LANSING, MI — On March 24, the soft echoes of music emanating from The Fridge could be heard from across the block. The first annual Snoopfest began with the sounds of guitars, bass, drums, and vocals echoing inside the community center that had been turned into a church.
The eight-hour music festival featured 10 “DIY” bands performing alongside other local artists and local vendors. The DIY music scene, which draws inspiration from house show culture from the '70s to the early 2000s, has historically been a haven for his LGBTQIA+ community, and its ethos is about inclusion, safety, and underground emo-punk music. It revolves around.
Snoopfest organizer Kiefer Norton has been part of Lansing's DIY music scene since summer 2021. They are the lead vocalists of the post-hardcore band Dear Heretic and the bassist of the emo/folk-punk group Tequila Mockingbird Band. . DIY Music Shortly after his debut on the scene, Norton opened up his home as a temporary venue for his DIY shows.
“My house is pretty accessible in terms of going to DIY shows,” Norton says.
Norton has now hosted 13 shows at the Goblin Zone, which is his nickname for his home. The Zone has become a popular venue for fans in the Lansing area due to its welcoming, safe and accessible environment.
“I think it's a little hard to find, and I think a lot of people are looking for it,” Norton said. “Myself and everyone involved with my home are working harder than ever to make sure our home remains a safe space and that people know it is a safe space. ”
Norton ensured that these same values were implemented when creating Snoopfest.
Longtime couple Colin Hebner and Courtney Barth have been joining Norton's show since October 2023.
“Being a girl, bars are my worst nightmare. But at TGZ [The Goblin Zone]I know I can go there and feel safe,” Barth said.
Heavener is a longtime emo music fan and has an affinity for the DIY scene.
“A big part of the appeal of these genres is that there's an audience that knows the lyrics,” Heavener said.
DIY music fans and sisters-in-law Jocelyn Mendez and Claire Hubbard share this sentiment. The sisters traveled from Taylor, Michigan to attend Snoopfest.
“Music is a big part of that. I was able to relate to the lyrics and go to shows and be able to shout out the lyrics and give them back to the band and have that kind of connection. It made me feel like I wasn't alone. It's about knowing that there isn't,” Mendez said.
Mendes experienced his first DIY show in February 2023 and has been hooked on the scene ever since.
“After all the craziness going on in the world, I felt like I had found myself again,” she said.
After Mendes attended his first show, Hubbard also dove into the DIY music scene.
“For me, I never felt like I belonged anywhere, I never had a lot of confidence, I never had a lot of friends. Now I meet a lot of great people on these shows. I'm the most myself I've ever been. I just feel like I belong somewhere,” Hubbard said.
Mendes and Hubbard attend as many DIY shows as possible. The tour followed a recent wax bodega tour of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
“It's like therapy,” Hubbard said.
“We are strange people and we never felt like we had a home. This is our home,” Mendez said.
Lansing's DIY music scene has been able to foster a rich community through venues like Goblin Zone and dedicated members like Norton.
“It completely changed who I am and the entire trajectory of my life,” Norton said. “What we want is [the community] Come and experience it. They are welcome here. There is no better place or time to tackle this,” Norton said.