20 Athens bands are on the lineup for 'one more hurrah' to honor SlopFest founder

From well-known and well-attended to new and ambitious, Athens has seen a renewed flourish of music and cultural festivals over the past year as COVID-19 restrictions have eased. SlopFest, a three-day series of indoor concerts featuring 20 local bands, will make its big return this weekend, but for a bittersweet reason.

Beginning Thursday and continuing through Saturday, the 11th annual SlopFest is scheduled to take place at Little Kings Shuffle Club (223 W. Hancock Ave.) downtown. The shows will mark the first SlopFest since 2019, and the first without festival founder Derek Wiggs, who passed away in October.

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As a testament to Wiggs' hard work and dedication, a group of the Athens musician's friends and supporters formed a crew to handle the duties involved in SlopFest 2023. The list of organizers includes Caitlin Gal, Graham Shirley, T Silva, Lindsey Roper, Max Talkovich and Chris McNeil with community assistance provided by Ed Edderson and Count Zapula. Roper told the Banner-Herald that this year's event is "one more hurrah in the name of Derek."

Described by the SlopFest crew as "humble in every aspect," Wiggs preferred to stay out of the spotlight and didn't seek praise or recognition for the fact that the proceeds for the festival always went to charity. When Wiggs founded SlopFest in 2009, he tried to give all the show's earnings to the Humane Society, but they wouldn't accept cash. Since 2010 and including this year's Slopfest, the money made from the concerts goes to We Rock Athens (formerly Girls Rock Athens).

Though Wiggs considered ending SlopFest after its initial 10-year run, Roper said that the founder changed his mind after seeing how much the festival meant to people, and that its existence was the embodiment of Wiggs' love for and commitment to Athens music. "(Wiggs) wanted people to care about Athens bands," Shirley told the Banner-Herald.

Here's a look at which artists are on the lineup for Slopfest 11. Tickets are available at $12 for a single-day pass or $32 for the weekend at slopfest-109730.square.site/tickets. Little Kings Shuffle Club is located at 223 W. Hancock Ave. and admission is for ages 21 and up.

Thursday, July 27

Danger Bucket - 6 p.m.Hunger Anthem - 6:30 p.m.Nuclear Tourism (Lite) - 7:30 p.m.Bursters - 8:30 p.m.Mr. Clit and the Pink Cigarettes - 9:15 p.m.Infinite Favors - 10:15 p.m.Deejay set by DJ Lozo and Lord Bitter

Friday, July 28

Clavus - 7:30 p.m.Real Wow - 8 p.m.Gorgeous Beast - 8:45 p.m.Multiple Miggs - 9:15 p.m.Coma Therapy - 10 p.m.Naw - 10:45 p.m.Weaponized Flesh - 11:30 p.m.Deejay set by DJ Reindeer Games

Saturday, July 29

Small Beige Girl - 6:30 p.m.Donkey Punch - 7:30 p.m.Rubber Udder - 8:15 p.m.McQueen - 9 p.m.Pervert - 10 p.m.The Sporrs - 10:45 p.m.Vincas - 11:15 p.m.Deejay set by DJ Mahogany

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens bands gather for three-day concert to honor SlopFest founder