For the second time this year and the seventh time overall, metro music lovers have the chance to hear free music and peruse rock regalia at Saturday's Holiday Rock 'n' Roll Garage Sale. Formerly named the Punk Rock Garage Sale, the free event includes a slew of local bands and vendors, and has proven a great success in years' past.
"The garage sale shows started in 2002 under the auspices of the Web 'zine Oklahomapunkscene.com," said organizer Barb Hendrickson. "I promoted five of them over the next few years before retiring the Web zine. The events were always such a good time that I decided to keep putting together an annual event, and started calling it the Rock 'n' Roll Garage Sale."
Annual thus far, maybe, but 2008 saw its yearly sale in April at The Conservatory, so why again in November?
"The April show and sale this year was so successful and well-attended, vendors and audience members were clamoring for another event," Hendrickson said. "A garage sale/show around the holidays sounded like a great idea to me. It's a perfect time for vendors to make a little extra cash, attendees to Christmas and Hanukkah shop, and for bands to expose their music to a wider audience during a more accessible time of day."
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She acknowledged that planning the event has become more demanding this time around, thanks to the popularity of spring's show and the anticipated crowd for this Saturday's sale.
"With the possibility of cooler weather, I knew I needed to find a larger indoor location to host the event. The Conservatory has been incredibly generous, but we ran out of space inside and ended up setting up some of the vendors outside, which I knew wouldn't necessarily be an option in November," she said. "Chris Salyer, owner of CD Warehouse and several other Automobile Alley properties, was immediately enthusiastic about the idea of hosting the show. He's very supportive of local music and art, and has been great to work with on this event."
Where one problem is solved, another inevitably arises; at present, Hendrickson is funding the show herself, although she hopes to recoup expenses while accepting donations.
"Logistically, it has been a little trickier than the previous events, since it's being held at a non-music venue. I'll be renting a professionally run sound system to ensure a high-quality show, after various free and lower-cost options were ruled out," she said. "There will be quite a bit of work involved in getting the space ready to go, but ultimately, it's shaping up to be the biggest and best garage sale/show yet."
Hendrickson noted that there is potentially something for everyone at the affair, both musically " the roster includes local indie delights Colourmusic, Billy Joe Winghead, Traindodge, The Dirty Mugs, The Electric Primadonnas, Toil and Trouble, Psychotic Reaction and The Romantic Disaster " and for purchase, with diverse vendors selling art and rock music merchandise.
Additionally, Saturday's show will play host to a canned food drive benefiting the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Food and drinks will be provided by Galileo Bar & Grill, Iguana Mexican Grill, La Luna Mexican Cafe, Prohibition Room and Sauced. "Becky Carman
