Now in its 4th year, the Blood of the Gods Merrymaking, a heavy metal music, art, and wine festival, is always a blast of decibel-shredding fresh air.
Stacy Buchanan is the producer of the event, which is inspired by the focus of the independent ‘zine, Blood of Gods, he publishes right here in Walla Walla.
Buchanan is a Walla Walla native who launched his career helping coordinate tour logistics for huge hardcore and metal bands such as Marilyn Manson and Slipknot on Ozzfest, a heavy metal rock tour. He says it’s important to offer wine experiences that are different, inclusive, and invite people from all walks of life to celebrate and enjoy wine, and feel welcomed in the wine community.
“Coming from the punk-metal-hardcore side with skateboarding and counterculture, I love that the fest instills a sense of empowerment, which is by way of the do-it-yourself mentality. I love that it feels like anyone can do this—enjoy wine, make wine, learn about wine—you don’t need any training, there is no manual. It’s for people who are wanting something to fuel their creative urge, no one’s going to give you permission, you don’t need permission.”
This year, the festival is organized into four main events. A free kick-off party and art opening gets things started the evening of Friday, July 18 at Foundry Vineyards, featuring wine for sale by the glass, and work from artists featured in the pages of Blood of Gods including New York-based artist and illustrator Caroline Harrison, Denver-based comic artist Morgan Beem, and others.
On Saturday, a wide-spanning speaking panel brings together buzzy winemakers such as Maggie Harrison of Oregon’s Antica Terra, wine writers like Samantha Cole-Johnson of jancisrobinson.com and The Oxford Companion to Wine, and moderator Maryam Ahmed, a Wine Enthusiast Future 40 Tastemaker and entrepreneur working for more diversity in the wine world.
The conversation is followed by a grand tasting—the Merrymaking Main Event—with wine producers from Washington and beyond pouring samples of their acclaimed, cult-status, or just plain tasty wines, including Walla Walla’s own Devison Vintners, Jett Wines, Pepper Bridge, Echolands, House of Smith, Pursued by Bear, and Reynvaan, just to name a few. Other selections from California, Oregon, and Europe, as well as a few beer purveyors and other vendors, will round out the offerings.
Truly “brutal babes and crucial dudes,” Buchanan says, can then make way to House of Smith for an ear-splitting afterparty concert featuring Seattle metalcore act Heiress and headliner, Oxygen Destroyer, a Godzilla-themed thrasher metal group.
Whether you tap in just for the grand tasting, or stay for all the heavy-hitting action, the Merrymaking offers something different and unexpected in a welcoming and snob-free atmosphere, says Buchanan.
“It’s meant to be irreverent and raucous and fun and inclusive. It’s open to all, any level of wine drinker.”
The Blood of Gods 4th Annual Merrymaking. Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19. Times, venues, and prices vary. Tickets and details here.