Gaytheist will be there (Image via ‘Mo-Wave)

‘Mo-Wave, a new music festival highlighting the rebellious, trendsetting, and wild side of queer culture is coming to Capitol Hill April 12-14th. The brainchild of Jodi Ecklund of Chop Suey, Pony’s Marcus Wilson, musician Seth Garrison, and composer Barret Anspach, the festival aims to shake up safe, mainstream ideas of homosexuality.

“We organizers come from a school of homosexuality that’s a bit rowdy and rock-and-roll, and we think our festival will remind you that this school is alive and well,” organizers tell CHS. They hope to curate and encourage queer-centric music and art that challenges and inspires at venues across the Hill.

---

The performances will take place at Chop Suey, Pony, and Wildrose. One of the goals is to simply highlight these venues.

“Queer friendly (or just outright GAY), these places invest in our culture daily, by giving us all safe spaces in which to meet and share our talents,” writes Ecklund. Many notable Hill acts are already booked, such as the electro-pop duo Glitterbang, sultry dream pop quartet Night Cadet, and art-punk trio Ononos, to name a few. Look for more announcements — it’s early, yet.

This is a DIY festival and the organizers are raising money to pay the headliners by throwing benefit fundraisers. The next show will be February 7th at Wildrose. Featuring live music from FDB & Agatha with DJ Porq, Amateur Youth, & DJ FistFight, organizers are asking for a suggested donation of $5-10. Expect drink specials.

The goal is for 2013 to be the first of many ‘Mo-Waves. The organizers would like to become an institution akin to the now defunct Homo A Gogo. The intention is for there to be many future events under the ‘Mo-Wave brand.

“We want the spirit of the festival–that rowdy, infectious and rebellious queer spirit that we know and love–to inhabit events throughout the year,” Ecklund tells us. 

The April festival should be part of a good year for Hill-based music extravaganzas including the broadening-if-not-expanding 2013 Capitol Hill Block Party.

For those looking to get involved, ‘Mo-Wave is on the hunt for volunteers.

“When the festival comes, we’re gonna need lots of homos and allies to help us keep things running,” the organizers write. They are also still in the market for sponsors and partners, as well as videographers and photographers to document the event. Lots of opportunities for interested parties. Here’s your chance to be part of it.

You can learn more at mowaveseattle.com.

Magic Mouth (Image vis ‘Mo-Wave)