Over the course of its first five years, JORTSFEST worked its way into something of an Atlanta DIY institution. What began as an annual salute to the popular denim attire and a sendoff to summer transformed into something far more laudable. Bolstered by its motto—“Always free. Always all ages. Always accessible.”—the festival became a model for inclusivity. This drive for diversity was reflected not only in the festival’s wide array of artists and musical genres, but also in its commitment to creating an environment that was intentionally open to all.
In 2018, however, JORTSFEST was forced into a hiatus after the Mammal Gallery, the festival’s home since 2016, announced they could no longer hold events in their space. Rather than scramble to locate a new venue, organizers Maria Sotnikova and Carter Sutherland decided to take the year off in order to focus on the future of the festival and how best to further its mission. After considerable reflection, they decided the best way forward was to return to their roots. This meant rethinking every element of the festival—from the construction of the lineup to how the event should be funded.
“This year we decided to go back to the basics and focus on booking a wide variety of musicians on one cohesive bill,” Sotnikova explains. “We also wanted to shift our focus from crowdfunding to fundraising by hosting community events. In the process, we partnered with other arts organizations like Write Club Atlanta, held jorts making parties, and booked concerts to raise money for JORTSFEST 2019.”
Despite their efforts, however, JORTSFEST remains slightly short of its projected goal. As a result, Sutherland and Sotnikova recently launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the remaining production costs. As of this morning, the campaign remained just $70 short from completion, so it’s probably safe to say the festival will be able to secure its funding before opening its doors on Aug. 24.
As for the lineup, this year’s bill maintains the sharp focus on musical diversity that has made JORTSFEST such a dynamic event in the past. From Dimestore’s arty sound collages to Allen Thomas’ expansive hip-hop to Identikit’s whimsical jazz excursions to floral print’s shapeshifting rock and emo, the 2019 performers are united in their willingness to assume creative risks and cut across musical boundaries.
Still, even with full funding and a wide-ranging bill, JORTSFEST would not be able move forward without just the right venue partner. With accessibility as a core pillar of its mission, the event is faced with considerable barriers that need to be removed before the show can go on. This means not only finding a venue that is willing to allow an all ages event, but also one that is accessible by public transit and is ADA compliant. Finding a partner that meets all these requirements is far more difficult than it would seem, which is why the Mammal Gallery’s former downtown location on South Broad Street was so crucial to JORTSFEST’s success. But it’s often said that luck comes to those who look after it, and such was the case when Sotnikova and Sutherland discovered their 2019 home in the form of Peters Street Station, a community arts and events space located in the Castleberry Hill Arts District.
“We got really lucky!” Sotnikova exclaims. “A friend of Carter’s happened to have played a show there and really enjoyed it. We were particularly attracted by the proximity of public transportation to the space before even seeing it. Once we finally got a chance to visit, I personally felt such a sense of ‘home’ in the space that I was instantly sold. We’re hopeful that others feel as welcome when they attend JORTSFEST.”
JORSFEST 2019 goes down Sat., Aug. 24 at Peters Street Station. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is FREE. All ages.
More Info
Web: jortsfest.com
Facebook: @jortsfest
Instagram: @jortsfestATL
Twitter: @jortsfestATL