The History of The Morning Star Festival!
By 2008 Bob (now Super Bob) had played a handful of shows in the area. The band debuted at Gulliftys the year before at August Assault and gained an instant following. Never before or since has a band from out of town caught on quite like Bob. They had already headlined at Smalls in Harrisburg and won Best Regional Band in the 2008 717 Music Awards. Playing a blistering set at the Awards show really confirmed that Bob was ready to headline 717 Entertainments first Festival. The idea of a festival had been tossed around since before the first show back in march of 2007. In the spring of 2008 the idea became reality and The Morning Star Festival was born. 717 Entertainment felt Bob was the perfect band to model the festival after, even naming it after one of the bands songs. Since the Awards had already been such a big success 717 Entertainment was given some real leeway in what they booked at Gullifty's. The idea was simple, 10 bands for $10. It was to start at 5:00 pm and run roughly 7 hours til midnight w/ Bob playing last. It ended up only being 9 bands for $10 and it proved difficult to gather a ground before 7:00 pm. With Bob headlining and Artists Over Industry, A Utopian Skyline and others on the bill the evening would prove to be a success and launch a brand new show that would be held every summer for a few years.
The Inaugural Morning Star Festival Naturally featured Bob. Other Acts Included:
A UTOPIAN SKYLINE - Two time 717 Awards show Performers & Had won Best Album at the first Awards Show.
ARTISTS OVER INDUSTRY - The Hip Hop act Featuring Windchill...
END OF AN ERA - Debut appearance in the area & Would become a Favorite of the local scene.
RHEA SILVIA - First Time on a 717 Entertainment Show. Quickly became local favorites.
Rounding out the Bill was four bands who would all also make their debut at Gulliftys on this Show: COAL, CANTO 6, RENDER, THE C.C.L.
The event would take a hiatus in 2009 for some restructuring. 2010 saw the festival return in a major way, breaking down barriers as the first ever multi-day show held by 717 Entertainment. The show went away from the early start time from the original and instead featured two nights full of bands both starting around 7:30. The event was again of course headlined by Bob who closed out Saturday night, while Afreudianslip would handle Friday night duties.
FRIDAY JUNE 18TH:
AFREUDIANSLIP - Legends From Baltimore
ABSOLUTION - Nick caught them in West Virginia and was hooked, He knew Harrisburg would love them.
NINETAIL - York Metal Pioneers.
SUICIDE PUPPETS
DEATHMASCHINE
DROP OF GREY
SATURDAY JUNE 19TH
BOB - The band would naturally headline the Event Every year as its named after their song
TWELVE AFTER - Featuring Matt Brandyberry of From Ashes To New and Zack Wilkins of Demon Rum.
7TH LAYER - Horrorcore Hip hop legends from Harrisburg
THE TAKEN - Featuring Former members of Deja Vudoo w/ Mina on vocals
SILAS
*Saturday night was to Feature Almost Kings however the band was forced to withdraw a few weeks before the the event.
In 2011 the festival took it even one step further. It was expanded to 3 days including a pre party on Thursday evening. This is still the only 3 day festival in 717 Entertainment & Gulllifty's history. The other change was Bob now named Super Bob would headline Two nights. The band headlined Friday night & Saturday night. The event also hosted a bikini contest featuring models from Raretoy and it was sponsored by The Eisenhour project.
THURSDAY NIGHT PRE PARTY
PLAYGROUND ETIQUETTE - Featuring members of REVE, The Debut Gulliftys Performance
A TRUE CALLING - The band had become a local favorite.
CIRCLE OF SANITY - Also making their debut appearance at Gulliftys
VERSATYLE - He would go on to win M.C. of the year at the 717 Music Awardss
DURTE - This would be the only appearance on a 717 E show for Durte.
FRIDAY NIGHT:
SUPER BOB - The band would headline Both Evenings
FLIGHT CASE SYNDROME - The event served as their EP Release Party
TAPERED MIND - The band was also beginning to catch on in the area and had a nice following.
TWELVE AFTER - Back for a second year in a row at the Morning Star Festival.
NO STARS OVER CALIFORNIA - another band from the Maryland area that Nick felt would really catch on in our area.
DREAM DEVICE - First time on a 717 Entertainment Show.
*Shift Da Infamous was to be on the bill as well however, no showed as he was out of town.
SATURDAY NIGHT
SUPER BOB - All around headliner
ABSOLUTION - The event would serve as their PA CD Release Party
REBEL INC> - The band would also catch on well in our area and gain a huge following
WIND CHILL - 717 Entertainments favorite Hip Hop artist
DAY TAUNT - The band would become a very hot prospect around this time
JURISIFICATION - The band did not last long, though they had a very strong set.
*Dead By Wednesday was to play as well however had to cancel when their van broke down.
Super Bob Headline the 2011 Morning Star Festival at Gulliftys
Rebel Inc perform Saturday at the Morning Star Festival *Photo Credit: Darlene Hassinger
in 2012 the event was scaled back down to one night and featured only 6 acts. The feeling was that the 2 night and 3 night had been done to a very high success rate and the company didn't feel it necessary to throw on a mass amount of bands when there was not a lot available. With a summer show and schedules the field of bands was limited so 717 decided to simply put the best ones on the bill. Super Bob would again headline of course. The show also featured members of local wrestling outfit The U.W.E. doing a special arm wrestling contest. It would serve as a lead in to the companies event they would be having later in the month.
SUPER BOB - the band would perform their final show at Gulliftys on this evening.
FLIGHT CASE SYNDROME - The band would return for a second year on the festival
FELTSIDEOUT - First Festival for FSO and they delivered a blistering sest
ELYSIUM SKYLINE - Featuring members of From ashes To New & A Life To Live
OCTOBER - The show served as their EP Release party
KID DYNOMITE - he opened the evening w/ a great set.
The festival took a few years off and returned in the summer of 2017. The show would be the first time 717 Entertainment and Super bob had worked together in over 5 years. It was also the first time the event would be held at H.M.A.C. in Harrisburg. Utilizing the Capital Room, Stage on Herr & The Kitchen Gallery, the even had 3 stages was the original vision for the show since day one. The lineup was absolutely stellar w/ 16 bands & numerous acoustic acts. The show would ultimately be a failure in attendance and was said to have put an end to the festival all together. However in September of 2018 717 Entertainment Announced the Festival would return for a 6th year and second at HMAC in November again w/ Super Bob.
MAIN STAGE: CAPITAL ROOM
04:30 - 05:00 - DECIPHER LIFE
05:30 - 06:00 - 1818
06:30 - 07:00 - ARMING THE ARCHITECT
07:30 - 08:00 - IMBUED
08:30 - 09:00 - BEHIND THE GREY
09:30 - 10:00 - GUN METAL GRAY
10:30 - 11:10 - J and THE 9’S
11:35 - 12:25 - SUPER BOB
SECOND STAGE: STAGE ON HERR
*AFTER PARTY HOSTED BY DJ. PFARRCYDE - 12:30 - 2:00AM
04:00 - 04:30 - DOWNTOWN VINYL
05:00 - 05:30 - ETHICS
06:00 - 06:30 - VOIDHIDDEN
07:00 - 07:30 - NOVARIUM
08:00 - 08:30 - STRANGER IN THE ALPS
09:00 - 09:30 - BRIDGE TO DIVIDE
10:00 - 10:35 - SEVENTH SEAL
11:00 - 11:40 - DEAD EYES
ACOUSTIC STAGE: KITCHEN GALLERY BAR
DEAD!
THT. GRL.
THE LANGERS
JACKIE & A.J. CASSATT
BEN BOLLINGER (of Six Bar Break)
GENESIS LORRIANE
MARIE DANIELLE
AMBER NADINE
*The Show was Sponsored by: 717 Tattoo, iRockRadio.Me. Loudmind Designs, Lauren Rae Art & Design, The Twisted Angels and Anarchy Heart
Super Bob Headlines The Morning Star Festival at HMAC on the Capital Room Stage.
J & The 9's From New York co headline the Main stage at The Morning Star Festival.
Gun Metal Gray perform at the Morning Star Festival on Main stage at HMAC
Imbued perform on main stage at The Morning Star Festival
Behind The Grey play the Main stage of Morning Star Festival
Arming The Architect brought the metal to main stage of the morning star festival.
1818 Play in front of a huge crowd at the Morning star Festival on main stage.
Decipher Life opening the Main Stage on Capital Room stage.
Dead Eyes Headline Stage on Herr at Morning Star Festival 2017
Seventh Seal co headline Stage on Herr at the Morning Star Festival
Bridge to Divide form Baltimore play Stage on Herr.
Stranger in the Alps perform at Stage on Herr
Novarium perform at Stage on Herr during Morning Star Festival
Ethics perform at Morning Star Festival on Stage on Herr
Voidhiden playing Stage on Herr during Morning Star Festival
Downtown Vinyl open up the Morning Star Festival at Stage on Herr
My Chemical Romance Tribute Band DEAD! headline the Acoustic Stage.
Ally & Janessa of Tht. Grl. Perform on the Kitchen acoustic stage.
The Langers Perform at the Acoustic stage
Jackie and AJ formerly of Red Room playing the acoustic stage
Ben Bollinger of Six Bar Break performs on the Acoustic Stage
Amber Sweigert opens the Acoustic stage
All photos from The Morning Star Festival 2017 courtesy Nick from 717 Entertainment
