ION INDIE MAGAZINE February 2015, Volume 9 | Page 38

SHARKFEST ‘15
By Tom Parrish
SHARK ALLEY RECORDS held SHARKFEST '15 at SCREWIE LOUIE’S WORLD
FAMOUS PORPOISE PUB in Seminole, Florida. The event was an artist’s
showcase with 100% of proceeds going directly to PETPAL NO-KILL ANIMAL
SHELTERS. The event drew an estimated 6,000 fans and animal lovers over 3
days, which was amazing since we were trying something new to this area.
Sponsored by ION INDIE MAGAZINE, STAR 1 RECORDS, UTOPIA ARTISTS,
DREAM NIGHT TALENT SEARCH, HEAVY METAL TELEVISION, SEMINOLE MUSIC
AND SOUND and KAMBABS PRODUCTIONS, the show featured everything from
singer-songwriters to cover bands to touring bands. In planning the event, I
purposely left out the bands that normally frequent the area to bring in bands
from other areas. It was taking a chance and we had no idea how the local
community would support it but by bringing in international touring artists THE
JOHN WESLEY BAND, all-female powerhouse UNDERCOVER BETTY, DREAM
NIGHT winners JAGGED ROW and 80's Glam Rock stars NOVA REX, it insured
that we would at least pull in fans from surrounding areas. The show went off
without a single hitch, stayed perfectly on schedule, was a resounding success
and is the most talked about event of the year.
Over the coming months I will be featuring many of the bands that took part in
this event, concentrating on the original artists who kept the crowds on their
feet all weekend long. Not a single act disappointed--all were thrilled to perform-no egos or attitudes, no divas, no bad vibes. Since the show ended just a week
before deadline, I would not be doing the bands justice to rush a story this
month, so I'll just be giving an overview of the entire event here.

On Friday night, the show opened with BLACK SABBATH tribute band
TOMORROW’S DREAM. I should say, BLACK SABBATH with a “hook”--this band
is fronted by a woman. They did a great job in getting everybody’s attention and
making a statement that SHARKFEST was something different. GYPSY RAINE-a mostly cover band that is beginning its journey into original music--was second
up, and this female-fronted band put on a powerhouse performance too.
This is where things got way different, which was our goal all weekend…keep
changing it up! DIDGES CHRIST SUPERDRUM took the stage to a shocked crowd.
I'll be featuring this band soon, but I'll tell you now, that they mesmerized the
crowd with a performance so unusual--so original--and so well done, that the