Annual Goner showcase this weekend

The city where Rock and Roll was born will host over 30 bands this weekend at Gonerfest 6, which starts tonight at local music venue The Hi-Tone Cafe.

What started out as a small, two-day concert in a dive bar on Monroe Avenue has transformed into the city's longest and most extensive music festival, with acts playing in town through Sunday at four different locations.

Zac Ives, co-owner of Goner Records, said that when the music festival kicked off for the first time in 2005 at local bar the Buccaneer, he had no idea if anyone would show up.

"Around 250 people showed up, which was just way too many people at the Buccaneer," Ives said. "This year, we've already sold 275 passes, and we're expecting at least 500 people a night."

This year's large attendance could be due to the fest's ability to bring international bands.

"The international bands playing this year are from Denmark, France, Puerto Rico and Canada. I know that seems like a lot, but we've booked more international bands in the past," Ives said.

This year's fest also boasts reunions from local punk rock band The Reatards, who launched the career of Memphis' latest famous export, Jay Reatard. The Reatards are set to headline tonight in their first show in four years.

Staples of the '90s Memphis garage rock scene, the Compulsive Gamblers, are also set to play their second reunion since their second breakup in 2001 on Friday.

Reatard, who's played every fest since its inception, said that though the event has grown in diversity, as well as size, it's still not too much for one person to handle if they pick and choose what bands they want to see.

"It's getting a lot more diverse. The first couple years were simply a garage rock fest," Reatard said. "Goner is putting a lot more interesting elements into the fest now that it's getting bigger. Still, there are a lot of bands playing, and if you tried to see them all, it might be a little too much, but I just kind of look at the schedule and pick which bands I want to see."

Though Goner Fest has grown rapidly since 2005, Reatard said the fest still gives a lot of exposure to up and coming local artists.

Seth Sutton of local punk group Useless Eaters said Goner Fest will help his band gain attention from a new audience.

"I'm pretty sure that this will be the biggest audience we've ever played too." Sutton said. "There will also be tons of people from out of the country in Memphis this weekend, and they'll get the chance to check out our city for the next few days, so it kind of works out for everybody."