Beat Happening

Bio

Beat Happening was an indie pop band formed in Olympia, Washington, in 1982 by Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis, and Bret Lunsford. They met around the Evergreen State College and took the name from a student film, Beatnik Happening. The trio became early figures in American indie pop, lo-fi, and twee, favoring simple guitar, drums, and vocals over studio polish. They released albums including Beat Happening (1985) and Jamboree (1988) on Johnson's K Records, and they were mainly active through 1992. The band is closely tied to Olympia's independent scene.

The band

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  Calvin Johnson

  Calvin Johnson sang and played guitar in Beat Happening and founded K Records in Olympia the year before the band began recording. He later led Dub Narcotic Sound System.