3rd annual XRA-Fest to showcase local bands

One week after the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, fans of local, up-and-coming artists now have a festival of their own to look forward to.

XRA-Fest 2010 will showcase bands on the Crossroads of America Records label as well as other local talents.

The third annual festival begins at 8:30 p.m. Friday at Russian Recording and continues at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Bishop.

Band members in husband&wife, which plays Saturday, started XRA Records in 2006 to bolster the credibility of their second album, “operation:surgery”.

“We thought it would be easier to get the album reviewed just if it had the label name on it,” said Tim Felton, the band’s guitarist and one of its singers.

The label soon became an outlet for friends with bands of their own.

The first XRA-Fest was more of a barbecue, Felton said, with bands playing acoustic songs on the back porch of his house. The second festival and this upcoming one are “far more legit,” Felton said.

For the first time, XRA-Fest will have bands from other labels as well. Aaron Bragg, a singer and guitarist for Osteoferocious, became involved with XRA Records through the label’s subscription series, Laminar Excursion Monthly. 

Twice monthly, the label mails a three-inch CD filled with about 20 minutes of exclusive music to subscribers. All of XRA Records’ bands are featured, as well as bands such as Osteoferocious, which belongs to Flannelgraph Records, another
local label. 

Bryant Fox, who plays bass for husband&wife and guitar for Alexander the Great, has high hopes for the festival. Alexander the Great will be playing new music at their first concert in more than four months, and husband&wife are playing a requests-only set.

This year’s festival promises great bands and great music, although, no barbecue.