This is Mike and I from last year's Northside Festival.

After a year of patiently and impatiently awaiting the follow up to one of last year’s best events, L Magazine’s Northside Festival returns to Brooklyn (June 24-27), spanning multiple venues throughout Greenpoint and Williamsburg. I covered the event last year for Consequence of Sound since the Whiskey Dregs project was still in its infancy but I swore that the following year, we’d report it our own site.

A festival? you may ask. Yes, it isn’t in our usual repertoire and it won’t be but this one’s different. The event features many of our local bands, including those who have reached notoriety from other cities across the country. It’s Brooklyn’s answer to SXSW in both style and form.

How are we going to do this with only two writers on the press list? Besides “very carefully,” we’ll post Twitter and Facebook updates, daily commentary and photos so you feel like you’re there in the pit with us. By pit, I mean that beautiful green press room with all of those free beers and good tunes on a small radio.

The event continues its heavy schedule of bands, including many who performed last year such as Dinosaur Feathers, La Strada, and Savoir Adore. What’s new this time around is the film festival hosted by IFC Films, Rooftop Films, and L Magazine itself as well as art galleries throughout northern BK.

If you’re feeling really frisky for all the music you can get, be sure to check out their $50.00 deal, which gives you access to most of the shows (a lot of great ones too).

Be sure to check out the schedule here.

Coverage from last year’s event here and here (courtesy of Consequence of Sound).

I will add this last part…OK, maybe two or three last parts.

1) Everything is set for Saturday. Just show up and we’ll be cool.

2) I’m DJing at Dubai:Brooklyn on Sunday from 7AM-10AM. It’s in the events section. Look, look, LOOK!

3) I’m pretty sure that the after party is going to be at Hell Gate Social Club. It’s a great place that is host to many interesting events in Astoria.

4) I can’t sleep.

5) I’m posting the most personal piece I’ve ever done next week. Don’t make fun of it. This is like tightrope walking across the Twin Towers. It’s that personal but if I’m going to champion honest writing I might as well be the first to dive in and tell every one that the water is shallow and that they could break their necks if they go in head first. Hopefully you won’t break mine.

OK, so there was 5. Big deal. Thanks for reading, friends, family and foes. I know you’re out there reading. I saw the stats. Thanks for the support. This has been a very big month for The Whiskey Dregs. I leave for vacation to Puerto Rico in a few weeks and I will most certainly need it. One good look into my eyes and the bloodshot tributaries (yes, tributaries) will lead you to a flooded mind that is finding difficulty doing one of the things I love – writing. This better be worth it or I will kick myself in the ass for it later.

I swear…

Buenos noches caballeros y caballeras,

Carlos Detres

Friend to small animals

I spoke with Justin this morning and he informed me that we acquired a new sponsor. More info on who they are will be posted later but either way – this is good news. As I’ve learned from this event and past ones that I’ve been involved with, they are expensive. Yes, sir/ma’am, they are but when it comes together (as they always do), it’s worth it. We’ll also have t-shirts available at the event so support the cause and buy one. I’ll find out the price later tonight.

On The Whiskey Dregs front…I’ll be running some kind of marathon this weekend and I don’t mean running for a trillion miles. I’m calling this weekend my Rockstar Weekend. Friday night, going out with my friends to celebrate my birthday then we’re off to Saturday and the glorious festival that it will be. MC Astoria Music Now! the whole day. Then the after-party. After the after-party, I’m leaving to go to Brooklyn to DJ at another after-party from 7AM-10AM and then I’m sure there will be a lot of hijinx taking place after that. *If anyone cares to join me on this strange quest, email me. I’ll need a motivator. I’m training myself for this, guys.

At the end of all of this, I have to wonder…what the f*%k is The Whiskey Dregs really about? My current explanation is that it’s the creative process of living, expressing and sharing with others our experiences that make up the sweet sections of life. Sounds good?

Again, I have to thank Justin, Evelyn and every one else involved for this opportunity. They’re really pulling together for this special event and it’s cool that they have allowed me to be a part of it. A HUGE thanks to them.

Peace out on PCP,

Carlos Detres

*wanna party with me? email here cdetres@gmail.com

Justin, Evelyn and I have joined together for something really amazing. I know this sounds like bs but seriously, I feel pretty honored to come in and do whatever I can with this baby they have created. I am also really glad and excited that they’re allowing me to MC this thing. I’m writing notes on what to say, do, considering which friends I can embarrass and what info I will divulge. It is July 21st with only a few days left and the fan in my living room is blowing the hot air around.

I won’t write much in this post but I do want to say that there is a feeling – Justin, Eveylyn and Chris have this too – that something is going on in this community of ours. The Whiskey Dregs have only been publicly active for a few months and so much has happened – so much more to come.

I want to thank all of you for being a part of this experience. Even if you just click on one of our links, it shows that there’s an interest. Our blog/on line litzine has really exploded this month and is set to double our previous record for most amount of hits. I hope to take these good vibrations with me on Saturday and give my best to this collective of individuals who I am very happy to have met.

The line up is set. The drums are warm. The paint is wet. My water gun is at the store waiting for me. My notes are collecting more notes, bands are rehearsing right now, people are building something together. We are no Haight-Ashbury but this is a pretty unique moment that I’m going to treasure for a long time.

Peace and love,

Carlos Detres