Draft:Yesterday Was Everything Festival

Yesterday Was Everything Festival was an annual multi-arts festival in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, between 2002 and 2005. Known for its focus on heavy music, DIY ethos, and community engagement, the festival attracted diverse artists and audiences from across Canada and beyond. It was celebrated for blending underground and avant-garde artistic expressions with a distinctive emphasis on booking local as well as more established artists. The show was organized in memory of Jordan Wodehouse and Dan Langois of Compromise, who were killed by a drunk driver in 2002.

Overview

[edit] The Yesterday Was Everything Festival (YWE) was founded in 2002 in Edmonton, Alberta. It was intended to represent bands from the Punk, Hardcore, and Metalcore genres, emphasizing heavy music. The event seeked to positively impact its community while giving up-and-coming acts a place to share their craft.

The festival ran annually from 2002 to 2005, with its events typically hosted in Edmonton venues, including The Starlight Room, Reds (RIP), New City Suburbs (RIP), and the Power Plant at U of A. Each year, the festival featured a stacked bill of Canadian heavy acts as well as several international bands.

The festival featured notable bands, Comeback Kid, Eighteen Visions, He Is Legend, Misery Signals, Bury Your Dead, to name a few.

History

[edit]

Origins

[edit] YWE began in 2002 and was organized in memory of Jordan Wodehouse and Dan Langois of Compromise, who were killed by a drunk driver in 2002. The festival seeks to celebrate the lives of Jordan and Dan and serves to remind the community about the dangers of drunk driving.

Festival Years

[edit] The festival ran for four years (2002–2005) and gained a reputation for fostering unique and participatory experiences for attendees and artists. Each edition combined diverse programming, from DIY punk bands to metalcore mainstays. YWE served as a platform for avant-garde groups and underground movements that were otherwise underrepresented in mainstream cultural events.

Key venues during these years included the Starlight Room, Reds, New City Suburbs, and The Power Plant at the U of A.

Conclusion of the Festival

[edit] The YWE Festival officially ended after the 2005 festival year. Despite its discontinuation, the festival's spirit continues to influence Edmonton's alternative art spaces and experimental music communities.

Notable Highlights

[edit] Over its four-year history, YWE showcased a variety of performances. Highlights from the festival included:

- 2002 Venue: The Power Plant at U of A Lineup: 7angels 7plagues, The Fullblast, Choke, The Preshure Point, Tandum Vitalis, The Wolfnote, Mico, Geoff Hamryluk, A-Priori, Far From Over, Spelling Thomas, Kates Turn

- 2003 Venue: The Power Plant at U of A Lineup: Misery Signals, Undying, Fordirelifesake, Change Methodical, Savannah, Sleeping Girl, The Wolfnote, Drive By Punch, Oceans Away, Stronger Than Blood, Down East Day, The Kasuals, Red Tide, Farfrom Over, Nevertheless, Clockwork

- 2004 Venue: New City Suburbs Lineup: Misery Signals, Bury Your Dead, The Fullblast, Fordirelifesake, Vying For Solace, The Almighty Punchdrunk, Savannah, The Wolfnote, The Operators, Sleeping Girl, Whiz Kids, Run With The Hunted, Nikola Tesla, Life At Last, A Javelin Reign, Far From Ruin, Lines Drawn

- 2005 Venue: Reds/Starlight Room Lineup: Calico Drive, Comeback Kid, Drive By Punch, Eighteen Visions, Far From Ruin, Goodbye Model Rocket, He Is Legend, Hundred Acre Wood, Life, Misery Signals, Nikola Tesla, Roses Dead, Savannah, Sleeping Girl, Ten Second Epic, The Gorgeous, Vying For Solace, Wednesday Night Heroes, With Honor

Legacy

[edit] Although YWE officially ended in 2005, its impact on Edmonton's arts and music scene persists. Many artists and organizers involved in the festival have continued their creative practices in other mediums and community initiatives. The emphasis on collaboration, experimentation, and community-building remains a hallmark of Edmonton's arts culture.

The festival also paved the way for future regional experimental and multidisciplinary arts events, fostering connections between artists, performers, and diverse community groups.

References

Lambgoat. Yesterday Was Everything Fest: Canadian Info. Lambgoat, 2004. Accessed December 10, 2024.

Punknews.org. In Memoriam: Jordan Wodehouse and Dan Langois of Compromise. Punknews.org, September 22, 2003. Retrieved December 10, 2024.

Punknews.org. Lineup Announced for Yesterday Was Everything Festival in Edmonton. Punknews.org, May 21, 2004. Retrieved December 10, 2024.

Punknews.org. Yesterday Was Everything Fest 2004. Punknews.org, April 22, 2004. Retrieved December 10, 2024.

Categories:

- Festivals in Alberta

- Music festivals in Canada

- Art festivals in Alberta

- Experimental music festivals

- Edmonton culture

- 2000s festivals