Local radio station WGSU-FM (89.3) is bringing its popular annual Genny Fest Music Festival to listeners in a virtual format after the in-person event was canceled due to the global pandemic.
The virtual event, titled “Gen-E Fest,” will air May 15 at 5 p.m. on WGSU-FM and online through the station’s digital stream. The broadcast will feature music and interviews with artists who were originally scheduled to perform at this year’s Genny Fest, along with a few additional performers.
The lineup includes Nashville-based band Twen, New York City singer-songwriter Allison Leah, 2018 Genny Fest headliner Jackknife Stiletto, and solo artist Elizabeth Fader.
WGSU Marketing Director Ben Michalak said the goal of the virtual festival is to support musicians during the ongoing shutdown while maintaining the station’s connection to the community.
“Gen-E Fest aims to elevate artists during the COVID-19 shutdown,” Michalak said. “We want to give musicians a platform to share their stories, talk about their music, and connect with our audience while staying true to our core value of community.”
Twen is a two-member melodic dream-pop band originally from Boston, consisting of vocalist Jane Fitzsimmons and guitarist Ian Jones. The duo released their debut album, Awestruck, last year.
Allison Leah, a SUNY Geneseo alumna who performed at the first two Genny Fests in 2018 and 2019, was scheduled to return this year. She recently released a new single, We Can Still Sing, inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, which premiered on WGSU earlier this month.
Jackknife Stiletto, a three-piece all-female punk band from New York City, also returns after appearing at the first Genny Fest. The group has released Chronicles of Jane Volumes 1 and 2.
Elizabeth Fader, an Australian artist previously known for her work with the indie group Phantastic Ferniture, recently released her first solo single, Encore. The song received its U.S. radio premiere on WGSU in April.
Genny Fest, and this year’s adapted “Gen-E Fest,” honors WGSU’s mascot, Genny, named after a common nickname for Geneseo. The original festival had been scheduled for May 1, but organizers moved the virtual version to mid-May to better align with the end of the academic year.
In addition to music and interviews, the broadcast will include congratulatory messages and words of encouragement from artists aired on WGSU for graduating seniors. SUNY Geneseo will also host a virtual senior send-off event the following day in place of its postponed commencement ceremony.
The station said plans are already underway for future in-person Genny Fest events once conditions allow.
