How is it that no one thought before to have a festival in the River Arts District and call it Rad Fest? Because that's pretty good, right?

And the dual-venue multi-band event to be known as Rad Fest is better than pretty good. Held on Saturday, Aug. 25 at The Grey Eagle and Phil Mechanic Studios' Flood Gallery, the festival, according to its organizers, "is an extension of other great events in the Arts District like the Studio Strolls and Second Saturdays. It is primarily a means to showcase great local art-music and enhance the community of local artists and residents."

Here's how it works: 10 bands, most of them local, perform either during the 3-7 p.m. daytime slot at the Flood Gallery (these are 20-minute sets, so if you want to see a particular band, don't show up late!) or in the evening 9 p.m.-midnight slot at the Grey Eagle.

Rad Fest, according to a press release, "will highlight proponents of Asheville’s vast and impressive ambient/drone scene. …Rad Fest will feature the truly radical of Asheville, radical in the best sense of the word, and not necessarily a philosophical reference." The event is intended to be "a friendly, family-like festival experience," and a portion of proceeds from Rad Fest goes to Asheville Greenworks.

Tickets are $10 in advance (at the Grey Eagle, thegreyeagle.com, Harvest Records and Orbit DVD) and $15 the day of the event.

Schedule

Flood Gallery performances (with house music provided by Alex Cummings):

• 3:30-3:50 p.m. - Difference Clouds (Zach Smith from Asheville)
• 4-4:20 p.m. - Roamer X (Gainsville, Fla.)
• 4:30-4:50 p.m. - Subtle Body (Asheville)
• 5-5:20 p.m. - Pilgrim (Asheville)
• 5:30-5:50 p.m. - Nociception (Asheville)
• 6-6:20 p.m. - Early Founder (Pensacola, Fla.)
• 6:30-7 p.m. - Williams (Ross Gentry and Will Isenogle duo from Asheville)
Intermission from 7-9 p.m.

Grey Eagle performances:

• 9-9:45 p.m. - Sumsun (Judson Rogers from Asheville)
• 10-10:45 p.m. - Two People Playing Music (Asheville)
• 11 p.m.-midnight - Reptar (Athens, Ga.)

Photo of Reptar from The Audio Perv.