color LOCAL By Frederick Jerant By Frederick Jerant
“HUR-ry, HUR-ry, HUR-ry, ladies and gentle- men, and children of all ages! Step right this way and see the most a-STOUND-ing collection of exotic performers between Aquashicola and Kalamazoo! See belly-dancers…fi re-eaters… sword-swallowers…and more! Much, MUCH more, ladies and gentlemen…”
Sounds like an old-time barker for a circus side- show, doesn’t it? Well, that’s the kind of spirit behind the Allentown Freak-Out – a free outdoor festival that celebrates unusual performers, now in its fourth year. It runs June 21-22, and is produced by co-founders Matt Lewis and his wife, Sarah Fulton.
“Most festivals around here are about what you’d expect, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” Lewis says. “But we thought there was room for one that was a little gritty, something that would refl ect Allentown’s persona. Sarah and I had been to fringe festivals in other places – including one in Jim Thorpe – and we thought the concept would be perfect for Allentown.”
Despite its slightly-ominous name, the Freak- Out is really an all-ages venture. “It’s mainly family-friendly,” Lewis says. “We do have some acts that are better suited for adults, but those are displayed indoors. And even those would be rated PG-13. There’s nothing really crazy.”
Past patrons have encountered dancers that per- form complex routines on a 4’ x 4’ stage; the West Philadelphia Orchestra (klezmer songs and mu- sic of Serbia and Macedonia); glass eaters; psy- chedelic bluegrass music; and Allentown’s own Burning Hearts Fire and Light Theater (profi led in the last issue of Lehigh Valley Marketplace).
“Other than music, what performing arts can people see up-close and live? Not many. I think people forget how much fun a live act can be,” he says.
Given the outré nature of the Freak-Out’s acts, one must ask – how does he fi nd them? “Sometimes word-of-mouth,” Lew- is says, “and some- times web searching. “We generally start with ideas about the kinds of talent we want, and then look for appropriate performers.”
Lewis stresses that the search concentrates on home-grown acts. “Last year, all of our performers came from eastern Pennsyl-
vania,” Lewis points out, “and most were from the Valley. Peo- ple were really surprised to see
how much diverse talent we have around here.”
As word of the AFO has spread, some performers have approached the festival about performing. Some are accepted; some are not. “We’ve never had a ‘cattle call,’ and we’ve never worked with a talent agen- cy. We save a nice bit of money that way,” Lewis says.
24 May 2013 May 2013 3 Lehigh Valley Marketplace Lehi e gh Valley Ma arketplac ce
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