Free Press Houston

Westheimer Block Party

2005—2009
Producer: Omar Afra · 2005—2009

Free Press Houston launched the Westheimer Block Party in 2005 in an effort to revive some semblance of Houston’s famed Westheimer Street Festival. With neither the resources nor permission to close Westheimer itself, FPH compressed the idea around the intersection of Westheimer and Taft, activating stages inside and outside Numbers, AvantGarden (formerly Helios), Mango’s and La Strada, along with neighboring parking lots and whatever other usable space could be commandeered.

The free festival grew from a scrappy neighborhood gathering into a sprawling showcase for Houston music and art, eventually presenting hundreds of bands, artists, installations and performances and drawing as many as 12,000 people. National acts including St. Vincent, HEALTH, Dead Prez and Trail of Dead appeared alongside a deep cross-section of Houston’s independent music community.

More importantly, the Westheimer Block Party was where Free Press Houston cut its teeth as a festival producer: learning stage management, artist booking, crowd control, logistics, extreme problem-solving and, on occasion, how to “pay tribute to HPD in cash.” Those lessons became the production foundation for Free Press Summer Fest, which FPH launched in 2009. The Block Party was chaotic, free, intensely Houston and, for a few years, brought a piece of the old Westheimer Street Festival back to Montrose.

The spring 2008 announcement shows how the event combined a free neighborhood festival with a separately ticketed closing program: it advertised fifty bands across six stages and a ten-dollar evening show inside Numbers. Its named stage sites include Numbers, Avant Garden, La Strada and Mango’s. That distinction matters when reading the history of a “free” festival. The announcement also connects the street event to local acts represented in the Houston Local Band Registry, without turning an advertised bill into proof of a completed set.

Crowd dancing in the street among tents and a stage at the Westheimer Block Party.

Related finding aid · Houston Music Archive

October 15, 2005

Westheimer Block Party, 2005 — “West Fest Compressed”

Helios (411 Westheimer), Numbers (300 Westheimer), Mango's (403 Westheimer), Imagine That (2402 Montrose)

The first edition documented in the archive's own holdings. The paper prints it as “West Fest Compressed”, not yet as the Westheimer Block Party; the name the paper later used is applied here only as the collection it begins. Four numbered stage sites are keyed to a hand-drawn map of Westheimer, Montrose, Taft and Fairview, with a fifth schedule column for Helios Upstairs. Thirty-six sets are printed with set times, and eight sponsors are thanked on the map page.

Date printed on the map page of Free Press Houston Issue 52, October 2005: “October 15th”. The issue itself is the primary source; no other held record dates this edition.

Lineup — 36 names
  • Generic TribeHelios (411 Westheimer) · 1:00 – 1:30
  • The Kidnap SoundtrackHelios (411 Westheimer) · 1:45 – 2:15
  • Q.U.E.Helios (411 Westheimer) · 2:30 – 3:00
  • Bo JonesHelios (411 Westheimer) · 3:15 – 3:45
  • Mighty OrqHelios (411 Westheimer) · 4:00 – 4:30
  • EldridgeHelios (411 Westheimer) · 4:45 – 5:15
  • Studemont ProjectHHelios (411 Westheimer) · 5:30 – 6:45
  • Medicine ShowHelios (411 Westheimer) · 7:00 – 8:00
  • Aimee JonesHelios Upstairs (411 Westheimer) · 2:00 – 3:00
  • The JonxHelios Upstairs (411 Westheimer) · 3:00 – 3:30
  • Anguish in ExileHelios Upstairs (411 Westheimer) · 3:45 – 4:15
  • Hit by a CarHelios Upstairs (411 Westheimer) · 4:30 – 5:00
  • Bull ThievesHelios Upstairs (411 Westheimer) · 5:15 – 5:45
  • The NiyatHelios Upstairs (411 Westheimer) · 6:15 – 6:45
  • Reverend ButterHelios Upstairs (411 Westheimer) · 7:15 – 7:45
  • Southern BacktonesNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 1:00 – 1:30
  • NovusNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 1:45 – 2:15
  • Heist at HandNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 2:30 – 3:00
  • Dremnt The EndNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 3:15 – 3:45
  • Million Year DanceNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 4:00 – 4:30
  • Satin HooksHNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 4:45 – 5:30
  • HognoseNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 5:45 – 6:30
  • Los SkarnalesHNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 6:45 – 7:30
  • Woozy HelmetNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 7:45 – 8:30
  • DJ SunHNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 8:30 to whenever
  • Hellfire RevivalImagine That (2402 Montrose) · 1:00 – 1:45
  • Organ FailureImagine That (2402 Montrose) · 2:00 – 2:45
  • The DimesImagine That (2402 Montrose) · 3:00 – 3:45
  • From Postcards to LettersImagine That (2402 Montrose) · 4:00 – 4:45
  • Flowers to HideImagine That (2402 Montrose) · 5:00 – 5:45
  • Chim CharooImagine That (2402 Montrose) · 6:00 – 6:45
  • Rusted ShutHImagine That (2402 Montrose) · 7:00 – 7:45
  • A Pink CloudImagine That (2402 Montrose) · 8:00
  • Go Spread Your WingsMango's (403 Westheimer) · 3:00 – 4:00
  • Free RadicalsHMango's (403 Westheimer) · 4:15 – 5:15
  • Skyblue72Mango's (403 Westheimer) · 5:30 – 6:30
Band Schedule, page 8 of Free Press Houston Issue 52, October 2005, printing thirty-six sets with times across Helios (411 Westheimer), Helios Upstairs, Numbers (300 Westheimer), Imagine That (2402 Montrose) and Mango's (403 Westheimer), under the printed title “West Fest Compressed”. · Free Press Houston, Issue 52, October 2005 — held issue PDF, /archive/2005.10b
Map, page 9 of Free Press Houston Issue 52, October 2005, printing “October 15th”, a hand-drawn site map by Timothy J. Dorsey keying stages 1–4 to Westheimer, Montrose, Taft and Fairview, and a list of eight sponsors. · Map artwork by Timothy J. Dorsey · Free Press Houston, Issue 52, October 2005 — held issue PDF, /archive/2005.10b
May 27, 2006

Westheimer Block Party, spring 2006

Westheimer between Yoakum and Taft — Black Widow Pub, Helios, Mango’s, La Strada and Numbers

Scheduled for April 29 and rained out; May 27 was announced as the rain date. The lineup shown is the planned April 29 stage guide and is not evidence that those acts performed on May 27. The map numbers Black Widow Pub, Helios, Mango’s, La Strada and Numbers; it also prints an American Wandering Club Artist Flea Market and Exhibition at Numbers and a giant moonwalk at Helios. Sponsors printed are Super Happy Fun Land, Bizarre Bazaar, Rhythm Room Rehearsals, Calico Tee Shirts and Chemistry Records.

Issue 63 scheduled the festival for April 29, 2006, 1–8 p.m. Issue 64 states that it rained out and announces Saturday, May 27 as the rain date. The held run does not conclusively document completion of the rain date.

Planned April 29 lineup — 62 names
  • Standing SoulsNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 12:45–1:15
  • Arthur YoriaNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 1:30–2:00
  • EldridgeNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 2:15–2:45
  • Jack in the PulpitNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 3:00–3:30
  • Skyblue72Numbers (300 Westheimer) · 3:45–4:15
  • Mechanical BoyNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 4:30–5:00
  • bojonesNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 5:15–5:45
  • Million Year DanceNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 6:00–6:30
  • J.W. AmericanaNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 6:45–7:15
  • Penny RoyalNumbers (300 Westheimer) · 7:30–8:00
  • DanseparcNumbers (300 Westheimer) · After the listed sets; inside Numbers
  • SeverLa Strada (322 Westheimer) — rotating DJs
  • OlivierLa Strada (322 Westheimer) — rotating DJs
  • Mike W.La Strada (322 Westheimer) — rotating DJs
  • LBOLa Strada (322 Westheimer) — rotating DJs
  • HippoLa Strada (322 Westheimer) — rotating DJs
  • EstefexLa Strada (322 Westheimer) — rotating DJs
  • John OsarioLa Strada (322 Westheimer) — rotating DJs
  • Brotha JabrilLa Strada (322 Westheimer) — rotating DJs
  • The Magnetic FrostiesMango’s (403 Westheimer) — front patio · 12:00–12:30
  • The DimesMango’s (403 Westheimer) — front patio · 12:45–1:15
  • The Riff TiffsHMango’s (403 Westheimer) — front patio · 1:30–2:00
  • Suspender ManMango’s (403 Westheimer) — front patio · 2:15–2:45
  • PSAMango’s (403 Westheimer) — front patio · 3:00–3:30
  • Chim CharooMango’s (403 Westheimer) — front patio · 3:45–4:15
  • The ScandalsMango’s (403 Westheimer) — front patio · 4:30–5:00
  • Listen ListenMango’s (403 Westheimer) — front patio · 5:15–5:45
  • Things That Go PopMango’s (403 Westheimer) — front patio · 6:00–6:30
  • Organ FailureMango’s (403 Westheimer) — front patio · 6:45–7:15
  • Brains for DinnerMango’s (403 Westheimer) — front patio · 7:30–8:00
  • The KrinklesMango’s (403 Westheimer) — front patio · 8:15–8:45
  • The ProgramInside Mango’s (403 Westheimer) · 1:00–1:30
  • Guy SchwartzInside Mango’s (403 Westheimer) · 1:45–2:15
  • SeraphimInside Mango’s (403 Westheimer) · 2:30–3:00
  • HeroInside Mango’s (403 Westheimer) · 3:15–3:45
  • NosapriseHInside Mango’s (403 Westheimer) · 4:00–4:30
  • Los de VerdadInside Mango’s (403 Westheimer) · 4:45–5:15
  • Vicarious MeInside Mango’s (403 Westheimer) · 5:30–6:00
  • Two Star SymphonyHInside Mango’s (403 Westheimer) · 6:15–6:45
  • Vibe CommitteeHelios (411 Westheimer) — back patio · 1:00–1:40
  • Sean Reefer & the Resin Valley BoysHelios (411 Westheimer) — back patio · 1:55–2:35
  • The TradeHelios (411 Westheimer) — back patio · 2:50–3:30
  • CloseauxHelios (411 Westheimer) — back patio · 3:45–4:25
  • Medicine ShowHelios (411 Westheimer) — back patio · 4:40–5:20
  • Tody CastilloHelios (411 Westheimer) — back patio · 5:35–6:15
  • DubTexHelios (411 Westheimer) — back patio · 6:30–7:10
  • Generic TribeHelios (411 Westheimer) — back patio · 7:25–8:05
  • SongInside Helios (411 Westheimer) · 1:00–2:00
  • The WigginsHInside Helios (411 Westheimer) · 2:30–3:30
  • Mic SkillsHInside Helios (411 Westheimer) · 4:00–5:00
  • Perseph OneInside Helios (411 Westheimer) · 5:30–6:30
  • Free RadicalsHAfter the fest at Helios
  • Lucky and the LightsabersAfter the fest at Helios
  • More TBAAfter the fest at Helios
  • NoviceBlack Widow (608 Westheimer) · 12:00–12:45
  • Bullets on BroadwayBlack Widow (608 Westheimer) · 1:00–1:50
  • DubTexBlack Widow (608 Westheimer) · 2:05–2:35
  • OtenkiBlack Widow (608 Westheimer) · 3:10–4:00
  • A>S>H>SBlack Widow (608 Westheimer) · 4:15–5:05
  • Black Math ExperimentBlack Widow (608 Westheimer) · 5:20–6:10
  • Morgue CityBlack Widow (608 Westheimer) · 6:25–7:15
  • BowelBlack Widow (608 Westheimer) · 8:00–9:00
Planned stage guide, printed page 8 of Free Press Houston Issue 63, April 2006. The listed April 29 event was rained out; this page does not establish that the program was performed on the announced May 27 rain date. · Artwork by Tyler Barber · Free Press Houston, Issue 63, April 2006 — /archive/2006.04b, printed page 8
Map and sponsors, printed page 9 of Free Press Houston Issue 63, April 2006, numbering Black Widow Pub, Helios, Mango’s, La Strada and Numbers along Westheimer between Yoakum and Taft. · Artwork by Tyler Barber · Free Press Houston, Issue 63, April 2006 — /archive/2006.04b, printed page 9
Rainout and May 27 rain-date notice, printed page 4 of Free Press Houston Issue 64, May 2006. The notice announces the replacement date but does not conclusively document its completion. · Artwork by Tyler Barber · Free Press Houston, Issue 64, May 2006 — /archive/2006.05, printed page 4
November 4, 2006

Westheimer Block Party, fall 2006

Helios, La Strada, Mango’s and Numbers, Westheimer at Taft

The stage map assigns Guerilla Arts and the Houston Comic and Zine Festival to Helios; Boys and Girls Club DJs to La Strada; indoor and outdoor stages and arts and crafts to Mango’s; and the main stage, Bike Ride Art Show, food and drink to Numbers. Sacred Heart appears on the drawing but is not a numbered programmed stage. Additional programming includes the Lollipauperz bike ride exhibit at 4 p.m., live painting by The Mexican Arsenal, the Guerilla Art Show, the Houston Comic and Zine Fest and film projections at 8:30 p.m. The printed Barbara Kruger wording states inspiration only and is not an artist credit.

Date and noon–9 p.m. hours are printed in Free Press Houston Issue 72. Issue 73’s post-event account confirms that the event took place.

Lineup — 33 names
  • The ContingencyNumbers · 12:00–12:35
  • Mechanical BoyNumbers · 12:50–1:25
  • Heist at HandNumbers · 1:45–2:20
  • Generic TribeNumbers · 2:20–2:55
  • Studemont ProjectHNumbers · 3:15–3:50
  • Bring Back the GunsNumbers · 4:10–4:45
  • Million Year DanceNumbers · 5:05–5:40
  • Penny RoyalNumbers · begins 6:00; ending unheld
  • DamonLa Strada — Boys & Girls Club DJs
  • FredsterHLa Strada — Boys & Girls Club DJs
  • Brandon (DJ Cuba Gooding Jr / BOY)La Strada — Boys & Girls Club DJs
  • Michele (Spinnin Kitties / Wasted)La Strada — Boys & Girls Club DJs
  • and many moreLa Strada — Boys & Girls Club DJs
  • Generation LandslideMango’s — outside · 12:00–12:30
  • Guy SchwartzMango’s — outside · 12:50–1:20
  • bellevilleMango’s — outside · 1:40–2:10
  • Poison Apple MartiniMango’s — outside · 2:30–3:00
  • Standing SoulsMango’s — outside · 3:20–3:50
  • HoneysuckleMango’s — outside · 4:10–4:40
  • NosapriseHMango’s — outside · 5:00–5:30
  • Free RadicalsHMango’s — outside · 5:50–6:30
  • Medicine ShowMango’s — outside · begins 6:50; ending unheld
  • Nada BrahmaMango’s — inside · 12:00–12:30
  • The Jane FrequencyMango’s — inside · 12:45–1:15
  • The Last StarfighterMango’s — inside · 1:30–2:00
  • The Low EndsMango’s — inside · 2:15–2:30
  • Tzar BombaMango’s — inside · 2:45–3:15
  • Make Your Own MapsMango’s — inside · 3:30–4:00
  • Bullets on BroadwayMango’s — inside · 4:15–4:45
  • Riff TiffsHMango’s — inside · 5:00–5:30
  • Mic SkillsHMango’s — inside · 5:45–6:15
  • PlaygroundMango’s — inside · 6:30–7:00
  • The Fucking TransmissionsMango’s — inside · begins 7:15; ending unheld
Band Times artwork for the November 4, 2006 Westheimer Block Party, printing the schedule for Numbers, La Strada and the inside and outside Mango’s stages. · Artwork by Jody Worthington · Supplied by Omar Afra to the Free Press Houston Archive
Stage map, printed page 10 of Free Press Houston Issue 72, November 2006, numbering Helios, La Strada, Mango’s and Numbers. Sacred Heart appears on the drawing but is not a numbered programmed stage. · Artwork by Jody Worthington · Free Press Houston, Issue 72, November 2006 — /archive/2006.11, printed page 10
Band schedule, printed page 11 of Free Press Houston Issue 72, November 2006, with set times at Numbers and inside and outside Mango’s, plus the Boys & Girls Club DJs at La Strada. · Artwork by Jody Worthington · Free Press Houston, Issue 72, November 2006 — /archive/2006.11, printed page 11
Post-event account, printed page 4 of Free Press Houston Issue 73, November 2006, confirming completion and acknowledging event workers and volunteers. · Free Press Houston, Issue 73, November 2006 — /archive/2006.11b, printed page 4
October 13, 2007

Westheimer Block Party, fall 2007

300–500 block of Westheimer

Free, noon to nine, with stages at Numbers, La Strada, Mango's and Helios (Avant Garden).

Date and hours from Free Press Houston's own performer list. The live page's rendered year is corrupted; the archive path establishes 2007.

Lineup — 35 names
Westheimer Block Party poster, 10.13.07 — 300–500 block of Westheimer, noon 'til 9pm, Numbers / La Strada / Mangos / Helios (Avant Garden), absolutely free. · FPH archival file, 2007
Information graphic circulated for the October 13, 2007 Block Party. · FPH archival file, 2007
Stage guide for the October 13, 2007 Block Party, printing set times for Avante Garden, Numbers, Mangos and La Strada. · FPH archival file, 2007
April 12, 2008

Westheimer Block Party, spring 2008

300–500 block of Westheimer

Free, noon to midnight, 50 bands across six stages, with …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead and HEALTH among the national acts. Numbers, Avant Garden, La Strada and Mango's are named among the venues.

Date stated by Free Press Houston's own announcement and printed on the surviving poster.

Revised Block Party graphic for the April 12, 2008 edition. The sheet itself prints “Design by Shelby Hohl for Club Tech”. · Design by Shelby Hohl · FPH archival file, 2008
October 11, 2008

Westheimer Block Party, fall 2008

300–500 block of Westheimer

Free admission. Free Press Houston's own note afterwards puts the bill at more than 104 bands. A map and stage guide and a chronological artist guide were published for the day.

Date carried by Free Press Houston's own August 2008 notice and by outside reporting.

Poster for the October 11, 2008 Westheimer Block Party. · FPH archival file, 2008
Stage guide printed for the October 11, 2008 edition. · FPH archival file, 2008
Site map printed for the October 11, 2008 edition. · FPH archival file, 2008
March 28, 2009

Westheimer Block Party, spring 2009

300–500 block of Westheimer

Free through the day, with a wristbanded evening programme in the venues. Free Press Houston reported an HPD attendance estimate of 11,000 and gave the previous fall as 8,000.

Date from Free Press Houston's own pre-event notice. The live page's rendered year is corrupted; the archive path establishes 2009.

Lineup — 6 names
Flyer front for the March 28, 2009 Block Party. · Artwork by Shelby Hohl · FPH archival file, 2009
Flyer information side for the March 28, 2009 Block Party. · Artwork by Shelby Hohl · FPH archival file, 2009
November 14, 2009 — November 15, 2009

Westheimer Block Party, fall 2009

300–500 block of Westheimer

Two days, 250+ bands, with Dead Prez and Japanther named as national headliners on the printed poster. A separate ticketed evening show on Saturday, November 14 printed Dead Prez, Japanther, The Eastern Sea (Album Release), Black Congress and DJ Melodic at Numbers, 8:15PM, $12. Reported at the time as the last edition in its then-current form.

Dates from the surviving Free Press Houston lineup page. The live page's CMS date field is unreliable and is disregarded.

Lineup — 134 names
General poster for the November 14–15, 2009 Westheimer Block Party, printing Dead Prez and Japanther and 250+ local and regional bands. · Artwork by Shelby Hohl · Circulated by the Westheimer Block Party event account to Free Press Houston, October 27, 2009
11x17 evening-show poster for Saturday, November 14, 2009, printing Dead Prez, Japanther, The Eastern Sea (Album Release), Black Congress and DJ Melodic — Numbers / 8:15PM / $12. · Artwork by Shelby Hohl · Circulated by the Westheimer Block Party event account to Free Press Houston, October 27, 2009
Video archive
Westheimer Block Party Free Press Houston Oct 11 2008
2008-10-11 · DangerIncUSA · Source
Westheimer Block Party Free Press Houston March 28th, 2009 Free Day Festival & Clutch Nightness
2009-03-28 · DangerIncUSA · Source
FPH presents Westheimer Block Party Spring 09
2009-03-28 · Osker Koronado · Source
Published record
Further photography / ephemera

Small, low-resolution files recovered from the surviving Free Press Houston pages. Held as evidence; shown at the size they survive at.

Poster for the Westheimer Block Party of April 12, 2008, printing the La Strada night bill headed by Hipp-E.
2008 · Free Press Houston
Crowd photograph carried with Free Press Houston's August 2008 notice of the next Westheimer Block Party.
2008 · Anthony Rathbun
Photograph published with Free Press Houston's note of thanks after the October 2007 Westheimer Block Party.
2007 · Free Press Houston
Photograph published with Free Press Houston's October 2007 Block Party photo post.
2007 · Free Press Houston
Photograph published with Free Press Houston's October 2007 post on the Houston Chronicle's Block Party coverage.
2007 · Free Press Houston
Opening frame of the Westheimer Block Party Spring 2009 montage filmed by Osker Koronado.
2009 · Osker Koronado

Source — freepresshouston.com, surviving pages · Free Press Houston's own material, recovered from the surviving legacy pages. Where a page prints a photographer credit, that credit is recorded against the individual image. The live pages rewrite post years; dates here come from the archive paths and page content.

Contents

Principal records held for this subject, in the order a researcher would consult them. The full list of records follows below. The subject itself is described in the entity record Westheimer Block Party.

2005 — first documented edition

Spring 2006 — rainout and announced rain date

Fall 2006

Fall 2007

Spring 2008

Fall 2008

Spring 2009

Fall 2009

Retrospective analysis

The paper's first street festival, 2005–2009, is where the institutional history begins its account of the move from newspaper to production; it draws on the printed October 2005 schedule and map, and the posters, guides and recaps held here.

Object records

Material relating to the Westheimer Block Party as documented in Free Press Houston.

Also recorded as
Westheimer Street Festival
Sources
Cite this record

Free Press Houston Archive “Westheimer Block Party.” n.d.. Archival collection. Free Press Houston Archive. https://freepresshoustonarchive.com/collections/westheimer-block-party. Accessed [date].

Published
Undated in the record
Accessed
—

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