Rogue festival showcases local talents

 FRESNO, Calif–The 16th annual Rogue Festival took over Fresno’s historic Tower District promising to bring unique performances. The Rogue Festival is an annual performance festival that brings emerging and established artists to the community.

Performer and board member Victor DesRoches has been part of the festival since 2004. In 2005, his folk Americana band Boxcar Figaro performed for the first time at the festival.

“At the Rogue Festival we do a show that’s a little more directed towards the audience,” DesRoches says. “I talk a lot more, and it’s a show that I actually write out before the festival. So there is a beginning, middle and end, and a theme that goes through and all.”

DesRoches encourages starter bands and performers to join the Rogue Festival as a way to begin their career.

 This year’s festival contained performances throughout the month of March. Vince Warner, a tech manager at the Rogue Festival, says he loves and enjoys every moment of the performances.

“It’s such a wonder of the local arts scene,” Warner says. “It’s one of the only festivals of its kind. I think it really does happen in Fresno, and not only does it showcase a lot of the best local artists and performance artists you know of all kinds.”

Stephanie Brook, who is performing with her son in a play, also volunteered at the Rogue Festival Store this year.

“Come and play and be inspired and have fun and learn something about yourself and about other people and see how much talent we have here locally,” Brook says.

 The Rogue Festival aspires to bring emerging and established artists to audiences with imaginative and creative performances.