Krazy Fest (originally stylized as Krazy✻Fest!) was an American music festival hosted in Louisville, Kentucky. It ran annually from 1998 to 2003, with a one-off comeback in 2011. The first three editions were held during Memorial Day Weekend in mid-late May. From 2001 to 2003, it was held between mid-June to early August.
The event was first organized by Scott Ritcher (then-vocalist of Metroschifter) and Andy Rich, both co-owners the emotional hardcore record label Initial Records, in partnership with Jason Noble, then-vocalist of Shipping News, and Mark Brickey, then-vocalist of The Enkindels. Noble and Brickey were also involved with Initial Records in various functions. Ryan Patterson, senior vice-president of Initial Records, came on board in 2001. As such, the festival principally showcased emotional hardcore bands (including many signed to Initial Records), but also included melodic hardcore, post-hardcore, punk rock, hardcore punk, metalcore and indie rock acts.
While in its seventh year's planning in early 2004, Patterson announced to the press that the festival would be postponed from its usual spring or summer date to later in the fall. Patterson stated that the issue rose from the lack of availability of headlining bands and the increased cost of getting bands to play the festival. Initial Records also became defunct around the same time. In late 2004, a VHS/DVD of Krazy Fest 4 and 5 was announced but never released.
After receiving Rich's blessing in 2010, new promoter Andrew Tinsley (formerly of Endpoint) brought back Krazy Fest for Memorial Day Weekend in 2011. Tinsley hoped to bring back the festival in 2012 but was unable to due to scheduling conflicts.
Krazy Fest lineups by year
May 29–31, 1998: Krazy✻Fest!
Location: Brewery Thunderdome.
Notes: The festival was originally to take place at Stage Door Johnnies in Louisville, Kentucky, but it was moved to the Brewery Thunderdome. The split CD between Metroschifter and Shipping News was released at the event. Due to an electrical storm and a subsequent power outage on the evening of Sunday May 31, headlining bands Superchunk and Shipping News were not able to perform. Two bands did not perform on Saturday May 30 due to one breaking up and another breaking down in Pennsylvania; one of the bands that played on Friday May 29 was asked to play a second set on Saturday to compensate.
Friday May 29th
Apocalypse Hoboken
Grade
Silent Majority
The Enkindels
The Suicide Machines
Saturday May 30th
Automatic
BoySetsFire
Buried Alive
Coalesce
Converge
Speak 714
Snapcase
Ten Yard Fight
Today Is the Day
Torn Apart
Sunday May 31st
Elliott
Empire State Games
Jejune
King for a Day
Metroschifter
Shipping News
Superchunk
Uzeda
May 21–23, 1999: Krazy✻Fest 1999!
Location: The Belvedere.
Notes: Cave In did not perform due to a van fire earlier in its tour. Ink & Dagger was scheduled to perform, but did not show up.
Friday May 21st
H2O
Kill Your Idols
Out
The Enkindels
The Get Up Kids
Saves the Day
Saturday May 222nd
Braid
Buried Alive
Burn It Down
Cave In
Fastbreak
Jejune
My Own Victim
Shai Hulud
Sick of It All
Silent Majority
Snapcase
Zao
Sunday May 23rd
Elliott
Jimmy Eat World
Le Shok
Metroschifter
Red Sun
Sarge
Shipping News
The Jazz June
Victory at Sea
May 19–21, 2000: Krazy Fest 3 K2K
Location: The Belvedere.
Notes: In addition to Initial Records, the festival was also sponsored by eMusic. The Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Dimitri Minakakis injured audience members by swinging his microphone chord during the band's set and hitting people in the face with the microphone. The festival was announced as By the Grace of God's final show, though the band would perform one more show at the BRYCC House a few weeks later.