Today The FMs announce the first-ever Frankie Fest – an annual queer rock festival honoring the legacy of Frankie Rex – taking place on May 11 at Coney Island USA. Frankie was an up-and-coming trans-masc singer and one-half of the alternative duo The FMs, died in 1922 aged 37. The event, which will also serve as the record release party for PINK + BLACK will feature the first performance from The FMs in over four years – and the first-ever without Frankie. Frankie Fest highlights a range of cutting-edge, NYC-based queer performers showcasing indie rock, goth, riot grrrl, punk, metal, and more. The inaugural Frankie Fest lineup is as follows: Pink Velvet Witch // Jordan Fiction // Villains // Llynks // The FMs // Frida Kill // Miss Cherry Delight. Frankie Fest is a benefit for CFLC (Chosen Family Law Center). Proceeds benefiting CFLC’s new “Frankie Maddox Rex Memorial Fund” will support low-income TNBGNC New Yorkers with free legal services to support the dignity and safety they deserve, including name changes, support with identity documents, asylee green card applications, and medical advance directives. The FMs will release PINK + BLACK on May 10. Their sophomore double album was completed the moment the pandemic started and is now making its release after the tragic death of singer Frankie Rex in 2022. Recorded throughout 2017-2019 on an old ferry boat docked in the middle of Bushwick, Brooklyn, PINK + BLACK was produced by bandleader Matte Namer, with Brian Forbes acting as co-producer and mix engineer. The material highlights Namer’s love of analog synthesizers combined with etherial guitars and takes a more psychedelic and emotionally dynamic turn as compared to their debut album spanning themes from sexual irreverence, the nature of dreams and human connection, to hope for the future of gender freedom. The album is sonically ambitious and thematically expansive, yet presents with a unified concept and feel within the context of The FMs journey. “The concept for PINK + BLACK began seven years ago and includes over a thousand hours of blood, sweat and tears put into the recording process. This is Frankie’s legacy and the world deserves to hear it.” – Matte Namer
FRANKIE FEST – A QUEER ROCK FESTIVAL HONORING THE LEGACY OF FRANKIE REX MAY 11 AT CONEY ISLAND USA
Labels: 2024, Frankie Fest, Frankie Rex, The FM's
