Feature photo by Matthew Olson
Story by Matthew Olson
In an annual celebration of creativity and community, punks and hipsters alike will take to the streets on bicycles for Boro Fondo, a three-day music and art festival, from Sept. 27-29.
Organizers are expanding this year’s Fondo to three full days of music. They’re aiming for a larger biker crowd and more volunteers to help escort the cyclists through each day’s path. The festival will focus more on the music and art rather than the more offbeat events they’ve had in the past like blood wrestling and bicycle jousting.
The Boro Fondo committee has fewer financial concerns this year thanks to the support of sponsors. Sound Hog will provide audio equipment while Recyclops assists with recycling and trash services.
One ongoing problem for Boro Fondo is securing the venues. In the festival’s early years, Murfreesboro’s population included an abundance of urban youth willing to host live music in their rental homes — not just during Boro Fondo, but all year long. Several factors have led to fewer renters willing to open their living rooms as a haven for partying and free expression. The city began to crack down on the noise ordinance, the average price of rent went through the ceiling and Murfreesboro’s rapid growth increased gentrification.
Ethan Rose is the longest-running committee member at this point. Rose moved to Murfreesboro in 2010, when he was able to rent a three-bedroom apartment for $600.
Rose plays in multiple bands, including Black Market Kidney Surgeon and Toxic Culture. He knows firsthand that everyone involved in the festival is doing beautifully despite how difficult it is to stay on track.
“Well, if you’ve ever met a musician or an artist at any time,” Rose said, “You should know that trying to coordinate several hundred of them to do anything structured, and financially or having to do with money, is a monumental effort.”
Musician Josh Hellvig has played Fondo every year since the beginning. He’ll be performing with Casual Sects, along with Jack Brunson. Brunson’s business, Jack’s Guitarology, is another Boro Fondo sponsor. From Hellvig’s point of view, he’s seen every iteration of the scene. Boro Fondo used to attract crowds of avant-garde hipsters before becoming the garage rock and punk influence that it is today.
“Riding around, I see way more studs nowadays,” Hellvig said.
Rock band Aye Mammoth has participated in five Fondo festivals since 2016 and will return for their sixth this year. Like many artists, Aye Mammoth sees the festival’s mobility as a standout feature. Moving across various locations and venues provides a dynamic experience for performers and attendees.
“Each year we’ve played Fondo has improved on the year before,” Aye Mammoth vocalist Micah Loyd said. “It’s always a great time playing with such a variety of acts and genres that only an event like Fondo can allow. Fondo also has a very close-knit community vibe that I’m not sure always comes across at other festivals and events.”
Thankfully, the spirit of Boro Fondo is still alive. Many of the house venues open themselves up for this one time a year — after communicating with their neighbors, of course. Local businesses like Crying Cat Books and Records are joining Fondo for the first time.
“I don’t know about expectations, but we definitely hope that Fondo will introduce a new audience to Crying Cat,” owner Terri Delong said. “We hope to meet lots of cool new people and show this awesome community what we have to offer.”
One of the key aspects contributing to the festival’s appeal is the presence of vendors displaying visual art, handmade goods and more. Artist E. Roy Lee is a regular vendor. This year he’ll be selling his artwork, a mix of parody memes, pop art and black light art at a stop called the Wak Shack on Fourth Avenue. Lee’s expectations for Boro Fondo are reasonable:
“I would say if I could buy my beers for the evening then I’m usually pretty happy.”
For more information on Boro Fondo 2024, visit BoroFondoFest.org
Matthew Olson is a Reporter for MTSU Sidelines
To contact the Lifestyles Editor, email lifestyles@mtsusidelines.com.
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