HoZac's Blackout Fest RETURNS!

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 7, 2011 7:00PM

Via their electronic newsletter,HoZac Records, the former 'zine turned neo-garage-rock label, announced the full lineup for its Chicago Blackout Fest. The two-day event showcasing the label's best bands will take place for the first time in five years on May 27 and 28.

Notable acts include bunny-bedecked wild man Nobunny and original Chicago prank-punkers Tutu & The Pirates. Also set to make the fest memorable are up-and-coming HoZac acts like: Philly-based lo-fi duo Reading Rainbow; Radar Eyes, Heavy Times, and Outer Minds, three excellent representatives of Chicago's burgeoning garage-rock scene; and our favorites Mickey, who'll be releasing their debut album, Rock'n Roll Dreamer, on the festival's first night.

Ticket prices are currently unknown, but Blackout Fest will be held at the made-up sounding Logan Square venue Velvet Periniem, described in the newsletter as "Chicago's nastiest yet most sophisticated ballroom." So it's more than just a clever name!

Regardless of the fact that the Velvet Periniem sounds like a rejected concept for R. Kelly's upcoming album, and not like an actual place, Hozac will release 250 "golden tickets" that'll get patrons into the fest at a discounted price. Then, another 250 full-price tickets will be released. A link at the end of the newsletter sent readers over to the Empty Bottle's web site for tickets. Velvet Periniem, my foot.

Here's the full lineup:

Friday 5/27
The Spits
The Brides
K-Holes
TV Ghost
The Happy Thoughts
Mickey
Squish

Saturday 5/28:
Nervous Eaters
Nobunny
Tutu & the Pirates
Timmy's Organism
Puffy Areolas
Idle Times
Reading Rainbow
People's Temple
Heavy Times
Radar Eyes
Outer Minds
Nones

Also worth noting: On May 26, there will be a free Art Show/Blackout opening party at...sigh...the Velvet Taint Perineum, featuring works by Ponys drummer Nathan Jerde, Timmy Vulgar and Mac Blackout.