Filmakers, Daniel Thornton, Sarah Crowe, and CB Shammah having been working tirelessly over the past year on a documentary film about Doe Bay Fest, a music festival that we hold close to our hearts and have had the honor of organizing each summer since 2008. While I was excited that film makers of their caliber would be making a movie about Doe Bay, I was equally nervous as I have found that the uniqueness of Doe Bay Fest and its influence on the music community nearly impossible to describe. I didn’t know if these folks, who were experiencing the festival for the first time (or anyone really), would be up to the task.

This past Saturday Daniel invited me to his home so that I could watch a private screening of the 1st cut of the film along with the other producers and some crew.  Aside from my concerns about them being able to capture the essence of Doe Bay Fest, I was also a bit scared about seeing myself on film and potentially sounding like a jack ass.

Nonetheless I shortly found myself with an ear to ear grin about 20 minutes into the movie as I realized that they had nailed it.  I was able to relive so many goose bump inducing moments and see many performances and happenings that I wasn’t there for.   Beyond those many magical moments, this film ultimately did an amazing job at simply telling the Doe Bay story. From its inception in 2008, to the planning process of last year’s festival, and on to reflections and thoughts of many Doe Bay veterans and first timers alike. Welcome to Doe Bay explores how this “little festival that could” has effected the Seattle music industry and the NW musicians who have taken part in it. In the end it raises the question as to whether or not Doe Bay Fest can serve as inspiration for greater change in the profit driven and often unethical world of festival promotion.

The nice folks making this documentary film have started a kickstarter campaign to raise some much needed funds to help finish its production in time to send it to various film festivals.  I’m writing this blog post to ask that if you have the means, to please contribute to help make this film exist.   Not because it’s about Doe Bay, not because of the bands that are in it like Head and the Heart, Fly Moon Royalty, Pickwick, and many others, but rather because it is simply A GREAT FILM and it needs to be seen.

You’ll see a donor benefit for those donating $35 or more that invites you to a private show featuring some great artists in an intimate setting.  Know that we here at Artist Home are the ones that will be booking this show as this is a project we believe in and we want to show them our support.  We hope that you can contribute and that we’ll be seeing you in the early Spring at this great event.

 

Kevin