Walla Fest to Kick of Norristown Arts Hill Festival

From the Iron Age Theatre:

Walla Fest, the popular local music festival, returns to the stage with a evening of music, art and film on May 4, as part of the multi day Norristown Arts Hill Festival.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and guests will be able to peruse the art show on the first floor of the Centre Theater. At 6 p.m., performers will take the stage. Admission is $5.

This events expands Walla Fest's musical reach, bringing bands from around the tri state area to Norristown. The program features ChildSavage, Seismic Thrust, Satellite Hearts, Resin Gypsy, and The Skins. 

ChildSavage performed at the mini Walla Fest in February to critical acclaim. She returns with her singer-songwriter style full of youthful exuberance after performances around the region including Steel City in Phoenixville. 

Satellite Hearts is a three piece band that combine both the raw, unpolished and unapologetic sound of today, with the soul of true classic rock. They create a sound that mixes the best of classic and alternative rock and roll, with elements of soul, funk, and R&B that give them a unique and explosive resonance that is hard to find in today's music scene. Satellite Hearts headlined the and were so popular, they were asked to return to this show.

Seismic Thrust, a three-piece psychedelic/garage/shoegaze-folk band from Philadelphia including members Zach D. (guitar/voice), Tiffany H. (drums/voice) and Brandon W. (bass). They have been playing together since 2007.  

The Skins, consisting of siblings Bayli, Reef, and Kaya McKeithan, along with friends Daisy Spencer and Russell Chell, have released a three-track EP. Showing a maturity beyond their years, the Skins have been making a lot of noise around the NYC and Brooklyn area that often get clubs to turn heads and ask for more.

The first floor art show will feature work by Chris Heidel, Danny Markle, Molly Litchner, Maeve Rooney, Makeba Robinson, Robert Hunt. This Walla Fest will also include films by Marcus Branch (Yearn: A Self Portrait) and Vi Tran.

The Centre Theater will again offer its main stage for the event. Last time the venue was filled to the brim with youthful enthusiasm and wonderful music. Bello, Robinson and Bui have organized the event.

The Norristown Arts Hill Festival takes place on May 5 from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. and will feature theatre, art, music and vendors all day long. The Arts Council invited Walla Fest to open the event on Friday, extending the festival to a mulit-day event.

The Centre Theater is in the Montgomery County Cultural Center at 208 DeKalb Street in Norristown. The new marquee marks its location as the anchor of the Norristown Arts Hill. There is plenty of free parking and the theater is one block from SEPTA's . For more information call 610-279-1013.