Music and Art in Wright Park (MAWP) is easily one of the most anticipated events of the season for Tacomans. Especially this year, as MAWP is back after a one-year hiatus.
Six hours of music, 14 bands, kid's events and food and craft vendors will take over Wright Park in Tacoma from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday.
MAWP is back on the scene with a revived sense of inspiration and a fantastic lineup. Humble Cubb, Mos Generator, Centre Can Not Hold, The Jilly Rizzo, The Plastards, CFA, The Dignitaries, Girl Trouble, Big Wheel Stunt Show, 13 Scars, Walking Papers, Trasholes, Fun Police and The Rusty Cleavers are scheduled to play.
"This is my way of giving back to the community," says Cody Foster, co-director and 27-year Tacoma music veteran. Together with co-director Ken Johnson and group of dedicated volunteers, MAWP is an event for the people.
"It was designed for people to come and stay all day and enjoy the show," Foster says. "There are second and first wave rockers, some that now have grandkids, and it's comfortable because people have been doing this for generations."
Because kids will be kids and sometimes get bored with the music, there is an emphasis on activities for little ones. There will be an information booth for kid's events as well as MAWP posters to color and take home.
Another well thought perk to encourage people to stay all day and promote Tacoma's music scene is the intentional omission of the times bands will play until right before the show.
"There is a diverse group of bands, and I want to protect kids that are new to the scene," says Foster. "Plus, if people show up for one band, they can have exposure to others."
And yet another reason to stay all day is the live art performance by Larkin Cypher, a local artist who plans to paint from noon until 6 p.m., and then donate the piece to a silent auction to benefit next year's MAWP. (Rumor has it the painting will be a large zombie. Awesome!)
Keeping in the spirit of counter-culture art and ensuring MAWP will be around for years to come, another fundraising tool is already circulating through Tacoma, a 12-month calendar (August to August) that showcases Grit City's finest men. Selling for $20 at The New Frontier Lounge, Rocket Records, The Red Hot, Bluebeard Coffee and Supernova hair styling salon, the hot ticket calendars are a year-round reminder that both MAWP and Tacoma rule.
(Wright Park, 316 South G St, Tacoma.)