Why Is One Time Weekend Still Not Headlining a List of Festivals?

Why Is One Time Weekend Still Stuck in the Afternoon Slot?

Unmasking the “Headliner Conspiracy” on the Purpose Chasers Podcast

Picture a field of tie-dye and taco trucks. The sun’s still climbing, the crowd’s barely caffeinated—and One Time Weekend rips into “Soda Pop Jesus” like it’s midnight at Red Rocks. So why aren’t they headlining? Are talent buyers allergic to shred-funk? Is there a secret committee handing out top-line real estate only to bands with private jets and hair-spray budgets?

That’s exactly what we tackle in this episode of The Purpose Chasers Podcast. I corner OTW, fire every conspiracy theory the internet could invent, and get the raw, uncensored truth about self-booking headaches, studio lockdowns, and the slow-burn strategy that’s turning casual listeners into lifers.

Before you scroll any further, do two things:

1. Smash play on the full video sub on spotify – watch the riffs fly and the myths crumble.

2. Bookmark this page – the deep-dive links, festival dates, and on-stage secrets you’re about to read won’t live on TikTok.

Ready? Grab your refill, hit that volume knob, and let’s break down why the sharpest live band in New England is biding its time below the poster fold—and how you can help catapult them there by August.

The Full Purpose Chasers x One Time Weekend Interview on YouTube:

Or Listen On Spotify

The “Headliner Conspiracy” in a Nutshell

Fans keep whispering: How can a band this tight, this polished, and this friendly with metronomes still be playing afternoon slots?

Inside the interview, OTW break down the big three reasons:

Self-Managed… for Now – They still handle their own bookings (yep, inbox zero is a fantasy).

Studio Marathon – Drummer/engineer Alex just finished renovating his studio, so the band is knee-deep tracking a backlog of new material, even while gigging more than last year.

Word-of-Mouth Strategy – They’d rather fill rooms organically than chase every algorithm like a caffeinated ferret—meaning buzz takes time.

(Spoiler: none of these are actual conspiracies… but “conspiracy” sounds cooler than “completely reasonable career plan.”)

Highlights Straight from the Mic

• Line-Up Glow-Up: New guitarist Sam McGarrity learned 25 songs in weeks, including fret-burners “Soda Pop Jesus” and “Oyster Choice.”
  

• On-Stage ESP: Touring with their own console + in-ear rigs lets them “talk” with riffs, not side-eye, and multitrack every show for Bandcamp/Nugs drops.
  

• Motivation 101: Each member would still be jamming if the crowd was just two bartenders and a mop. Purpose > prestige, every time.

Where to Catch Them Right Now

🎟️ Sound Check Studio's THIS SATURDAY NIGHT 6/28/2025

Grab Your Tickets Right Meow → https://www.soundcheck-studios.com/shows/one-time-weekend-28-jun

🎟️ Fencepost Festival – Aug 9 2025, Millville MA - Tickets → https://linktr.ee/FencepostFestival

🎟️ The Homie Collective Campout – Aug 21-24 2025, Russell MA - Passes → https://homiecampout.com 

Fan Q&A Lightning Round

Questions From OTW's Facebook Community

Justin “With the new McDirection of the band, do you foresee ramping up touring and new song/album frequency?” Yes on both counts: more shows than last year and a stack of fresh tracks being recorded right now in Alex’s studio. Ian laughed when he saw McDirection!

Blaylock “Do any band members name their instruments? If so, what are they?”

The topic never came up on-air, so no official names were shared.

SJ “What artists/albums/songs have y’all been listening to recently?”

Ian: “Rye Whiskey” – Punch Brothers • Alex: Paul Simon’s live “Sound of Silence” • Adam: Metallica / Kendrick Lamar / Dragon Ball Z themes • Sam: Prog-metal band Haken plus OTW’s own “Here to Stay.”

Michaela “When will Alex and Ben finally dye their hair red to have a full red-headed band?”

Hair-dye conspiracy confirmed… unanswered.

Shane “How do you communicate on stage for those tight transitions?”

In-ear monitors + their own console = crystal-clear mixes. They cue changes musically (riffs, rhythmic hits) rather than visual signals; talkback mic only used sparingly.

Steve “How often does Bryan trim that mustache?” LOVE YOU AMY AND CAM! See you at Saturday. Asked but went unanswered—mystery sustains the legend.

Elizabeth “Hair-care routines? Bucket-list venues or bands?”

Ian’s hair routine: wash every few days with products “that don’t have crap.” Bucket-list venues weren’t covered in this interview.

Nicole “Most technical OTW song to play?” Consensus: “Soda Pop Jesus” edges out “Oyster Choice” for sheer fret-acrobatics.

Claire “Why only One Time Weekend? Why not two or more times?” It’s the title of their very first song—no grand mythology required. Plus, as Ian joked, “Two-Time Weekend” sounds expensive.

Riss “What’s Ian’s secret to perfect hair?” See Elizabeth’s answer: minimal washing, quality products, and apparently rock-and-roll genetics. Peanut Butter!

My Top-5 Status, Explained

Look, I’ve dissected more unsigned acts than a Spotify intern on espresso. OTW crack my personal Top 5 because:

1. Relentless Craft – They rehearse like Olympians; Sam’s shredding scales at the gym.
   

2. Live-Tracked Truth – You can’t fake the electricity they bottle on stage.
   

3. Genre Gumbo – Shred-funk + prog-rock + metal-adjacent theatrics = never a stale setlist.
   

4. Fan First – They beg you to share a song, not your rent money.
   

5. Humor for Days – Ask Ian about shampoo—it turns into a stand-up routine.
   

Stream Their New Album Couch Vacation