03/10/2026
Post Decadent wrap-up. Buckle up... it's a long one.
So the Sunday after the festival has ended, I normally have something clever to say or some common theme or some emotionally driven thought... but this year, I've got nothing, hence the reason it is now Tuesday morning and I'm just now typing something up.
And that's nothing against what we just saw this past weekend. No no no no no, quite the contrary... There's a LOT I could say about how remarkable it was. But it just means that for once, I don't really have a point to start from that I haven't already jumped from. So I figured I'd try something different...
Me: "Hey Google. Give me a random famous movie quote."
Google: "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." - Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone (The Godfather)
Ok, this made me laugh. Anyone who knows one our organizers Joey G really well knows that the man absolutely loves The Godfather... but now I have my jumping off point. So let's begin.
As a representative of the committee for Decadent Cabaret, we, kind of, in a way, live by that quote. We are the caretakers of an event that has been around since 1980. Think about that for a second. Forty-six years ago. You think about some of our youngest participants this past weekend and that is more than DOUBLE their age...
..but you know what? The event is still here. WHY? Because of the crowd, because of the performers, and because of the ever growing demand to be bigger, better and to give people something they weren't expecting. Every year, there are special moments. Every year, performers are pushing the envelope. Every year, we see new faces and old friends set the stage ablaze with their talent. Make no mistake; this isn't by happenstance.
This, for us organizers, is a labor of love. We don't do this for the glory and we certainly don't do it for the recognition. We do it for the love of the local music scene. We do it for the love of seeing everything and everyone come together. We do it in the hopes that we can somehow help bridge the past to the future. The time planning, the time putting the puzzle pieces together, the time scouting, the time setting the stages up, running the show and tearing everything down again (which, believe me, makes for a VERY long week)... we only have one goal in mind. GIVE THEM AN OFFER THEY CAN'T REFUSE. Give them a lineup they can enjoy from top to bottom. Give them a reason to forget about life for awhile. Give them something to believe in. (Cue Poison)
And frankly, that's why we do what we do. Everything we do, we do it for you. (Cue Bryan Adams)
Alright, enough with that stuff. On behalf of the other committee members, Joe, Danno & Will, I would like to extend a thank you to the staff at Brickhouse Pub and Grub, the production team at DMi Sound, the volunteers who popped in to help load in and out of the building, our amazing festival staff, all of the stupendous performers, and most importantly, the crowd, for continually showing up to support local music in the Chippewa Valley, showing the love and giving us the energy to rise and thrive.
Cheers! We'll see you in 2027!
-Andrew
P.S. - Keep an eye on our YouTube channel over the next few weeks (give or take) for video replays from DC45!
