![fresno-street-eat-Fresyes-1024x819 5 Things I Will Do at Fresyes Fest [2023]](https://i0.wp.com/thefresnan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/fresno-street-eat-Fresyes.jpg?resize=648%2C518&ssl=1)
We can debate what our biggest festivals are some other time. But it might be Fresyes Fest. Biggest or not, I PLAN on going (I don’t get out much, so I am cautious with my optimism of leaving the house for something).
Fresyes Fes is this Saturday. It is centered around the Brewery District. Streets will be blocked. Beer will be drank. Music will be played. Tacos will be eaten.
Here are five things I plan to do, maybe you can to:
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If you are on ‘Fresno Internet’, I’m sure you have seen that FresYes Fest is Saturday.
If you haven’t been before, my number one tip is to go early. It starts at 1:00 so go at 1:00! (Unless you are not broken like me and enjoy large crowds then go whenever)
I plan to stick around for Bill Clifton & The Chicken & Whiskey Band’s set there in the 3-4 mid-afternoon sweet spot, then I will have one foot out the door – time to hit the road.
Reason being, that is the time (4:30ish) when the lines really start forming. The mess starts happening. The youth begin to takeover. People from weird places like Clovis start showing up.
And that’s totally cool and stuff – I just don’t want to be there for it. My curmudgeon self won’t endure.
The only thing that might get me to stay is Joshua Tehee hosting a stage:
I can’t say I have heard of any of those bands which is totally cool because I am ready to be impressed or whatever – it has been too damn long since I’ve seen some local talent live.
I also might stay for beer – if there are no lines. Also can stay for taco variants:
But again, you gotta be there early, even for tacos.
“Where the fuck do I park!?” Like, dude, wherever. Look at the map:
Alrighty, well, it doesn’t exactly hold your hand and show you where to park but just act like you’re going to a Grizzlies game or jury duty and you’ll be fine.
But also, maybe get your Uncle to give you a ride down there and just wing it for a ride home – make an adventure out of it. One year I walked over to The Raddison and got an Uber home from there.
Anyway, it will be fun, even for grumpy dudes like me. See ya out there EARLY. ✌️?
I won’t be at Grizzly Fest on Saturday. Probably. But YOU should totally go because you are way cooler than me and deserve to treat yourself to the best music festival in Fresno. Well, best since F.U.S.E. Fest went on hiatus.
Yeah, I probably won’t make it because it’s Saturday and that means I’ll be making one worthless trip to the hardware store and a second trip to get the thing forgotten on the first trip.
I’m going to miss a lot of badassness. Fresno’s own Fashawn will be there, along with plenty of other national acts. I kinda don’t give a shit about those. I like the Fresno bands.
Some of the Fresno music will include Slow Season, Amoret, White Glove Service and one of the biggest Fresno bands of all time: 40 Watt Hype. They have a new video out, btw:
There are more Fresno acts but the two I will miss out on the most are Sagey and Wee Beasties:
Make sure you go and report back to me on social media (@thefresnan on Twitter and Instagram. trenchrun22 on Snap) and tell me all the badass sets I missed. I think I’ll be busy getting drunk while watching house paint dry.
Now please watch the most genius use of Fresno landmarks ever:
Like many of you, I was at Fresyes Fest at Tigoa Sequoia on Saturday. But I came really close to not being there. You saw that line waiting to get in, right? Yeah I saw it too. Forget that noise.
But wait. I gotta blog about something. I guess I will go stand in line and all that crap.
Plus I really like good beer. And it was THE event in Fresno this past weekend.
No it wasn’t the last two nights at Audie’s (although it was pretty epic, I hear). And it wasn’t even Easter. It was Fresyes Fest. Sorry, Jesus, it’s true.
So the main thing I noticed while in there? It wasn’t the food trucks taking up Fulton Street. Or the fine beer TS pours. Or the pro stage. It wasn’t even Swear Bear emptying cups:
Seriously though: Who the fuck were they?! And I use fuck in the sweetest way. Like, when a friend tells you their Great Uncle died last week. “Fuck. I’m sorry man.” That’s how I’m using it. Fuck can still be sweet and pack a punch. It’s versatile like that.
If you looked real close Saturday, you would have seen a few OG bloggers huddled in a shaded corner wondering where the time went. And yes, also still wondering who the fuck these people are.
That’s right, children. Fig Gig. It… it was something to go to. Technically. And we didn’t have to worry about lines or choices of beer. Sanger Light Bud Light and Bud Ice anyone?
Now you have FresYes Fest. And Grizzly Fest and Whatever Is Happening This Weekend Fest. I think Fresno is doing pretty damn good in the festival department now. Even if I don’t know WHO THE FUCK anybody is at these things.
You don’t know how good you have it, you Fresno Millennials. You have a downtown to be pumped about and a thriving festival scene. There used to be just Bud Light and caution tape.
It's probably a good sign when you are tired after a music festival. Nobody is ever tired after having a boring time. Such is the case the day after FUSE Fest 2012. We're very tired.
There were a lot of cool moments this year: Being moved by the rock of Sparklejet. Discovering Alana Hill has an amazing voice. Seeing Kat Jones reconnect with her Fresno fans. People tripping out on the robot that is Collecto. Light Thieves wowing F55:
Werebear tearing it up the Lampost:
People on Iron Bird Loft balconies enjoying Blake Jones:
Our last Fresno Urban Sound Experience 'post takeover' is the biggest. A special Bandgeek with all the info you need to enjoy the festival this weekend with links to the venues and band websites.
Come out early and stay late. It's a total geek-out for fans of live and local music. It's FUSE FEST!!:
FRIDAY
IRON BIRD LOFTS (All Ages)
7:30 So Long Williamsburg
8:30 Blake Jones & the Trike Shop
9:30 Boxcar Figaro
FULTON 55 (Main Stage) 21+
7:00 Alana Shap Hill
8:00 Actress
9:00 Light Thieves
10:00 Sparklejet
11:00 Collecto
FULTON 55 (Coffeehouse Stage – upstairs) 21+
7:30 Karen Marguth
8:30 Siren Singing
9:30 Kat Jones
10:30 Fatty Cakes
THE LAMPOST (21+)
10:30 Your Hero Is A Villain
11:30 Werebear
12:30 Dislodic
SATURDAY
CMAC (Inside Old Fresno Met building) “Studio Stage” (All Ages)
4:30 Gayle and The Bowties
5:30 Danielle Rondero
6:30 College Kids
7:30 Art By Numbers
8:30 Lezayr
9:30 American Sanchez
CMAC “Outdoor Stage” (All Ages)
5:00 I Do Not Exist
6:00 Before Perils
7:00 Distrito Torre
8:00 B-Rawcity
9:00 [surprise band]
FISHBOWL – Warnors Theatre Marque (ALL AGES)
6:30 Aesop Fables
7:30 Strawberry Jam
8:30 Cinco
9:30 It’ll Grow Back
FRANK’S PLACE (21+)
7:00 The Dirty Stomp
8:00 Back In The Valley
9:00 Basura
10:00 Patrick Contreras
FRESNO BREWING COMPANY (All Ages)
6:30 Restaurnaut
7:30 The Overdubs
8:30 Brother Luke & the Comrades
9:30 Achievement House
TOKYO GARDEN (21+)
10:00 Niilo Smeds
11:00 Sunburns
12:00 General Populus
1:00 Ornery Ones
TICKETS
Festival Pass is $20 (gets you into every venue and stage for both days).
Day Pass is $15 (gets you into every venue and stage for one day).
Venue Pass is $5 to $10 (Fulton 55), depending on venue. Good for one venue.
Tickets will be available at the Fulton 55 box office starting now. BRING CASH! They will also be available at most venues throughout the festival…did we mention to BRING CASH! You want to have some cash for band merch too!
PARKING
There is free street parking throughout the Cultural Arts District (or
Mural Town!! if you prefer) and at city lots around the Fulton Mall.
(Parking meter spots are free on weekends and evenings)
RANDOM
The official Twitter hashtag being used is #fusefest
Check the Facebook event page and invite some folks! There's a lot of samples from FUSE Fest artists poping up there too.
FOOD
Eating at FUSE Fest is recommended at Iron Bird Cafe, Tokyo Garden and Fresno Brewing Company. Dusty Buns will be on the Fulton Mall (in front of Fresno Brewing Company) on Saturday night.
DRINKING
On Friday: Fulton 55 and The Lamp Post. On Saturday: Frank's Place, Fresno Brewing Company and Tokyo Garden. Iron Bird Cafe both nights for excellent coffee and tea.
GET THERE EARLY! The set times aren't like normal set times that are "suggested". It STARTS at 7pm on Friday and 4:30 on Saturday (Music Gods willing).
The Central California's biggest LOCAL music festival. Come out and kick ass with everyone.