First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. May 6-7. 2017.
Crowd surfing. First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
“It’s a fantastic thing, seeing the sheer will and hard work of one very determined and talented woman (Danielle Vincent) bring together an event of this magnitude for Sacramento. I’m excited about what this does for a segment of the scene and First Fest’s very promising future.” -Elijah Jenkins, Musician
Ryan Sollom of Surviving The Era, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 07, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
ONOFF, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
-Comedy from Shahera Hyatt, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
“I’m so honored to have served on the First Fest team this year and to have been given the opportunity to curate a Pop Up Gallery and several large-scale installations. The response this year from the community has been so moving, and I cannot wait to see what the city has in store for next year. I’m so deeply grateful for everyone who showed up and poured their heart into the weekend!” -Laura Marie Anthony, Artists of Sacramento
Artist of Sacramento’s booth at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
Artist Dan Tran exhibits his art made with irrigation tubing, at First Festival. West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
Installation by Sandy Whetstone. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Joey Miller May 2017
Kareena Hammond’s artwork displayed at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff
Jennifer Marquez’s “Don’t Label Me” installation at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
Art Installation by Sunya Whitelight. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Heather Uroff May 2017
Kylie Jackson’s mirror installation at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
Art Installation by Sunya Whitelight. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
Tammy Helenske’s box installation at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
Dan Tran’s art made with irrigation tubing, at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
Sarah Marie Hawkins installation of her “Faceless” project at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff
Julie Okahara’s artwork displayed at First Fest’s gallery, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff
Wild Gestalt’s installation at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
Heather Hogan’s installation at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
Artist collaboration of Kainan Becker, and Wild Gustart at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
Dan Tran’s art made with irrigation tubing, at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
“I had a lot of fun. It’s not an event I normally would have gone to, but seeing how much support there is for local artist and local art is very inspiring. It also exposed me to music I wouldn’t normally listen to.” -Manushi Weerasinghe
One Mother created by Linda Whiteman. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Joey Miller May 2017
Linda Whiteman’s installation at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
“Creating the installment piece (One Mother) was a huge undertaking. I wanted my piece to reflect the true diversity of people. Everyone comes in different shapes, sizes, and colors. I wanted to make a statement that when we realize that we are all human how we look aesthetically doesn’t really matter. I enlisted some of my friends to sit as models and be molded in plaster casting to really show the diversity. It was really laborious for me and a huge challenge for the models to sit still for an hour and a half while I casted them. I collaged pieces of world maps over the bodies and used flowers in color order of the rainbow to go with the theme also. First Fest was a great experience. I loved the myriad of art and vendors and the outpouring of support from everyone.” -Linda Whiteman, First Fest Artist
The Moans. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
“You already got your money’s worth with all the other bands. We’re on the house.” -Danny Secretion, The Moans, before launching into a song
Surviving The Era, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 07, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Oleander, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 06, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
At Both Ends, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 07, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
At Both Ends, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 07, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Thomas Flowers of Oleander, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 06, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Some Fear None, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 06, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
ONOFF, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
ONOFF, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Guitarist Gabriel Levan Aiello of Drop Dead Red, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Carly DuHain of Drop Dead Red, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
They Went Ghost, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Bassist Joseph Castro and Guitarist Gabriel Levan Aiello of Drop Dead Red, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
They Went Ghost, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Jesse Sizemore of The Outcome, First Festival, River Walk, Sacramento, CA. May 06, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
DLRN. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
DLRN. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
Sparks Across Darkness. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
Sparks Across Darkness. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
Sparks Across Darkness. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
The Moans. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
Alan Brown and Connor McDonald. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
Kara R. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
The Moans. First Festival. Sacramento CA. May 2017 Photo Melissa Uroff
Stand Off. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
Stand Off. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
Comedian Melissa McGillicuddy. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
“You get to experience local music and it’s really incredibly reasonably priced. It’s $20 — even if you only come for an hour or two it’s totally worth it. … I like to support local music. It’s an incredible deal. … I’m just here for an hour or two because I really want to support this, and hope it continues every year. Throughout the summer, some of these bands I see today I’ll go see them. So it introduces me to all the different music that’s here.” -Bob Solecki
Caliscope at First Festival in Sacramento, CA, May 7, 2017. Photo by Emma Montalbano.
First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA, May 7, 2017. Photo Emma Montalbano.
Hobo Johnson & the Lovemakers. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA, May 7, 2017. Photo Emma Montalbano.
SpaceWalker. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA, May 7, 2017. Photo Emma Montalbano.
First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA, May 7, 2017. Photo Emma Montalbano.
SpaceWalker performing at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
Susan Silvester’s artwork at First Festival, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff
Trumpet player, George, of At Both Ends. First Festival, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff
At Both Ends performing at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
Bass player, Sean, of At Both Ends performing at First Fest, in West Sacramento CA. May 2017. Photo Heather Uroff.
First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Joey Miller May 2017
First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Joey Miller May 2017
First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Joey Miller May 2017
Odd Petals.First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Joey Miller May 2017
TUBE. Magazine’s coloring books. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
Kate Gonzales. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
TUBE. photographer Anouk Nexus photographing at First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
Kara R. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
Artists Izze Greene and Faith Pena. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
Gabriel Levan Aiello of Burly Beverages and Drop Dead Red. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento, CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
TUBE. photographer Emma Montalbano with all the snacks. First Festival. River Walk, West Sacramento CA. Photo Melissa Uroff May 2017
“I like First Fest because there’s a lot of cool art, local art, local musicians. It’s important to support local. … I came here the first year and I had a lot of fun and I wanted to experience that again. I hope they keep it around.” -Sarah Elliott
Words Kate Gonzales, Heather Uroff
Photos Anouk Nexus, Joey Miller, Heather Uroff, Emma Montalbano,
