the day after

Quite a day at HunterFest. Very surreal. Nostalgia running rampant. It was good. Great music, great people, great memories, old ones and new ones. A cold rainy day that closed with some sunshine, hugs and joyful tears. We've decided to make this an annual event. Though we may need to alter the name, so as to not be confused with guns and Motorhead and such. More to come.

How to get there

"can't get there from here..."        

Here's a map. Head to Berea, route 25, then veer right on 21. Just a few miles down, entrance on left. If lost, ask someone.

HunterFest tentative schedule

Below is the tentative schedule for the event. Might change slightly. Time is noon til about dark-ish.

James Overbee
John McQueen
Earl Guthrie
Josh Adkins
The Yarbles
The Blueberries
Maywoods
Scott Allen
The Fosters

HunterFest weather update

As of today, weather.com is forcasting 60 degrees and showers for the day of the event. Better bring a poncho.

Revised lineup for HunterFest

South 75 had a prior commitment. But the Blueberries are now in. The Blueberries were one of the best Lexington-area bands in the 90s. And my favorite. Also Scott Allen is now playing.

The lineup, not exactly in order of appearance:

The Yarbles
Josh Adkins
James Overbee
Scott Allen
Earl Guthrie
The Blueberries
Maywoods
The Fosters

HunterFest, the purpose

I've heard a couple questions about the purpose of our event. Well, it's nice to think the Blueberries and Fosters are playing a show, something that hasn't happened in over ten years. Getting to catch up with old friends you haven't seen in about that long, that's great. But our purpose is to remember and honor the memory of my brother Hunter, and since we're taking donations, hopefully to raise money for the Darby Whitaker Education Fund - Hunter's now six year old son. 100% of the proceeds will go there. So that's the purpose. It will be interesting at the very least. Come on out.

The Blueberries

We got it confirmed the Blueberries are playing the event. This is pretty cool. First, they're great. They were probably my favorite Lexington-area band ten/fifteen years ago. And they don't even play together anymore, not in many years. Plus, they're the only artists performing with no real ties to Hunter. Everyone else playing knew him to some degree. But Otto, Andy and Chad of the Blueberries wouldn't know me in a crowd, much less my brother. I'm just humbled and thankful.

Stories and tales requested

If anyone has a good story about Hunter, an adventure, something funny, something profound, something mundane, something you'd like to share, feel free to let me know. I'll edit out anything that might seem to the faint of heart like fiction, even though I'm sure it's truth.

HunterFest

First annual (possibly) HunterFest
Saturday October 24 2009
Noon - 6:00 pm
Indian Fort Theater
Berea KY

Performances:

The Yarbles

Josh Adkins

Maywoods

James Overbee

Earl Guthrie

The Fosters

The Blueberries

South 75

Come out for fond remembrance, swap stories about Hunter, catch up with old friends you haven't seen in ages, listen to some music. Everyone playing had some certain link to Hunter - friends, bandmates, acquaintences, brother. Plus it's The Fosters first show in 12 years. Who knows what carnage will result.

08-05

Hunter Ryan Whitaker
Friend, brother, remembered.

Hunter left us on August 5, 2005. The day of his visitation a good friend of mine, good friend of my brother, described him as simply - a force. He was certainly that. He was a force. If asked to describe him, that's the first word I'd have to say.

Welcome and Salutations

I'm not sure what this will become. Just wanted to start a little forum about my brother. Feel free to post replies, stories, ideas, anything about Hunter. We'll see where it goes.