chuck them back into the Frey. The cycle continued. And so did the concert, with the next band to perform being Post NC .

The three members of this band delivered quality music; playing in sync and never missing a beat (pun intended.) Their music is meant for long summer nights relaxing in the park and contemplating life. I enjoyed the spontaneous solos from each member and the way the beat seamlessly flowed. I feel calm whenever I hear their music. They are an instrumental band and it’s a nice change of pace to hear how well a song can be played without vocals. I anticipate their next concert and if you have the chance to see them, please take that opportunity.

Once Post NC finished their set, I took the chance to browse through the vendors. My best friend’s birthday is approaching fast, and I stumbled upon a booth that sells crystals, jewelry, and sage. Charlotte’s , the shop owner, was friendly and explained the meaning behind each crystal that was on display. She assisted me with choosing the crystal that would best suit my best friend. I wish I could remember the name of the crystal necklace that I purchased, but she added a free cleansing. This means that she placed the necklace in a sound bowl and made 3 taps which purified the crystal from any previous energy it sustained. Charlotte owns a local shop here in town and I would recommend stopping by for all of your crystal needs.

If you’re a fan of Beach Bunny or @paramore, I would check out the local band called The The Dollheads. While the band consisted of 3 members, they were able to rock the stage and make it their own. Their songs had the classic rock and roll grit, with the fast-paced drumbeat, electrified guitar solos, and the groovy bass lines. What’s even more striking about this band is their age; all of the members are teenagers, and they gave the audience a lively performance.

Their invigorated spirit was infectious as the crowd bobbed their heads and clapped along to the songs. What makes a song unique is the rhythmic ebb and flow; the Dollheads had compelling, unexpected dips and jolts of energy that exuded throughout each song. Their music is on all streaming platforms* research that* . I anticipate great things to come for this Vegas band, perhaps seeing their name in lights on the Strip.

Some people, myself included, have this pent-up rage festering inside that only fast and heavy music can help quench the unmitigated frustration. Part II and the Electric Boogaloos scratched that itch and reminded me why I love punk so much. This band gave it their all and didn’t hold anything back. It was exhilarating watching the guitarist and bassist leap into the air before seguing into the chorus. The crowd standing in the outskirts of the mosh pit headbandged alongside the drummer and needless to say the energy in the mosh pit was immaculate; especially when a beach ball joined the party. Like true punk fashion, the bassist invited the audience to join them on stage for their last song. A bunch of people from the crowd piled onto the stage and jammed out with the band. Once the song was over, the crowd immediately dispersed per the order of the show-runner, causing the bassist to announce, “The plan sounded good in our heads.”

The Desert Island Boys brought the heat as the follow-up band, kicking off their set with a song with what could be described as a Beastie Boys, hard rock conglomerate. Some of their songs have a punk rock feel, a short, high energy moshing song while others had a laid-back Rasta groove. They performed a few of their newest songs that have yet to debut. I have the melody from their newest song stuck in my head! The band recently posted their EP titled “Chazzed Bangers ” that will have you prepped and ready for the scorching summer heat.

Once the Desert Island Boys finished their set, I took my leave from the Fergusons Downtown. I have more appreciation for watching local bands perform on stage than I do the bands that are headlining on the grandiose stages on the Strip. While I do admire bands that have the opportunity to play on those stages, it's more humbling to see how much hidden talent is present in a city that is devoted to A- list entertainment. There were some bands that I recognized and some that I have never heard before that night. It’s nice stepping outside of my comfort zone and be able to listen to songs that detracts from my Spotify playlist. Now, I have more bands to add to my playlist. It's heartwarming to know that a majority of the bands originated from Vegas and how they will continue to grow in popularity.

As a parting message, give a follow to all of the bands and the vendor listed from this article: