Festival features Madison's experimental music

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MADISON, Wis. -

It might not be the sounds that a lot of people are used to hearing, but the Lost City Music Festival is putting experimental music-making on Madison's map.Festival organizer John Kruse has watched the city's music scene change and evolve over time, and said audiences have become more and more accepting of all types of music."I think that word would be forward, you know. It's our state motto, and that's what music is doing. Just continue to move forward," Kruse said.Kruse, also the owner and founder of Mine All Mine Records, set up shows for 30 bands over four days. They performed at different small stages across the city. Even more important for Kruse, all of the performers were from the region."I think that there continues to be a lot of great stuff coming out of a Madison," Kruse said, "so I think we're getting there if we're not there already."Gregory Taylor performs from his computer and small keyboard. He also hosts a radio show, broadcasting experimental tunes on Madison's airwaves."This is a really silly simple way to do something you've never done before in a place where nothing is at risk but your time," Taylor said.Taylor played for an intimate audience at Bright Red Studios over the weekend. He said some people don't recognize his music as anything else but noise, but he hopes listeners give it a chance through this festival or through other means."You have the opportunity to kind of accidentally hear something that would move you. And to me, that's about the most fun you get to have really," Taylor said.It can be difficult for artists to get paid for performing, something the Brothers Grimm out of Mukwanago know all too well. But Brian and A.J. Grimm said they wouldn't trade their Wisconsin roots and the community support for anything."There's the monetary side of that, which is being able to feed yourself off of your own voice creatively," Brian Grimm said."Right now, I am making it, so when I've made it, I'll let you know and what that's like when I have made it. But right now, I am making it, in the present," A.J. Grimm said.Kruse said he would like to see more festivals like his start up in Madison to showcase even more music in the future."I think that to be successful in the local scene, you just have to do it," Kruse said.For more on the Lost City Music Festival, click here.