Wurst-case scenario: exploring the alternatives to Brat Fest
flickr.com/photos/lordkhan
Transparently encased meats for people who like transparent government.
Brat Fest has some competition this year. A year ago, it was unthinkable to challenge the dominance of “the world’s largest brat fest” held at the Alliant Energy Center, but since then, our political climate turned into a field of flames that incinerated almost everything we knew and left few icons standing. Brat Fest certainly got charred; as soon as the public caught on to the relationship between Governor Scott Walker and meat purveyor Johnsonville Brats, boycott talk started up. Now it’s more than talk: On May 28th (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), the alternative brat fest Wurst Times at the High Noon Saloon, The Brass Ring, and The Brink Lounge (all housed in the same complex and sharing a patio) aims to unseat the brat bash incumbent with many beers, three bars, four stages showcasing local bands, and of course, brats.
The raison d’être
Unhappy with Johnsonville’s campaign contributions to a politician who immediately mounted a direct attack on organized labor, anti-Walker rally organizers soon turned their attention to creating an alternative to the meat chow-down at the Coliseum. Organizer Rodney Knoke takes the hard line: “Wurst Times was an idea I came up with after hearing about the number of people wanting to boycott Brat Fest. Altruism isn’t a possibility from a corporation, and there are motives for everything a company does. Brat Fest is no exception to this rule.” So this is a decidedly anti-Walker event.
The brats and the beer
If this event is so righteous, where do the brats come from? And what of the beer? Sheboygan Brats, considerably cleaner in terms of political affiliations, will supply brats, and Minhas Craft Brewery will supply all the beer (and soda) in something of a public relations coup.
The bands
With 20 bands rocking steady, there is a lot of music to choose from. The newly formed blues-by-way-of-New Orleans act The Owls are an upbeat party band playing from 2 to 2:45 p.m. on the patio. The Black Caps (12:15 to 1 p.m. at the High Noon Saloon) play sloppy, loose punk in black jeans and leather. The Sills bring their original Americana/country/bluegrass to Brink Lounge from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m.
Alternatives to the alternative
by Scott Stetson
Proving the essential logic of the idea, two other alternative brat fests emerged independently. Bill Fetty describes the People’s Bratfest: “We will be on the Capitol Square on Saturday May 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or until we sell out. We’ll have vegan and vegetarian brats as well.”
Alt Bratfest, at Orton Park on Sunday, May 29 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., is more about upscale meat-eating, with Weary Traveler Freehouse’s Joey Dunscombe arranging for charcuterie from local farms ($10 or $15 donation for 2 or 3 food items). DJ Jeremy Thomas, Josh Harty, Taki Allstars, Chick Singer, and Screamin’ Cyn-Cyn And The Pons will entertain.
All events will donate to charity.
