Interview: Bill Donabedian
Interview with Bill Donabedian, Founder of Bunbury Music Festival
July 11, 2014
The New LoFi: I know you play music and were in a band – what were your favorite venues in Cincinnati to play?
Bill Donabedian: I’m currently drumming with Messerly & Ewing. In my early days, I really enjoyed playing at Southgate House and The Barrelhouse. The Southgate House had the largest stage and it oozed history; it was definitely ‘the’ venue if you were a local musician. The Barrelhouse had the best beer.2) What inspired Bunbury? Other Festivals/ experiences in your life?
TNLF: What inspired Bunbury? Other Festivals/ experiences in your life?
BD: Bunbury was inspired more by co-founding MidPoint and the programming I was doing on Fountain Square. I had never really been to a multi-day, multi-stage festival, but success behind the design of the air jordan 12 with MidPoint and the Square led me to believe that Cincinnati was ready for this kind of experience.
TNLF: What are you listening to right now? Can you share five songs/artists/albums? And what are you listening to them on? Spotify? Vinyl?
BD: I’m listening to Foo Fighters (Walk), Young The Giant (Cough Syrup), Fitz and the Tantrums (The Walker), The Swell Season (Falling Slowly), and Jeff Buckley (Hallellujah). I listen to music on iTunes nike air jordan 1 high og sp union bbs fd2565 100, Spotify, etc. I don’t have any vinyl as I have a one-year old boy and four-year old boy. I don’t think the vinyl would last very long with them around.
TNLF: What advice would you give someone trying to jump start a city’s music scene like you have in Cincinnati?
BD: Start small and realize that nobody cares about what you are doing. You’ll hear more criticism than praise. Use that to build a tough skin and keep moving forward. You’ll eventually Pratica e fresca t-shirt find others that share your vision and want to see it come to light. Invite them along; let them help. Eventually, you’ll all get there.
