Celebrating a decade of community and local independent artistry with 20 stellar acts from Greater Boston and beyond
In 2013, Lira Mondal and Caufield Schnug played in Boston for a crowd of three people. The musical duo, known at the time as Mini Dresses, had recently relocated from Arkansas to Boston and were desperately trying to break into the local music scene.
“It took us a year to play a show, because Boston was such a gatekeepy place that did not take risks on new artists when we arrived,” Schnug said.
However, with the help of local booker Jason Trefts, the group finally secured what the duo described as a “proper show”—even though there were only three people in attendance (four including Trefts).
Exiting the stage that night, Schnug felt disappointed by the measly crowd size. That was until Trefts approached the duo and showered them with post-show praises. “I was so proud to put on that show,” Schnug remembers Trefts saying, “That’s why I do this kind of thing.”
A lot has changed for Mondal and Schnug since that fateful concert. The duo spent eight years performing together in the Boston area, established a new band called Sweeping Promises, released two albums, relocated to Lawrence, Kansas, and most recently, toured with the legendary Riot Grrrl group Bikini Kill. Still, they stay connected to Trefts and feel “hometown pride” whenever they return to Boston.
More than a decade after that first sparsely attended show, Mondal and Schnug will perform at Boston’s 10th Fuzzstival, the annual music fest organized by Trefts. Spanning Oct. 18 and 19, this year’s event will feature 20 local and regional musical acts at Arts at the Armory in Somerville. Returning bands like Sweeping Promises will share the stage with first-timers for a jam-packed weekend of live music.
One Fuzzstival newcomer is Miranda Soileau-Pratt, the lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Spatulas. Having originally founded the bicoastal band in Oregon, she was influenced by folk music and the punk sounds of the Pacific Northwest. Now based in Cambridge, Soileau-Pratt sees this year’s Fuzzstival as an opportunity to immerse herself in the local music community.
“I love seeing Bong Wish,” she said. “I’m going to see them again the same night that we play, and Luppo Citta. I’m also looking forward to seeing babybaby_explores.”
In the short time since Soileau-Pratt moved to Cambridge, the Spatulas have played several shows throughout New England, including a record-release performance at the Lilypad and a benefit concert for Palestine at State Park.
“It’s a big city, so you never know who all is going to come to your show, which makes it exciting and surprising every time,” she exclaimed.
nurse joy, a five-piece Boston-based egg punk band, will also make a Fuzzstival debut this year. Its members have played in the local DIY scene for years, but officially launched this current project in 2022.
In July, the group played at NICE, a fest, another Somerville-based music festival with an impressive lineup of more than 80 acts. The band’s crowd-winning set featured a choreographed dance piece, a bubble machine, and streamers. Now, with their sites set on Fuzzstival, the members hope their music will connect with a wider audience and reach new fans.
“A lot of the time, with DIY, we’re basically putting on our own shows in smaller spaces,” Jeremiah, the nurse joy keyboardist, said in an interview. “It helps to give us access to nicer spaces with bigger crowds. Hopefully, we can impress them and make some new listeners.”
The group also appreciates the sense of community found at these local events. They’re friends with several other bands on this year’s Fuzzstival lineup, namely BALACLAVA and babybaby_explores.
“I think it’s greater than the sum of its parts. It’s more than just the bands that are on it,” nurse joy lead vocalist Mae Flux explained. “It creates a third, greater thing for people to come experience.”
Other names on the lineup, like Sweeping Promises, have been inspirations: “Their [Sweeping Promises] first album was probably my favorite rock record of 2020,” Flux said. “It’s a big full-circle moment for us to be here with them.”
For Sweeping Promises, which is now signed to the iconic rock imprint Sub Pop, the admiration is mutual.
“I believe that nurse joy started up while we were leaving, so it’s the first time we’re playing with them,” Mondal said. “I’m a fan.”
Connections like these are integral to Fuzzstival’s decade-long legacy. Reflecting on the milestone, Trefts emphasized the self-supporting and artist-centric nature of the event: “It’s volunteer-run and doesn’t have any sponsors. All the profits from the festival go to the bands.”
Those are the founding principles of Illegally Blind, the Boston-based show series and record label run by Trefts. The project launched when he organized the first Fuzzstival in 2013. Since then, Illegally Blind has presented over 500 shows in the Boston area, creating performance opportunities for independent musicians and cultivating collaboration between local artists.
“I hope the festival helps build friendships in the community,” Trefts said. “I’m very grateful that people have supported the event over the years, and I mainly just feel lucky that I have a fun project to work on.”
