On Saturday night, Mercury Ballroom welcomed the many worlds of Wes Anderson in an effort to raise funds for Fair event Vendors Alliance (FeVA), a non-profit organization connecting the LGBT community with Louisville vendors and wedding professionals.
The evening was filled with costumes, decorations and musicians committed to making the distinctive Anderson culture for Wes Fest 2015. It was a magically realistic experience to be surrounded by Anderson characters all night. Sam and Suzys cluttered the bar, Margo Tenenbaums chained smoked while showing off their fur coats, lobby boys hopped and sly foxes peeked around every corner.
The attendees were not the only ones collectively adding to the atmosphere. The local bands, which included Nellie Pearl, Juanita, Oscar Parsons and The Picket Line, Appalatin and Quiet Hollers added to the event by playing covers from the various soundtracks of Anderson’s films.
Appalatin stole the show, dressed in yellow jumpsuits, emulating the characters from Bottle Rocket. The Latin-infused Roots musicians nailed a cover of Paul Simon’s “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” and played an impressive set impossible not to dance to. The Quiet Hollers were almost equally as impressive, dressed as The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. They played a fantastic cover of “This Time Tomorrow” by The Kinks, which is featured in my favorite Anderson film, Darjeeling Limited.
Wes Fest 2015 was a “westastical” time and I can't wait for this event to become Louisville cultural staple.
Photos by Aaron Mikel
