Back in the late ‘90s Putrescence/Head Hits Concrete vocalist Mike Alexander started Arsonfest to showcase brutally heavy bands, and over a decade later the 39-year-old hasn’t started to slow things down just yet.

“I’m still looking for anything that’s really fast and heavy,” Alexander says. “Anything that’s grindcore, powerviolence, sludge or just really fast hardcore. Those are typically the bands I book.

“The easiest thing about running this festival is I know that I’m not alone in my love for it. I know that other people think it’s an important part of the summer in Winnipeg. I remain inspired by some of the kids doing bands and stuff, people who are 20 years younger than me and still showing interest. Some people come and go, but one of the things that makes Arsonfest work is that there is a lot of lifers here in Winnipeg.”

The festival also prides itself on giving back to the community and money from each ticket sold will be donated to the ninth annual annual Powwow to Honour Children, which draws attention to youth victims of violence.

After taking place last year at the Windsor Hotel, Arsonfest will be happening at FRAME Arts Warehouse for the first time in 2014.

“An all-ages warehouse scenario is truly the best place for us and we’re really happy to have found another place that agrees music is for people of all ages,” he says.

Overall the festival draws bands from Winnipeg and across Canada, though Alexander admits there’s a larger amount of American groups playing Arsonfest this year. He’s also bringing Sete Star Sept, the first band from Japan that will ever play this festival.

“It’s a little more expensive to produce this year, but I sort of feel like taking my chances. After all this time it makes sense to keep going as hard and strong as possible,” he says.

One of the American bands making the trek is Enabler, a metal/hardcore/punk trio that released its sophomore record La Fin Absolue Du Monde through Creator-Destructor in May.

After playing Arsonfest in 2011, the band crosses the border into Canada for this lone date on August 8.

“One of the cool things about the first time we played was Chris (Hannah) from Propagandhi was actually doing sound for us. Propagandhi is definitely one of our influences as a band even though we are obviously much harsher than they are,” vocalist/guitarist Jeffrey Lohrber says.

“It was cool to come across some of our favourite Canadian bands and get exposed to some new ones like Haggatha. We’re excited to see who is playing and get exposed to some other bands this time around.”

Part of the series: 2014 Summer Festival Guide

Published in Volume 68, Number 29 of The Uniter (August 5, 2014)