Halftone zine fest

02/07/2025

Registration is OPEN for Halftone 2025! We are slated for May 17 at UK SAVS :)

https://forms.gle/wqrtsi1p93LiSTvp7

01/31/2025

Registration for 2025 will open soon! Stay tuned friends. In the meantime, please check out this zine workshop opportunity in Lexington, part of a research project:

04/02/2024

We are looking for a few good volunteers! Send us your info on the form below if you can help on May 11:

Volunteer to help us out at the Halftone Zine Fest in Lexington, Ky

05/15/2023

Did you come to Halftone Zine fest on Saturday? Share your thoughts with us to make next year's event even better!!

Tell us your deepest thoughts! Or not!

05/10/2023

05/10/2023

FYI, friends: bring cash for this event! Some of our vendors will take card/venmo/etc but not everyone :)

04/17/2023

No more registrations are being accepted for this event, we have SIXTY tables lined up for your zine-ing enjoyment, as well as workshops, keynotes, art stations, and more!!!

04/14/2023

We are excited to announce TWO keynote events for this year's Halftone Zine Fest. Don't miss it!

Noon - Bill Widener: “Lost” - A Retrospective

Local DJ and comic artist “Uncle” Bill Widener will exhibit and discuss material from “Lost” – a Lexington zine published from 1980-1983 of which Widener was a contributor. “Lost” was reissued by local punk record label and zine General Speech. In a press release, General Speech recounted some history: “‘Lost’ is a fascinating publication by a Beatles-obsessed editor, to whom punk had provided a catalyst that jolted him from the haze of tired 70’s rock, and drove him to document the new sounds happening in Lexington.” Early issues covered the nascent punk scene with bands like No Excuse, Thrusters, and the Chinese at Club Au Go Go, a gay and drag-friendly venue that provided a launchpad for Lexton’s DIY punk community. Later, “Lost” incorporated political art, illustrations, and documented bands from Kentucky and Ohio such as The Endtables, Babylon Dance Band, Synthetics, Your Food, Dementia Precox, and Vale of Tears, and coverage of q***r and drag performances by Lexington group Red Interiors and the legendary Divine.

2 p.m. - J.T. Dockery: Remembering EdMcClanahan & Celebrating Lexington’s Underground Culture

For the Covid-cancelled 2020 event, artist J.t. Dockery was scheduled to lead a panel discussion with Ed McClanahan, Guy Mendes, and Hendrick Floyd (aka Sheisty Khrist) about McClanahan’s history with zines going back to the 1950s and 60's and the collaboration between a writer (Dockery,), a photographer (Mendes,) and a musician (Floyd,) who have all collaborated in various capacities. The 2020 event was also meant to introduce Dockery and McClanahan’s book, “Juanita and the Frog Prince.” This year’s event has been reimagined to serve as a tribute to McClanahan, who passed away in November 2021, and to shed light on Lexington’s rich underground cultures, whether literary, art, comics, or hip-hop. Dockery will read from his work as well as McClanahan’s and provide context for the work the artists created together.

03/29/2023

Lexington was blessed with heartfelt DIY efforts by a number of zines in the ‘80s, but two stand out as pivotal: LOST from ‘80-‘83, and FINAL MAGAZINE from ’84-’87, provided seamless coverage of the underground music, art, and q***r communities.

Originally released by General Speech, but never exhibited at the zine fest in 2020 due to covid. These box sets sold out quickly, but will be available one last time at Halftone Zine Fest before going out of print for good. A pre-order will be running through the end of this week to make sure enough are produced to satisfy interest for anyone who may have missed them. Each box set is $27, or $50 for both, and must be picked up at Halftone. Please contact General Speech for payment details.

Lost – 12 issues from ’80-’83. A fascinating document by a Beatles obsessed editor, to whom punk had provided a catalyst which jolted him out of haze of tired 70s rock, and into action to document the new sounds happening in Lexington. Early issues cover the nascent punk scene with bands like No Excuse, Thrusters, and the Chinese at Club Au Go Go, a gay and drag friendly club which provided a launch pad for DIY punk to kick off in Lexington. Later it incorporated political art, illustrations, and documented bands from KY and OH such as The Endtables, Babylon Dance Band, Synthetics, Your Food, Dementia Precox, Vale of Tears, etc., coverage of q***r and drag performances by the legendary Divine, and Lexington group Red Interiors, and more. Includes “Lost Films” DVD, a compilation of early live punk & new wave video footage in Lexington.

Final Magazine – 11 issues from ’84-‘87. Featuring Lexington, Louisville, and Cincinnati bands such as Active Ingredients, The C.A.’s, EAF, Decembers Children, Ministry of Truth, Sluggo, Squirrel Bait, etc. as well as interviews, art, photos, record and live music reviews, and coverage of national touring bands, from the likes of Black Flag, 7 Seconds, Husker Du, Die Kreuzen, Necros, and more. Includes “Patterned Abuse” CD, an unpublished compilation album documenting the ‘80s independent Lexington music scene, finally made available.

03/23/2023

A fun local happening.
https://libcal.uky.edu/event/10420811