Olympia Music History Project: John Foster

Olympia Music History Project: John Foster

From Low Profile with Markly Morrison by Markly Morrison

December 19, 2024 · 60 min

About this episode

Markly Morrison discusses the Olympia Music History Project and its significance in documenting the local indie music scene.

It’s been a minute since I’ve put out a new show, and so I thought maybe I’d let you in on what has been keeping me so busy. A couple years ago, I started working on an oral history project funded by the city- appropriately titled The Olympia Music History Project. We (myself, Mariella Luz and Kelsey Smith) have since broken off from the city into our own nonprofit organization, and I’m excited to announce that we are launching olympiamusichistory.org on New Year’s Day, 2025! So let me tell you about what this is: I was a part of a team that interviewed 30 people who were doing significant things in Olympia’s legendary indie music scene between 1980-2002. We spoke with folks from globally revered bands like Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney and The Gossip, as well as hometown heroes including Young Pioneers, The Noses, Fitz of Depression, even Olympia’s only known ska band of that era, Engine 54. I’ve learned so much working on this project- and I’ve heard all the interviews several times, because I’m the guy who edited them. Have you ever seen that T-Shirt that says “Reading is Sexy?” That was designed by Sarah Utter, the singer and guitarist from The Bangs. Allegedly Patrick Swayze…

People in this episode

Host: Markly Morrison

Topics covered

  • Olympia music history
  • indie music scene
  • oral history project
  • interviews
  • local bands
  • music festivals

Keywords

  • Olympia
  • music history
  • indie bands
  • oral history
  • interviews
  • punk shows
  • music festivals

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Olympia Music History Project, olympiamusichistory.org

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