Gnarfest has been running as a counter-Lollapalooza blowout for four years now, during which time it was mostly underground. In previous years the punk festival went down at various DIY spots in town, but this year it’s going above ground (for the most part) and in a big way: Gnarfest’s final event will take place tomorrow evening at the Illinois Centennial Monument in Logan Square.
Local instrumental doom outfit Bongripper headline the outdoor portion of Gnarfest. I imagine they’ll play some material off their newish Miserable, a long-player made up of three lumbering, punishing tracks that are each quite lengthy. Watching Bongripper perform their massive, “Endless” songs in such a regal outdoor setting should be a surreal thrill, but anyone who doesn’t jump to see a band described as “punishing” and wants some late evening grub at, say, Dunlays on the Square you might want to opt to eat indoors.
Gnarfest’s outdoor bash begins tomorrow at 7 PM, right after Pygmy Lush wraps up the afternoon portion of the two-day blowout at Township; Massachusetts punk group Sneeze and locals Itto and Best Witches play before Bongripper, and it all ends at 10 PM. There’s a suggested donation of $5, so if you want to help out the out-of-town bands playing Gnarfest you can always throw in more money. Gnarfest kick-offs tonight—e-mail gnarfestchicago@gmail.com for more information.