Panels are an unexpected yet crucial element of MACROCK. Each year, open discussions take place in some of the venues on Saturday afternoon. Most topics deal with important issues in college radio and the independent music and art community. Occasionally, topics extend to subjects loosely-related to MACROCK’s mission which include politics, DIY ethics, and grassroots organizing.
The 2025 panels are:
DESCRIPTION: No More Punk Time is an upcoming documentary about the final summer of Crayola House, a beloved DIY punk venue in Harrisonburg. As gentrification threatens its existence, the film captures the house’s last shows, its residents, its history, and the fading spirit of a local scene. Come speak with the filmmakers and watch a 6-minute demo of the upcoming film.
LOCATION & TIME: Saturday, 12:00 – 3:00 PM at Arts Incarnate (Atrium)
DESCRIPTION: DIY venues are the center of DIY shows. These spaces are incredibly important to the people in them, but the spaces themselves can go unnoticed. This panel will discuss topics like how to find DIY show spaces, how to set up events in them, and how we can leverage these spaces to benefit the communities around us.
MODERATOR: Elias Wickline
PANEL MEMBERS: Shoz Frantz, Jordan Malinowski, Matt Cohen, Samuel Gavilan, and Ian Jones
LOCATION & TIME: Saturday, 12:00 – 12:30 PM at Arts Incarnate
DESCRIPTION: Booking your own shows is a perpetual and unrelenting challenge—but it is also one of the most essential skills for building a sustainable life in music. In this panel, artists, DIY organizers, and booking agents will share practical strategies, real-world experiences, and lessons learned from years of carving out their own paths. Whether you are routing your first tour or stepping up to play bigger rooms, you will come away with tools and insights to make booking your next run of shows a little less daunting than the last.
PANEL MEMBERS: Rebecca Porter, Jacob Fleenor, (Resounding Strategies), Shoz, Ethan Biamont (Public Circuit), and Grace Koon (Grace Vonderkuhn)
LOCATION & TIME: Saturday, 1:00 – 1:30 PM at Arts Incarnate
DESCRIPTION: Culture surrounds us. It is the inescapable sum of our arts, publications, and trends. Join us for an open discussion about how to leverage our local scenes to change the broader culture of our time, and how changing a culture will help our communities!
MODERATOR: Forrest Matter
LOCATION & TIME: Saturday, 2:00 – 3:00 PM at Arts Incarnate
For Questions or to learn more about the panels please contact macrockva@gmail.com.