Fresno Famous

To: Music lovers, downtownphiles, urban adventurers, et al
Re: Fresno Urban Sound Experience
You are a week and a day out from the second year of Fresno’s ultimate music festival and there are some things you need to know.

One, it’s officially no longer the F.U.S.E. Festival. That name apparently belongs to FUSEtv to use in conjunction with the Bonnaroo Festival. This is according to some lawyer-style documents the company provided.

So, until a new name is chosen (and feel free to throw out some ideas) it’s the Fresno Urban Sound Experience, year two.
Or, Re: FUSE.

The event, started by Creative Fresno and sponsored by the Downtown Association, will kick off with a pre-party 8 p.m. Oct. 2 at Full Circle Brewing Co., and get into full swing at 4 p.m. the following evening at several downtown venues. For a complete list of venues, visit www.fusefest.com.

Now, if you’re really interested in attending you’ll need to:

* Make a decision. Right now, you need to decide this is something you want to do. Forget all the things that might keep you away and decide that your plans for Oct. 2 and 3 will include time for this. Decide that you will find parking. You will get over your fear of being shot/mugged/panhandled. You will pay your $15 and you will be downtown after dark and you will have fun and yes, that is very much OK.

* Make a plan. Stat wise, the festival is a crazy endeavor. Forty-plus bands and DJs playing every hour for seven or so hours. You won’t be able to see it all. So, following the Rogue Festival model, you’ll need to prioritize. Check the schedule online and decide where you want to be and when.

* That said, you can see your favorite band next time. This time, pick three bands you’ve never seen. If they’re crap, you can wait it out, or move on to the next venue. No one will be offended.
If they’re great, just let them know.

Famous picks Basura (playing the after-party at Tokyo Garden), Dale Stewart and Strange Vine.

* Be a patron. This is not just about the music. It’s also about a vision of what our downtown can be. It’s about those things that will bring you all back — the food, the drinks and the atmosphere. So mingle. Consume. Eat, drink and be merry, and at the end of the night, file it all away in your memory bank.
Then, make an effort to get back.

I am on the committee to help make this happen.