Grassroots benefit concert raises funds for family fleeing Palestine

Grand Rapids is home to many venues, but one of the most unique is the James Russell House, colloquially called “the Mansion,” which hosts an annual, day-long art and music festival called Woodstock Fest.

Breaking from tradition, Woodstock Fest, which took place on Oct. 5, partnered with Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids (PSGR) to raise funds for a Palestinian community member’s extended family who lives in Gaza. The ElMassry-Sahmoud family is currently raising funds to relocate to Egypt.

This year’s Woodstock Fest raised $2,603 for the ElMassry-Sahmoud family.

Founded in 2018 by James Champion and co-op resident Brianne Agnizle, Woodstock Fest traditionally raises funds for transgender community members seeking care. Funds are raised through a $10 donation at the door, a cut of merch sales from artists and vendors and a yearly raffle wherein local artists donate prints, tapestries and other wares.

“With the ongoing genocide in Palestine, [Woodstock] thought it was fitting to partner with Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids and use the funds for a family that is connected to folks in Grand Rapids. They’re in Palestine and they’re seeking funds to escape to Egypt, or even just survive,” said PSGR member Josie Skinner, who tabled with the local solidarity group on the day of the fest.

Woodstock organizer Bee Wolf is also a member of Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids. She connected the two organizations last summer. 

“When we were discussing the beneficiary, Palestine felt like a much more important use of our money. I personally, over the last year, have gotten a lot more invested in the anti-imperialism activism struggle in Grand Rapids,” explained Wolf. “[PSGR] was able to connect us with someone in the city whose family is fleeing Palestine.”

Organizer Ivy Carmolli said, “the heart of the festival is still the same.”

At its core, Woodstock has always been dedicated to providing for the community through the power of music and art.  One of the most remarkable aspects of Woodstock is its ability to provide an opportunity for first-time performers to share a bill alongside veteran musicians. This also gives festival-goers a chance to discover a new favorite local band.

Local shows in Grand Rapids tend to lean pretty hard into indie or indie folk sounds, but this year’s Woodstock line-up was a veritable smorgasbord of genres ranging from jazz to hyperpop.

Indie folk duo The Spurs kicked things off at noon. They’re two best friends with matching lo-fi sensibilities and honest, captivating lyrics. 

Since Woodstock always falls in October, Halloween costumes are encouraged. Midway through the set, the lead singer of The Spurs, Simone Pennock, decided that the Spurs were dressed as “Borat and his mail-order bride.”

Supriya Gupta performs under the moniker of supo. Supo performed her second-ever show at Woodstock this year. She writes power pop with a Y2k bite; think the sass and wit of peak Hillary Duff, a bonafide pop sensation. Gupta performed a stripped-down set that showcased her witty lyrics and remarkable vocal control. Not many people can pull off a pop set in the afternoon in a co-op living room, but this show marks the first of many for Gupta.

“Last year, I saw the lineup, and I was like, ‘I could ease in.’ I was going to do a performance at The Stray, so I thought this would be a good way to ease in,” supo explained following her performance.

“I was going to volunteer,” she added with a laugh. This was also supo’s first time attending Woodstock. “I love how accommodating they are. This is the most organized show I’ve been to. I’ve only done two, but this is great,” supo said.

For supo, the Grand Rapids community is a constant source of inspiration.

Another Woodstock first-timer highlight was hyperpop musician and producer Anthony Erlandson, who makes multilayered, textured, hyperpop beats to accompany quietly devastating lyrics reminiscent of early Frank Ocean. The layered nature of their songs means every subsequent listen is a surprise, as intriguing as a hyperpop set in a living room. Erlandson is a remarkable performer. Despite the set taking place during the sleepy midafternoon hours, they had the crowd on their feet and dancing by the third song.

“I think it’s sick. It’s very DIY, which I appreciate. I feel like DIY events are important,” said Erlandson in the green room following their performance.

This year’s lineup also included Grand Rapids music scene staples Phabies and Jessica Wolfbird. The night concluded with a bonfire at 11 p.m. and an acoustic set by musician Izzy Sailor.

The DIY nature of the fest extends to Woodstock’s working relationship with the James Russell House. The 24-bedroom cooperative living community is a Grand Rapids Alliance of Cooperative Communities (GRACC) member.

Before the fest each year, every resident in the home has to agree to allow the co-op to host Woodstock. 

“Historically, the co-op has always done shows. I found out about the co-op through a show here. It’s just part of the culture,” Agnizle recalled as we perched on the massive lawn outside the co-op on an unseasonably warm October day.

“It’s become something a lot more significant. It’s the only event we do yearly at the co-op for music and art. It’s added a cultural element to us,” They added. “People like it. It fits the co-op. People enjoy it and want it to happen."