Quick Take
Santa Cruz's annual Purrrrrrfest returns Saturday to the Blue Lagoon, bringing four local metal bands together to raise money for the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter's Bogey Fund, which helps black cats find homes. The quirky benefit concert has grown into a beloved community tradition now in its sixth year.
Traditions are important. They remind us of who we are and where we’ve been in an ever-changing world. Traditions can also be something we look forward to, like going to Woodies on the Wharf every June or putting up the Halloween decorations the moment October comes around. Or going to an annual concert that not only features rad bands but also works for a good cause.
On Saturday, the sixth annual Purrrrrrfest (the name gains an “r” every year) returns to the Blue Lagoon in downtown Santa Cruz, where it originally started. But this year, be prepared for it to be on the heavier side as local metal acts Unholy Things, Eldrith, Stumpgrinder and Authors of Fate are all billed to play the benefit.
“Because it’s the sixth one it seemed like a really easy decision to make it a metal event,” said Purrrrrrfest founder Jesse Kenneth Cotu Williams.
For doom metal headbangers Eldrith, playing Purrrrrrfest was a no-brainer.
“Jesse is super great so when he told us about a fest dedicated to raising money to help cats, it sounded like a pretty cool idea,” says Eldrith guitarist Jacob Oiesen.
Williams is either well known or – at the very least – a familiar entity to most people in the Santa Cruz music scene. Born and raised in Santa Cruz, he has played in a large assortment of bands such as The Backup Razor, A Thousand Shall Fall and Disco Graves. Currently, he plays bass in the punk rock wrestling accompaniment collective The Randy Savages as well as Americana rockers Eyes Like Lanterns.
As with previous years, all proceeds from Purrrrrrfest will go to the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s Laurie Roberts Bogey Fund. Established in 2014 by Roberts after her black cat, Bogey, passed away, the fund helps the SCCAS care for and find homes for black cats, which are often less adoptable due to archaic superstitions, according to the SCCAS website. The site also states that their black fur makes their expressions “less obvious, especially in the shelter where the lighting is not ideal,” which leads many people to pass them by for lighter-colored cats.
It’s an issue very close to Williams’ heart, as he’s the proud “parent” of a black, polydactyl cat named Olive Oil. He also started volunteering with the shelter in 2013 and became a full-time employee about four years ago.
“I like animals because they break the barriers of every ‘ism,’” Williams said. “All the things that people fear about each other, animals don’t. So animals need your help no matter who you are.” According to Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter accountant Dana Morey, the benefit’s donations in the past have usually been a significant amount, ranging between $750 and $1,000.
“Purrrrrrfest is a fun community event that raises both awareness and funds for black cats,” Morey wrote in an email to Lookout. “Because black cats typically spend more time in shelters before being adopted, the Bogey Fund helps them find families sooner by reducing their adoption fees.”
Since this year’s event is at the Blue Lagoon, attendees must be 21 or older. However, not all Purrrrrrfest shows have been strictly at local bar venues. Two years ago, it was held at the Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial Building, and last year it was held at Barrios Unidos. Both of those shows were full-day productions, with eight hours of live music, booths for local makers, creatives and nonprofits to sell goods or pass out literature, and all proceeds were split between the Bogey Fund and the venue equally.
“In the last few years everyone worked really hard behind the scenes to make gigantic events,” Williams said. “But this year I just booked a small metal show because what’s really important is having fun and doing something positive without stressing my friends out to do it.”
He says one of his favorite things about Purrrrrrfest is knowing it has the chance at longevity. Even if he can’t plan next year, Williams said he knows that “my friends would because it’s cool and doesn’t have to be difficult.”
He also noted that while Purrrrrrfest is a fun way to help local animals at the shelter, it’s only a once-a-year tradition and there are plenty of other ways for the community to become involved.
“[SCCAS] needs volunteers,” he said. “The shelter needs a lot of different kinds of people. It’s not easy and you have to be compassionate, but the animals benefit from everyone’s help.”
Purrrrrrfest happens Saturday at the Blue Lagoon, 923 Pacific Ave. in downtown Santa Cruz, with doors at 7:30 p.m. and music starting at 8:30. Suggested donation is $20; 21 and over. Find more information here.
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