ACES HIGH MUSIC FEST

Fall brings with it cooler weather, the beginning of the holiday season and an over abundance of pumpkin flavored delicacies. Every year during Thanksgiving weekend the Aces High Music Festival descends on Respectable Street to shine a spotlight on some of the brightest spots in South Florida’s musical landscape. This year finds the festival in a particularly celebratory state of mind for many different reasons; most importantly it’s the 10 year anniversary of the opening of the original Aces High Tattoo shop in West Palm. The line-up consists of many bands that at some point or another have played the shop’s parties over the years; making this a sort of homecoming gathering for some.

This being a generally close knight group of artists and musicians; the Fest also brings with it other reasons to celebrate. The Darling Sweets, Lake Worth’s purveyors of roots-y, Americana, have been on a bit of a sabbatical for the majority of this year due to some of the members burgeoning family life; the Fest is a perfect chance to welcome them back to the fold.

Everymen, a brood of fire breathing folk/punk madmen, are celebrating an impending month long tour of Europe in the coming new year.  The Aces High fest is a celebration and a send off for the motley group of gypsy punks. Everymen headlines the inside stage with Spred the Dub, the Darling Sweets, Lavola and Bonnie Riot.

West Palms resident hardcore stalwarts, Old Habits are headlining the outside stage and will be sure to get the crowds blood pumping. Old Habits is going to be taking things pretty slow after this show; with only a few dates scheduled for the foreseeable future; presumably so that the band, some of the hardest working people in the scene, can focus on their many other projects. John Wylie, the group’s guitar player, owns Aces High and Eulogy Records as well as being the guy in charge of putting together the festival. The outside stage will also feature: Sweet Nothings, Sunnyvale and Right Through. The Aces High Festival is an eclectic affair with all the right elements to appeal to a fairly broad audience of music goers and an opportunity to catch some of South Florida’s best. Come check them out so you can say you saw them way back when.

The Aces High Festival takes place Saturday, November 28 at Respectable Street; doors at 8pm; $10 admission; 18+.

~ Tim Moffatt