Ravenwood Festival 2008 - Arsenic & Gears

Thank you for visiting the Ravenwood Festival page. This festival is based in the Ozark Mountains of North West Arkansas.

The theme for our first year was the Post-Apocalyptic SteamPunk (heavy on the punk) event "Arsenic & Gears" for those with darker tastes. We had a few big names in both our Bands and DJ lineups, as well as some Special Appearance Cameos by some interesting folk. We had an awesome Venue, and an incredible time was had by all! Use the Link Bar above for more information!

Info about our acts and guests as well as the line up is posted here and on the festival MySpace. If you're a MySpace member, Subscribe to the Festival Blog!!!

Abney Park comes from an era that never was, but one that we wish had been. An era where airships waged war in the skies, and corsets and cummerbunds were proper adventuring attire. They have picked up their bad musical habits, scoundrelous musicians, and anachronistically hybridized instruments from dozens of locations and eras that they have visited in their travels and thrown them into one riotous dervish of a performance. Expect clockwork guitars, belly dancers, flintlock bassists, middleastern percussion, violent violin, and Tesla powered keyboards blazing in a post- apocalyptic, swashbuckling, Steampunk musical mayhem.

The band features: Robert "Dread Captain Robert" Brown - Songs, Lead Vocals, Darbuka, Piloting; Kristina "Angel" Erickson - Keyboards, Vocals, Navigation, Accounting, Skepticism; Daniel "It Was Supposed To Explode" C - Bass, Gadgets, Gizmos, Flintlocks, and Fire Extinguishers; Finn Von Claret - Writhing and Wailing, and Nathaniel "Two Sheds" Johnstone- Guitar, Violin, Stockroom, Doling Out the Shots (Drinkable and Otherwise).

For more information, visit their official website: www. abneypark.com

The Ghosts Project is a new improvised music ensemble featuring composer/violinist Paul Mercer (of The Changelings, Brass Knuckle Surfer, Dp3 and The Sweet Meat Love and Holy Cult,) percussionist Davis Petterson (of Dp3, Strezo, Khat and Smoking Section) and bassist and programmer Matt Mansfield (of KingRat and Dp3). It is an effort to evoke emotional atmospheres through free improvisation on a wide variety of instruments. The style of music is an assimilation of the trio's performing experience, combining elements of classical, hindustani, folk, dub and other influences. The debut recording, a live radio broadcast recorded June 30, 2006, is available for purchase, along with an EP of dub and electronic re-constructions of The Ghosts Project music entitled "Ghosts Dub," produced by Matt, and their new album, "Flaming Golden Boar" was released September 1st, 2007. Check out the tracks on the MySpace page!

Formed in the winter of 2003, Vernian Process is a cinematic journey through a fictional Victorian world. One that takes the listener through foreboding Industrial complexes, angelic cathedrals, misty cobblestone alleyways, ancient forests, war torn ruins, deep undersea caves, rotting clock towers, and all manner of timeless dreamscapes.

Taking the thematic elements of the romantic 19th century visionary Jules Verne, the young man behind this illusionary world; Joshua A. Pfeiffer has created an aural atmosphere that encompasses all manner of styles and genres. Influenced by such varied artists as Danny Elfman, In the Nursery, Dead Can Dance, Maurice Ravel, Massive Attack, Gary Numan, Edvard Grieg, Joy Division, and Gustav Mahler to name a few. Maestro Pfeiffer has created a truly unique enigma in a sea of mediocrity.

With two self released L.P.s, 2004's Discovery, and 2006's The Forgotten Age and an upcoming third E.P., Vernian Process is poised to storm the modern musical landscape. Heralding a new era of creativity and imagination.

Voltaire is often described as a modern day renaissance man. He is a singer/ performer, creator of comic books, animation and toys.

As a musician, he is a songwriter whose music can best be described as a collection of murder ballads, tongue-in-cheek exercises in the macabre, with just enough bawdy songs about Star Trek and Star Wars to keep a Con audience rolling in the aisles. Many know him for his song "Brains!" from the Cartoon Network show "The Grim Adventures of Billy And Mandy".

Voltaire's live shows, whether solo or with his skeletal orchestra, are highly theatrical -full of stories and games. The theatrical quality of his performances is not surprising; Voltaire has been directing commercials and animating short films for the last twenty years.

Eventually commercials proved to be too short for his storytelling desires and so Voltaire embarked on a new career as a comic book creator. His first comic book series, "Chi-Chian" (a dark Cinderella story for the 31st century) was picked up as an animated web series by the Sci Fi Channel's website (www. scificom/chichian). It won The Flash Forward's People's Choice Award and greatly widened Voltaire's audience.

Other notable comics and books by Voltaire include "Oh My Goth", "What is Goth?" "Paint it Black-a guide to Gothic homemaking" and most recently, "DEADY". The latter includes collaborations with Clive Barker, James O'Barr, Neil Gaiman, Billy Tucci, David Mack and many other luminaries of the spooky comics realm.

In 2004 Hong Kong's Toy2R introduced Voltaire to the world of urban vinyl by making a toy of his comic book character, DEADY. It was an instant hit and lead to a string of other Voltaire toys including a line of "Pocket Goth" plush toys for Toy Network that can be found at all major amusement parks and crane machines at Walmart, Toys R Us, etc..

For more information on Voltaire's music, comics, animation and toys visit: www. voltaire.net

Friday Night

Performing Live at the Friday night Pre-Party, we will have Das Gift from Little Rock, Arkansas. Das Gift is musician Adrian James' solo project. James has performed with a host of acts, probably most notably as violinist and designer for Evanescence.

Defying classification, the music sits somewhere in the spaces between alternative, progressive and gothic genres. Das Gift draws comparisons with psychotropic acts like Tool, as well as Pink Floyd. James points to early Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Cure's "Pornography" album as inspiration for the pounding drums and pipe organ. But while it has dark aspects, the CD is still rendered approachable by smooth vocals and touching piano ballads.

The live act is an impassioned power trio. Alternating between guitar, keyboard and even drums, James maintains his trademark emotional vocal delivery. Lifelong collaborator and bass instructor Zach Carpenter joins the live ensemble on 5-string bass while simultaneously providing aux percusion. Finally, Robert Dickey rounds out the band's unique sound on lead guitar and backing vocals.

DJ Eternal Darkness is a 30something year old DJ in Seattle, a self-proclaimed "Gamer geek," and says "to flirt is to breathe." He DJs regularly around Seattle, including spinning at Club Blacklight on Sunday nights for Vampire's Kiss.

A long-time favorite of the NorthWest Arkansas goth crowd, he travels for the third time to Fayetteville to help us open the new Ravenwood Festival.

San Fransisco's DJ Fact.50 is Josh Pfeiffer. In addition to his gigs as DJ/Promoter in the beautiful Bay Area, he also runs the website www.Post-Punk.com and the original musical project Vernian Process.

DJ Fact.50 spins regularly at Less Than Zero and Debauchery in San Fransisco. This is his first trip to NorthWest Arkansas, and we hope the first of many!

When you think of DJ's, you always think of the man in the booth spinning those wonderful phonographic masterpieces. But when you throw in beauty into the mix, you come out with something all together wonderful and amazing.

Sky Captain Genesis and the Clockwork Angels consists of talented people from across the U.S. doing exactly what they do best. Featuring the weathered and experienced talent of touring DJ, DJ Genesis, as well as the sensual beauty of the Clockwork Kitti of the Cyber Kidz Made on Marz and the magnificence of the amazing Spokerella of the Digi Dollz, these 3 come together to bring their crowds a show unlike any they have ever seen. Throughout the sets you'll hear sounds new and old and tracks that cross genres all the while accompanied by the movements of the Clockwork angels.

DJ Genesis has made a name for himself throughout the years by being a DJ who can weather any crowd and still come out on top. Coming off his Headline gig at Gothicfest 2007, DJ Genesis' sets were lauded by not only patrons, but by the bands, models and, his fellow DJ's as being cutting edge and "more energetic than they'd heard in years." Having managed clubs as well as run a statewide Promotions and Productions company, Genesis believes that he is there for one thing only, the people. His sets are always directed to his crowd and planned and designed for maximum enjoyment of everyone at whatever event he is playing. For more information on DJ Genesis and his many other varied projects, please visit his online profile at http://myspace. com/dj_genesis.

DJ AnnabelEvil started spinning in April 2001 in Kansas City. After some stops in Ohio and Pennsylvania, she now makes her home in Connecticut. She plays mainly Synthpop, Futurepop, Noise, & Electronic, but still *loves* goth music. She DJ'd at Gotham Citi for FLUX Wednesdays until April 2007 (RIP), and now has a residency at both Sinteque in NYC, and Rapture in New Haven CT. You can also see her guest at QXT's NJ. In addition to new music, she is also addicted to pastries and zombie movies. To quote Annabel: "DJing is one of the most important things in my life. It's the people on the floor that do it. To be able to make them move gives me a feeling like no other ^_^ "

In between bands, we will have the incredible music stylings of Fayetteville's own DJ Chaos Kitty Extreme. The EXTREME package also comes with the "most awesomist DJ Groupie there is." She rocks the dance floor and kicks all ass!

Friday Night

Fayetteville's own DJ Anthony Bale will provide Old School Goth Electro Industrial spun by a guy who's old enough to know better. No, really, he remembers when Ian Curtis was still alive....

DJ Azrael grew up in Chicago, IL and was introduced to the Chicago RAVE scene by age 14 which also happens to be the year he began his DJ career. Originally DJing Vinyl, he focused on Drum and Bass, Happy Hardcore, Jungle, and Chicago House. Azrael spun at Raves and Clubs around the Chicagoland and the tri-state area (IL, WI and IN) for 7 years.

Notable clubs included The Vision Night Club, Zero Gravity, and Nocturna, and a few notable Raves are Bonkers 1, Bonkers 2, Stardust, and others. In July of 2004 he sold off his vinyl and equipment and moved to Fayetteville, AR for school. Shortly after settling in Arkansas, he helped create and promote a small goth scene at The Dart Room with only a boombox and a few friends, which would eventually include End: The DJ. Thus The Dark Room was born, and this is when Azrael transitioned from Vinyl to CD/MP3 music due to cost and availability, and began to DJ more extensive music genres, including DnB, Happy Hardcore, House, Techno, Trance, Jungle, Gothic, Industrial, EBM, Psytrance, Psychedelic, and almost everything else! Now he enjoys being able to bring a wide array of danceable music for the whole crowd to enjoy. He has also been involved with a few Raves, Festivals and Industrial Nights in Arkansas, including: Soulstice '06-'08, Earthtones '08, The Dark Room 2004-2008, Neo Victoria 2009-present, Ravenwood 2008-present, and others in the surrounding states.

DJ Death Mistress first began her career bringing Northwest Arkansas its weekly dose of goth and industrial music over the radio waves at KXUA 88.3. From 1999 to 2001, every Friday night from 8 till 10, goths would gather round the the meager light of a few black candles and a radio tuned to her show, greedy to hear her mix all the classics she could find on vinyl with the new forms goth was beginning to take.

Since college radio days, Death Mistress has been involved with Masque and Veil in NWA, Kinetic and the Gothic Council in Chicago, and the zombie snuff film Johnny Sunshine: Maximum Violence.

Georges Majestic Lounge
Website
MySpace

Presale tickets are available NOW! Click here to get your tickets today!!!

Tickets will also be available at the door until further notice!

You can e-mail us for information about the event, the venue, hotels in the area, vendor space, or any other questions you might have: Ravenwood Email

	Bizzaro B. Demented is a professional Magician and likes to do odd things on stage. Open minded and the child of hippies (was it the tye dye shirt I own or the long hair that tips you off?), he's mostly just here to have fun, so watch out for the trap door. Want to know more head over to www.smappdooda.com - he's not too hard to find. He also manages Fire Cat Studios, a resource for performers and entertainers of all types on Myspace. They are not an agency, booking, talent, or otherwise; merely a place to find and contact people who have chosen to bring joy and happiness to an otherwise turbulent world.

	Ananya is a proud member of the Red Moon Bellydance Tribe in Springfield, Missouri. They have danced Tribal Style at renaissance faires, arts festivals, nightclubs, and many other public and private events in MO, AR, and KS. RMT hosts the annual events The SnakeCharmer Soiree and Hips Noir (a pre-party and gala alternative bellydance show) every October in conjunction with bellydance workshops from nationally renowned performers. This year, they will be hosting the fantabulous troupe Read My Hips! Details will be posted on the tribe's Myspace soon, meanwhile, visit redmoontribe.org and readmyhips.com!