The International Pop Underground (IPU) Convention was held at the Capitol Theater and adjacent locations. Candice Pedersen and Calvin Johnson of K Records organized the Convention, which took two years of planning with the assistance of countless volunteers.
IPU opened up with “Love Rock Revolution Girl Style Now,” aka Girl Night, a seminal event that showcased women musicians and is considered one of the early formative events for the riot grrrl movement. Seven Year Bitch, Bratmobile, Tiger Trap, the Spinanes, Heavens to Betsy, Jean Smith, Lois, and debut solo performances from Tobi Vail and Christina Billotte happened at Girl Night. The six-day event featured free childcare; a multimedia performance titled “Shadow and Substance” with Timothy Brock conducting the Olympia Symphony and music from experimental musicians; an afternoon Capitol Lake Jam with the Melvins, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, and Sleepyhead; the Sub/Pop Dub Barbecue hosted by Sub/Pop Records at the Evergreen State College soccer field; a brunch sponsored by Seattle’s Fallout Records; a Slim Moon hosted poetry and spoken word reading at the Smithfield Cafe; Jad Fair, Kicking Giant, and Bratmobile at the ABC House; nightly dancing at the North Shore Surf Club; and a closing cake walk followed by a “Planet of the Apes” film festival organized by Brent Turner. Over 50 local, national, and international bands played the event, including Scrawl, the Pastels, Bikini Kill, Tsunami, Unwound, Witchypoo, Fugazi, and L7. Attendees were encouraged to attend the annual Pet Parade and a peace vigil with the Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation, who host weekly vigils to this day. The International Pop Underground Convention is considered a pivotal event that put Olympia on the map as an indie music destination.
