Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Fringe Fest 7 this fall

Fringe Festival runs Sept. 12-22
Fringe Festival runs Sept. 12-22

Producers of the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival call it the "Big Reveal," a rundown of the many performers and venues at the annual event, now entering its seventh year.

"Our Fringe will be different from last year because we have so much new talent, so many new ideas. It's going to be fresh, topical and lots of fun," says producer Erica Fee, noting that there are over 500 performances at more than 30 venues in the downtown area.

It's now the largest multi-genre arts festival in the state.

Massaoke will lead a massive singalong at Parcel 5 on the opening weekend, Sept. 14th and 15th.
Credit rochesterfringe.com
Massaoke will lead a massive singalong at Parcel 5 on the opening weekend, Sept. 14th and 15th.

She says the local Fringe festival is often called the "Rochester Model" by other fringe festivals because things are done a little bit differently here.

"One of those things is our big free outdoor show which we hold at Parcel Five.  We're the only Fringe Festival in the world having a big free outdoor show like that," she said.

That big free show will be with London's "Massaoke," a British band that plays the best-loved "hairbrush" anthems -- or songs you sing into your hairbrush .

They'll start the singalong at Parcel Five on September 14th.

Rochester Chamber of Commerce President Bob Duffy says Fringe attracted 78 thousand people to downtown last year, and he expects even more this year.

"People don't realize sometimes, how much economic vibrancy arts and culture brings to Rochester.  It creates jobs, it brings tourists in So I think people should come down and support it.  We want to break over a hundred thousand this year, and the work this team has done, it's no doubt they will," he said.

Producer Fee says last year was so successful, they added another day to this year's festival.

It runs from September 12th to the 22nd.

Click here for more details; and check out Jeff Spevak's preview of this year's Fringe Fest here.

Chamber of Commerce President Bob Duffy on how the Fringe Festival benefits Rochester:

Producer Erica Fee on the many venues people where can "find their Fringe" this fall: