Fresno tech company says, ‘There’s no place like home,’ with virtual music, culture fest

While the coronavirus pandemic has touched just about every business sector, those working live events have faced a pivot of almost existential proportions.

“Humans have a need for connection,” says Talisha Brantley, the community liaison at Bitwise Industries.

“And social distance doesn’t have to mean social isolation.”

She’s borrowing the quote, but the idea could be a mission statement for the No Place Like Home Virtual Culture Fest. The free, day-long event is organized and curated by Bitwise and features everything you’d expect from an in-person festival — music, food and a marketplace for vendors — just done at distance.

There are more than a dozen musicians and DJs performing via a massive Zoom webinar, including Patrick Contreras, Hope Garcia (with the Box) and the crew from Teezzy Radio. The event landed hip-hop heavy hitter Zee Will and Sagey — for the underground kids. Omar Nare and Jasmin La Caris have created a nuevo mariachi music and dance performance specifically for the event.

There will also be presentations from Revive Dance Company, the Say Bruh Podcast and Tower Yoga.

The virtual marketplace will feature two dozen or more makers, crafters and boutiques shops including Root, Lips by BB and Rethreaded Vintage.

On the food front, Bitwise teamed up with Fresno Street Eats, which arranged more than dozen food trucks, brick-and-mortar restaurants and breweries to have pick up and/or delivery services. The list includes Chicken Shack, Colorado Grill, Mega Texas BBQ, Tioga Sequoia, the Modernist and Fulton Street Coffee.

“We really tried to dig in and make sure we were representing a full spectrum of Fresno,” Brantley says.

A full list of performers, vendors and food — with social media and web links — will be available on the No Place Like Home website (nplh.bitwiseindustries.com), which will serve as the event’s central hub.

The event kicks off at 9 a.m. and is free (though you need to get an RSVP link to view the performances), but attendees are encouraged to donate to the artists and buy from the vendors, who will be live streaming through their own Instagram accounts throughout the day.

Look for special offers, flash sales and the like.

Much like an actual festival, the virtual festival is segmented so that A.) not everyone is out getting food at the same time and B.) you don’t have to sit in front of their screen all day. Indeed, virtual festival goers are encouraged to explore the entirety of the day’s experiences, Brantley says. Maybe they’ll catch a workshop in the afternoon, then grab some food and a drink before heading back in to catch a performance in the evening.

“That’s what’s fun about a festival,” she says.

“You can walk in and out of these places as you like.”

Other noteworthy events and happening for the week

▪ “Staring Down the Tiger,” a virtual reading. 5 p.m. Friday, on Facebook Live, @CelebrateHmong

▪ Madera 2 Drive In, season opener. “Trolls World tour” and “Doolittle” or “Knives Out” and “The Hunt.” 8:45 p.m. and 11:10 p.m. 201 E. Lincoln Ave., Madera. $10 cash only. Proper social distancing enforced.