I'd like to add that the show at the Bug Jar, with Hinkley and the tribute to Neutral Milk Hotel, had a stellar turnout. The place was packed to the brim, everyone had an awesome time, and both bands were extremely well received. The boulder coffee shows both went well, and it was pretty clear across the board and with everyone I met - especially the 18-25 year old crowd - that this festival has a bright future and just needs to either bring in headliners to German House or accept that the venue is too large and far out of touch with Rochester's young audience.

Have to agree with Ben. It was PACKED at the Bug Jar. The Neutral Milk Hotel tribute was unreal. Absolutely amazing.

This fest could certainly use a rethinking of the venue choices, other than that I thought it went over very well, would love to see it continue and grow. And I will third the comment about the Bug Jar being packed and energized.

So it was packed at the Bug Jar for a tribute to "the Neutral Milk Hotel". Ya...they were a very cool band back in the day but isn't it ironic that the biggest draw at a Rochester Indie Fest is "a cover act."...oh...excudse me...a tribute.....pathetic... Maybe next year they could have a "Cure" cover band...um...i mean tributecband for the old hipsters and an "mgmt" tribute band for the cool college kids............

With the Bug Jar show Saturday, there were definitely multiple factors at play that I saw. Yes - the fact that its a cover of a more well known artist drew. However, seeing the faces in the crowd, many of them were loyal Walri fans, friends of the bands, performers from other acts, people who were there for Hinkley (it was packed well before their set even started), and people who were there for the mere fact that it was a Saturday night at the Bug Jar. People knew that it would be a great social event beyond just the music, because it was a good indie venue and they could hang out with everyone who's been playing and attending the rest of the festival. Thus in that model, the festival should think about which venues have a built in crowd, what time those venues get busy, and how to make those events more social. Both times at Boulder were decently well attended - they were at the right time. The first show at the Bug Jar (Coach Phase & Cavalcade) was empty because they went on soo early (a shame, the Coach Phase was awesome). A venue like the German House is awkwardly sized and generally out of touch with the scene, so for them to come there they really need a big reason to go - aka a headliner.