MACROCK is an annual DIY music festival and conference located in Harrisonburg, VA. As an independent volunteer organization, our mission is to enhance the Shenandoah Valley by showcasing a diverse array of independent musical acts from across the country to the residents of Harrisonburg and Rockingham, as well as provide educational and enriching community events celebrating Do-It-Yourself (DIY) culture. Through events such as record and publishing label expositions, panel discussions, and live performances, MACROCK upholds the belief that supporting independent artists and musicians are vital to a thriving community that will preserve and stimulate art free of corporate influence.
HISTORY
MACROCK began in Harrisonburg, VA in 1996 as an extension of James Madison University’s student-run radio station, WXJM, founded in 1984. With college radio as its underlying foundation, the mission of the founders was to foster independent music and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) culture to the Mid-Atlantic region. Since the mid-2000s, MACROCK has branched off from James Madison University and has been independently run by a small group of dedicated volunteers who annually plan, fundraise, and coordinate the event in venues across downtown Harrisonburg. Our panel series serves as a conversational platform on which topics, spanning everything from gear nerd indulgences to the present socio-political atmosphere, are addressed amongst a diverse group of panelists. Our expo hosts independent record labels and radio stations, local artisans, zinesters, authors, and collectors. MACROCK is a volunteer organization and would be impossible without the help of countless volunteers, artists, local businesses, and residents. We cannot express how much we appreciate you and everything you do.
Tickets are available online or at the door: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6261464
For a full lineup and locations: https://macrockva.org/bands/
For label expo information: https://macrockva.org/label-expo/
For information on this year’s panels: https://macrockva.org/panels/
Photo credits: Kyle Johnson