By JACKIE HONG
Alex Martel is living the dream. The 28-year-old native of Montebello, Quebec (population 978), founded Amnesia Rockfest, a two-day punk, metal, and alternative festival that goes down in his hometown every summer, when he was just 17 years old. It’s since ballooned into Canada’s biggest rock festival, and this year’s edition featured bands like Blink 182, Danzig, Weezer, Mötley Crüe, Alice in Chains, and Joan Jett, along with Canadian favourites like Grimskunk and the Planet Smashers.
I chatted with Martel in late July about putting together Rockfest, music, meeting Marilyn Manson, and one special volunteer: his grandma.
Q: How did you get the idea? What was the first one like?
A: I was a huge music fan growing up. I still am. At first, I was in a band. That was pretty much my goal, and Rockfest just kind of happened. We only had three bands; Grimskunk was the headliner and we had 500 people show up. So it was super small compared to how it is now, but even back then it was the biggest thing that happened to this kind of music in the area. I wanted to do something because nothing was going on in this area and I always had to go to Montreal or Ottawa or Toronto or the U.S. to see concerts or festivals. It started for fun, and it got a lot bigger over the years. I’m pretty proud of the fact that it started from scratch.
Q: As it’s grown bigger, how have you changed strategies in organizing and stuff like that?
Read the full interview here: Alex Martel Started Amnesia Rockfest When He Was Only 17. This Year, 200,000 Punk Fans Flooded His Hometown
