Danielle LoPresti and Alicia Champion would like to live in a more inclusive world, so they are starting with the music community. Both openly bisexual, the two musicians are the organizers behind IndieFest, an annual event where everyone can rock out together, regardless of age, race, gender or sexual orientation.
“We wanted integration and we’ve really been working hard to create that,” Champion said in an interview with San Diego LGBT Weekly.
“A healthy society is one that honors all people,” LoPresti added. “Everyone has something to give and the communities that truly honor all of its members are the most successful.”
Creating IndieFest and applying their vision to the streets of San Diego is a sweaty undertaking.
The festival began at The Abby in Bankers Hill, attracting around 500 people. But within a couple of years, LoPresti and Champion found themselves feverishly working to accommodate 5,000 people on conjoining blocks in North Park. Last year, they realized that even numerous blocks couldn’t fit the crowds of 7,000-plus people.
LoPresti and Champion are expecting 6,000 to 8,000 this year and have chosen to move IndieFest to Liberty Station in Point Loma.
“People are never super receptive to change and some people might think, ‘Eww. Point Loma. What’s that?’” LoPresti said. “But this is like a park with big, wide-open grassy areas – with trees, sky, bay and big walkways – not to mention capacity. There is tons of space. Kids can run and play and people can bring beach blankets and literally lie in front of the main stage and chill out.”
“And the parking is amazing,” Champion chimed in.
Within the circularity of Liberty Station will be six stages featuring 130 artists, lots of films and more visual arts on display than at any previous IndieFest event. All the acts are hand-picked by LoPresti and Champion along with a committee of musicians and music critics, who cipher through overwhelming amounts of international, national and local submissions.
The criterion is simple, although not easy: The bands have to be independent, positive, unique and exceptional – exceptionally exceptional since they are competing with more than 400 others for 130 spots.
One of these spots will be held by the divas of Lips Restaurant, who will be performing on the Main Stage, sandwiched in between straight acts and rock bands. Other LGBT standouts include Love Darling, a lesbian band whose single is featured on HBO series The L Word.
Special recognition will be given to Ann Garwood and Nancy Moors, creators of Hillquest.com, and LoPresti and The Masses will premiere their new music video which is dedicated to Michael Portantino of the Gay and Lesbian Times, who recently committed suicide.
“When we’re doing an event as integrated as IndieFest,” LoPresti said, “everywhere you look there are gay folk and straight folk together in this crowd. To us it’s very important to weave these two communities together.”
Tailoring IndieFest to diverse, highly-talented acts, LoPresti and Champion not only guarantee ticket holders will get their money’s worth, but the festival attracts industry personnel from all over the country. Over the years artists have found IndieFest to be a launch pad, selling merchandise, landing record and distribution deals and catching the eye of casting directors from Los Angeles. Last year, a 21st Century Fox associate booked eight musicians from IndieFest on the hit show, Glee.
Keeping this in mind, LoPresti and Champion have scheduled a music industry and artist mixer March 11, the night before the festival starts on March 12. To conclude the festival there will be an all-ages after party – the first time ever teeny boppers and kids can kick it with the 21 and older crowd – that will be held at the Corvette Diner located inside Liberty Station.
LoPresti and Champion are anticipating IndieFest7 to be a representation of the future of San Diego, someday the country, and eventually, the world.
“There is so much segregation between our communities, the only way we’re going to bridge that divide and get people to see us for who we are – and not just wonder how we have sex – is by mingling together in this integrated group and living in this weekend together,” LoPresti said.
“This is what integration looks like,” Champion said. “This is what 50/50 looks like. This is what we want, what we’re working toward.”
For more information on IndieFest7, visit sandiegoindiefest.com. Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors, students and active military and free for children 12 and younger.
