Gainesville embodies change. In its racially segregated history, through its rebel organizers and within its forward-thinking businesses, the Gainesville community is rooted in perpetual transformation.
This year’s frank gathering recognizes the essence of this evolution with the first-ever Changeville Festival, a two-day music and art event that bridges distinct mediums.
Against the backdrop of downtown coffee shops, late-night venues and theatrical monuments, frank unites musicians, filmmakers, performers and developers employing unique storytelling skills that elevate social consciousness.
Changeville acknowledges the unbridled power of expression to fuel movements. Whether it’s sparking a conversation, creating an idea for innovation, or holding space for a simple moment of solidarity, Changeville abounds with purpose and passion.
Engage with carefully selected content, connect with like-minded individuals and explore downtown like never before. Here’s a taste of what Changeville has to offer:
Sounds of Social Awareness
Music is a major component of Changeville. Festival organizers scheduled a collection of local and national acts, each fighting for different causes.
Hurray for the Riff Raff, 11:45 p.m. @ The Wooly
Rising Americana darlings Hurray for the Riff Raff headline The Wooly, bringing a satin-smooth sound to downtown. The New Orleans-bred band layers soulful vocals over bluesy folk, revealing the group’s intimate relationship with politics. Lead singer Alynda Segarra softly coaxes the audience to direct their attention toward gun violence, gender issues and so much more. The simple yet stirring tracks deeply connect with a diverse audience of individuals.
“Whether it’s the queer community or some freight train-riding kids or some older guys who love classic country, a lot of folks feel like mainstream culture isn’t directed at them,” Segarra said. “We’re for those people.”
Jacksonville’s livetronic-psych-pop group Tomboi will open the show at 9:45 p.m., followed by Gainesville’s own alternative country act Wax Wings at 10:45 p.m. Both bands work to reduce discrimination against LGBT+ communities and inspire young women to pick up an instrument and learn to play. Chelsea Carnes of Wax Wings currently directs the Gainesville Girls Rock Camp.
The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle, 11:30 p.m. @ High Dive
The Mountain Goats’ lead singer John Darnielle headlines High Dive with a solo performance.
Darnielle worked as a psychiatric nurse, equipping him with a firsthand understanding of mental illness. His songs, more akin to short stories, delve into dark corners of the mind as he references a childhood riddled with abuse. Named “100 Best Living Songwriters,” Darnielle melds literature, religion and history with modern-day commentary alongside iconic folk sounds and frenzied shouts. He’s also a feminist and vegan.
“Everybody is in various states of needing to transcend something,” Darnielle said in an interview. “I believe in mental health care, but when we call people ‘crazy,’ we exclude them from our circle.”
High Dive’s show will start with performances from Gainesville locals IL GATO at 9:30 p.m. and Flat Land at 10:30 p.m. IL GATO’s music has been featured in the domestic abuse documentary “Crime after Crime,” and Flat Land spearheads the youth music education charity Future Music Makers.
Dr. Sinn’s Freak Island Musical Sideshow, 10:15 p.m. @ Market Street Pub
The Freak Island Musical Show is a once-in-a-lifetime burlesque experience. Creating a carnivalesque feel that mixes comedy, miming, aerial performance and much more, Dr. Sinn’s sideshow breaks the boundaries of what society deems beautiful.
The Market Street Pub event begins at 9 p.m. with a number of local comedians who expertly use humor to discuss current issues.
Films That Make You Feel
Music inspires movement, but films can truly make you feel. Changeville offers six thought-proking documentaries that will transform the way you see race, veteran’s affairs, education, sexual abuse and the environment.
Spotlight
Sundance spectacular Spotlight is situated in the heart of Boston, where no one questions the Catholic Church. Starring an award-winning cast comprised of Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Michael Keaton and Liev Schreiber, Spotlight allows the audience to join in as the Boston Globe investigates and exposes the church’s systematic cover-up of sexual abuse.
Charles Bradley: Soul of America
Watching Charles Bradley bust out his best at the Bo Diddley Plaza opening ceremony will undoubtedly lead to some questions. Who is this 67-year-old man? How is it possible that he can still do a split? Who designed his black mesh wardrobe?
Get to know Bradley better by following his performance with Soul of America, a documentary that trails the funk-soul singer as he releases his first album at the ripe age of 65. The film retraces his rough upbringing and captures pivotal behind-the-scenes moments expressing the true character of man who couldn’t be more deserving of fame.
Racing Extinction
When New York Times film critic Jeannette Catsoulis described Racing Extinction, she wrote “Contrasting the ugliness of destruction with the beauty of its victims is the film’s core aesthetic.”
Racing Extinction presents environmental degradation from a different angle, focusing less on climate warming and more on species exploitation. The film creates an impactful expose that sheds new light on the Earth’s most misused creatures, dismembered and destroyed by society’s craving for animal-based food and medicine.
Be sure to check out trailers for Changeville’s presentation of 3 ½ Minutes, Nontraditional and The Bad Kids. Films will be screened at the historic Hippodrome Theater on Thursday and Friday followed by a panel of speakers leading discussions.
Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences
Interact with history through Empathetic Media’s state-of-the-art virtual reality technology. Virtual reality experiences will be offered from 7 to 10 p.m. at Volta Cafe.
Ferguson Firsthand
The shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown shocked the nation. Ferguson Firsthand recreates the August 2014 event that triggered a series of demonstrations in Missouri, allowing the experiencer to investigate evidence that led to the decision not to indict. It’s up to you to interview eyewitnesses and determine the guilt of the white policeman who fatally shot Brown.
I Survived
An experience that safely situates listeners in the heat of Colombia, I Survived shifts the perception of violence abroad. Participants learn from a former soldier, paramilitary force and civilian victim, restructuring the understanding of the brutal, decades-long Colombian conflict.
Here’s a visual of the schedule to help you get pumped!
All-access passes to move through each venue are available for purchase.
All photos courtesy of Changeville.us
Snag a ticket at Eventbrite.
