While most students were busy enjoying their last few days of summer freedom, Daniel Costa, an SF State music business major and rock band member was gearing up for a long day of rocking out at the first Bay Area Indie Rock Music Festival August 25.

Costa's band, Bel Air Academy, was one of the nineteen indie rock acts scheduled to perform at Martinez' John Muir Amphitheater for the festival, which hosted an eclectic spread of local emerging talent as well a few heavy hitters from other areas. Among the rock veterans were pop-punk headliner Sugarcult and Australian mega group Eskimo Joe, which was making in its first Bay Area appearance.

“In the beginning no one knew what was going on,” said Costa. “It was kind of good for us because more people showed up later to see us.”

Nearly 1,000 people attended the 10-hour event scheduled at noon to hear Bel Air Academy's catchy, sugary sweet anthems and high-energy sets.

The kick off to the music festival was delayed for two hours due to technical difficulties with the sound system arose. As the day continued, the sound system's glitches dragged on.

According to Joshua Carter, promoter of the event and co-founder of 3 Udders Productions, the malfunction was due to a last minute staff change.

“We had to fire our sound guy yesterday at the last minute,” he said, adding that the new sound engineer was unprepared for the event.

The vocal sounds from the first bands'— Logan, Bel Air Academy and Goodbye Gadget— faded in and out. Although two stages were available, it took until 3:30 p.m. for the second stage to be set up and even still the speakers weren't up to par.

"The sound sucks," said Panda guitarist Johnny Flannes. "But it's better now that they got the second stage up."

By the time the last bands played, the music finally blared clearer.

"Towards the end of the night they got it together," said Costa. "But I felt bad for the bands that went up first because [the sound engineers] didn't know what they were doing."

As the sun was setting behind the stage, fans gathered to watch Overview perform. They delivered a refreshing, classic rock sound to a responsive crowd who listened with enthusiasm.

“It’s just such an independent do-it-yourself-kind-of-deal, so right now our goal is to have people listen to us and see us play live,” lead vocalist Spencer Dräger said.

Fans like undeclared SF State freshman Amanda Meth weren't bothered by sound system malfunctions, who explained that the several booths and merchandise tables were set up throughout the festival grounds to occupy festival goers.

“I think it’s a bit unorganized since it’s their first time, but I think it’s really awesome because it’s like a huge hang out,” said Meth, who was able to talk to Sugarcult, meet the members of Overview and pose for snapshots with the rockers. “It’s all day, with bands at their tents, and walking around. It’s pretty intimate,” she said.

In addition to the participating bands and fans, local music sponsors such as Performer, Ourstage, and Imeem were on hand to help the City of Martinez and 3 Udders Productions.

3 Udders Productions has already put next year's festival into works but has yet to name a location or lineup. For residents living in the Bay Area, the festival became a way to reach a new audience across the Bay Bridge, bringing indie rock to smaller communities.