Ah, Loufest! 2010-2017. I think its safe to say that the festival is now a thing of the past - but…read moreif it does return sometime in the next few years, go ahead and say "I told you so!". In short, it was fun while it was happened. LouFest was supposed to be one of many "smaller" music and arts festivals that would be nothing like the "big boys" (Bonnaroo, Coachella, Lollapalooza) but more of a community-based festival like the ones that were popping up all over the country. I didn't attend the first five Loufests, regretfully, but the last three years were fun for me and my friends. It seemed that it was getting bigger each year, and the lineup of artists/bands was getting better. Loufest had one of the best diverse lineups, with genres of all kinds as well as past and present acts. 2018 was supposed to have classic acts like Robert Plant and hometowner Michael McDonald, along with current artists like Kacey Musgraves, the Brothers Osborne and Gary Clark Jr. You couldn't find another great lineup nearly anyplace else.
Some of the middle-rung acts on the roster were found at some of the other festivals that year (caught some at Bonnaroo) and the headliners were very random. It was always like there was something for everyone, whether you enjoyed local goodness, Christian hip-hop or up-and-coming acts. Because of LouFest, I discovered plenty of great acts I still listen to and enjoy today (Lord Huron, Delta Rae, etc.). You had some of the best indie/alternative headliners such as TV on the Radio and Weezer, along with those that were headlining "big boy" festivals at times (LCD Soundsystem, OutKast). It was no wonder LouFest would have a sell-out attendance in recent years. People came from all around to attend this one-of-a-kind festival.
And it wasn't just about the music: it was all about supporting local small businesses - including record stores, and of course the food! It was always great to check out some of the St. Louis-area restaurants and local brews. You had it in a great location in Forest Park - up until last year when they temporarily moved it behind the Muny. It was supposed to happen again this year for different reasons.
As the old saying goes, "All good things must come to an end...". Unfortunately, it was a very sad, sudden end as it was announced three days before the 2018 festival that it was cancelled. Let me give you a little background: LouFest was going to continue into 2018, straight after the '17 one. Limited tickets were available in October of last year as well as Black Friday (me and my friend both bought ours that day). Their social media presence was alive and well up until May (the usual time when they announced the lineup). People like me got worried as there was no lineup, but finally in late June of this year, it was announced. Next came all the rumors behind all of the backstage drama. This was all about the financial part, but the people behind Loufest's social media accounts assured things were still happening on 9/8 and 9/9. Well, those rumors were put to rest on 9/5/2018.
I really don't need to get into much detail about the cause(s) of the festival's demise. That can be found anywhere online. I do believe one of the reasons the 2018 festival didn't happen was crime. Yes, the C-word that is a common cancer to the St. Louis area. Near the end of August, St. Louis' Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced she would be no longer accepting cases from 28 St. Louis police officers. Way to go, Kim. (please note the sarcasm) Coincidentally, this is around the same time the festival's main sponsors bowed out. I'm sure it wasn't just for financial purposes. Of course, the lamestream media is not going to report this.
I am glad that people did step up and support the businesses that were to participate in 2018's LouFest. I am still bummed to this day that it didn't happen and how it ended. What even stung more is that Robert Plant (while I'm glad he did perform in St. Louis) played at the Pageant and Loufest ticket holders didn't get first dibs (you know, like a lottery-type of thing...). What really should have been done was moving it to the Dome...after all, it's not like anything is going on there! But, St. Louis and logic don't usually go in the same sentence. Or common sense.