Categories
Festivals

FREAKY DEAKY ANNOUNCES LINEUP FOR BRANDED STAGES

React Presents is thrilled to announce the branded stage lineups for this year’s Freaky Deaky!  In support of genres and talent from all spectrums of the dance music sphere, MARKUS SCHULZ will kick off the Halloween weekend with a headlining performance on the TRANCE ARENA STAGE, while GESAFFELSTEIN closes out the second night with a DJ Set on the BEATPORT STAGE, as RICHIE HAWTIN wraps up the final night on the UNDERGROUND STAGE.
Tickets are on sale now at www.freakydeakyhalloween.com!
TRANCE ARENA
MARKUS SCHULZ
Audien | Myon & Shane 54
Orjan Nilsen | Simon Patterson
Super8 & Tab
More Information here.

BEATPORT
GESAFFELSTEIN (DJ Set)
Shiba San | Hannah Wants
Mr. Carmack | Will Clarke
Ricoshei
More Information here.

UNDERGROUND
RICHIE HAWTIN
Dubfire | Pete Tong
Joris Voorn | Justin Martin
More Information here.
About Freaky Deaky:Ever since this dark and twisted adventure was founded in 2008 by React Presents, Freaky Deaky continues to grow bigger, better, and a little spookier every year, transforming into the freakiest costume party in the Chicagoland area. In 2011, the single day event expanded into Detroit with over 5,500 people in attendance. In 2012, Freaky Deaky expanded to two days, which attracted over 9,000 attendees, making it the largest Halloween event in the Midwest. Offering a diverse range of world class artists, past performers include MSTRKRFT, Chromeo, Wolfgang Gartner, Laidback Luke, Dada Life, GRiZ, Claude VonStroke, Flux Pavilion, Nervo, Knife Party, Danny Brown, Tommy Trash, A-trak, Araabmuzik, Kill the Noise, Tchami, Bloody Beetroots, Crystal Castles, Boys Noize, TOKiMONSTA, and more.
Categories
Festivals

Spring Awakening Music Festival Official Aftermovie

Check out Spring Awakening Music Festival’s Official Aftermovie produced by Yoder Productions. The four minute and 20 second recap features breath taking aerial cinematography of Chicago, footage of fans, Jack U, Martin Garrix, Tiesto, Zedd, Zeds Dead, Flosstradamus, Excsion, and more! The song featured in the recap is “Take U There” BY Jack U, remixed by Zeds Dead. We look forward to Spring Awakening Music Festival 2016!

Categories
Interview Music

Too Hot to be Cool?

Over the course of Chicago music’s history we have seen the rise and fall of several great clubs and venues. Some have risen high and quickly but at the end fell due to the changing times and economic down turns. Others have shown the staying power over the years. The truth of the matter is no one can tell what will stay or really anticipate why it goes. We’ve lost some legendary places just recently: Neo, Excalibur (kind of), The Congress, Crobar. But, with venues such as Metro, Aragon, Cubbie Bear, Legends, Green Mill, Schubas, The Abby, Concord we stay loyal because we know that at some point the music we love will find itself there and us with it.
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Well, boys and girls there’s a new joint in town that has the potential to make itself one of our new music mayhem stations and join the others in campaign to bring solid sounds to local clubs. It’s a little bit of motor city lined with a touch of LA and topped with a Chicago Pizza. HVAC (Heating and Cooling) deep in the heart of Wrigleyville, just doors away from the Cubbie Bear where last year David Grohl brought the Foo Fighters on the Sonic Highways Tour, has now, since they have been open, a few boasted chart appearing artists. Artists like Ryan Cabrera, Dee Snider from Twisted Sister, The Three Kings (Jason Aldine’s band) with School of Rock and slew of local talent. We were fortunate enough to catch BIG DATA pull a DJ set last month on July 3rd, and sat with him after for a few moments.
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BIG DATA played to a half packed room until people on the street caught wind of who was spinning. By the end of a well-curated mix set HVAC was rocking out with people to the walls. Alan Wilkis gave the low down on his start in the music industry, coming out of Harvard with an English degree, his collaborations all the way to his rise to “Dangerous” heights on the charts.
I asked him pretty bluntly,” So… Harvard… What was that like?”
“A lot of studying…”
(Touché)
“Fair. So, how did the degree play into this project or did you just turn from it all together?”
Wilkis revealed, “Well, I graduated with a major in English language, so, it has some influence. Maybe not as much as I like but I am doing alright.” (under statement) I started to ask a bit more on what it’s like to transition to topping charts so quickly?
“It’s been kinda wild.” Wilkis mentioned, “There has been a lot of change and collaborations.”
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Wilkis seemed pretty excited about the night commenting on the set at HVAC, “This venue’s cool. The crowd was pretty responsive. Really dig the art here (referring to the famous photographer Paul Natkin and the overall motorcycle chic). This was a nice stop to come to Chicago. I’m really happy Damon called me up and asked me to play.”
“Wait what? Called you up? Like come hang out and chill?” I said. “
“That’s right.”

Perry+Farrell+Kicks+Off+Lollapalooza+Dobel+ZdlgFpow_Vzl
Damon Ranger(Left) seen here interviewing Perry Farrell (Right)

Damon Ranger, Oscar/Grammy/Emmy artist, called him up, as friends usually do, and said “Hey come play at my new club.” So, it seems that Damon, a Chicago born resident, is the curator and part owner of this new take on Rock Club Pizza Joints. And his way of getting his friends to come play is by calling them up and having them over for beer and pizza. What a Concept! No brainer right? Well, with the company that Damon keeps, and it goes deep into the music world, I wondered what he had in mind when opening up HVAC. Damon stated, “I wanted to make a Chicago type of Viper Room.” I mean when you make a business of winning Grammys for collaborating with artists like Kanye West and taking stages at Riot and Lollapolooza what could you possibly anticipate? It seems Meat Puppets are set to play this week Saturday, August 29th directly after the Foo Fighters at Wrigley Field for an after Party. Catch my drift. This place has the legs and the backing to become a destination spot for greater music makers in a more organic way of drawing them to play Chicago. Not a lot of places like that here any more. Buddy Guy’s Legends is probably the only other one I can think of that has the same type of feel and way about it. Carmen Rossi and Adolfo Garcia restaurateur owners of a few other prominent clubs in Chicago like Pearl Tavern and Hubbard Inn, having been friends with Damon from years ago decided to all get together and bring their passions with them.
 
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From the inception of this club HVAC has surrounded itself with strong talented friends, committed to bringing in big acts and support local music with talented high quality artist. Even though they are in their proving stages it seems like a recipe for success. Go check out the Meat Puppets if you can. But, even if you miss it make sure to stop through you never know who will show up.
The Meat Puppets 6x4

Categories
Interview

Baby In Vain, Kills: The Lolla After show

August 2, 2015

Metro Chicago

Lollapalooza After Show

Feature with Baby In Vain by Mark Umstattd

To may times do we hear an artist on the radio and are left wondering “what is that sound?” or even watching a video saying “what the hell is going on?” that we are left a little bit confused. The celebrity and the artist become blurred lines that almost prevent us from being able to access the truth of who these people truly are underneath the public presentation. Was she really born that way? Is he bad to the bone? Did she in fact build that ship to wreck?

Now, there are moments of great revelation and moments of great disappointment when it comes to exploring new sound that sometimes even go hand in hand when beginning a new relationship with an artist that our ears just haven’t been prepared for…yet. We hem, we haw, we listen and twist in our chairs searching for that hook or riff which will lead us down the sonic rabbit hole to the heart of the music and, ultimately, the artist themselves.

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Baby In Vain is an ambitious project, 5 years in the making, created by one of the Hottest trios to come out of Copenhagen. (That’s Denmark for the geographically disinclined.) Now music is taking a largely digital turn these days, which I don’t think anyone but the purists are really complaining about. But Baby In Vain is bringing something out of the cold northern lands that almost takes up where Joan Jett would have continued her sound were she born the  industrial Nancy boy beating younger sisters of Jack White. THESE CHICKS ARE HARD. Not to say that they have fully come into their evolution as musicians as they are still in the studio for their debut album, but they are currently on their second US tour with the Kills, so they are obviously doing something right.

(http://www.songkick.com/artists/5875194-baby-in-vain)

I really didn’t know what to expect from these youngins’ (all under the age of 21) after watching their music video “Muscles”  as the images were so wild and disjointed that it left me slightly uncomfortable,  not knowing how to absorb the music and its visual presentation in combined force. But, the ambition and the confusion worked well enough to peak my interest  into holding an interview.

Hours before the official after show, Lolla hadn’t let out yet, I walked into the green room where the girls were getting ready for that nights performance. Lola (vox and lead guitar), the younger of the tribe at 19yrs. having just graduated high school, was restringing her guitar, while Andrea (rhythm guitar), BIV’s big sister, and Benedicte, drumming jokester, were chillin collecting themselves. The Kills were on the stage at the time for sound check. We talked about their album (release undetermined at this point) of which is being done completely independent. “We are not with a label,” Andrea stated. Meaning their efforts and schedules are done by their booking agent. So, how did they get linked up with the Kills? “Our agent called theirs and they chose us to for support, we knew we were coming threw again, so, supposed it just made sense.”

Heck yeah it made sense! The sound was a perfect appetizer for the main course. When these girls took the stage it was obvious that they were so comfortable and adept at being present and playing. So much so that when they started to make noise the unhinging squeal of the amplifiers primed you up for the explosion. “We like to be loud. Its easier for us in venues this size,” I remember them saying. Repeating bass chords and hook drawn guitar riffs mixed with a grungier blues/punk sound all walked up and down like an angry pirate strolling the ships deck. Their power and electricity was pretty undeniable as they everything but through themselves into their instruments. They were good. Real good. Better than I had hoped for, pumping out power and youthful feminine energy like it was hard candy. When I congratulated them they had just finished breaking down. “It was a good crowd. The Chicago crowd really responded,”said BIV’s drummer.
“Yes they did Benedicte, yes they did”

Categories
Festivals Interview

TenTrees Tribe Jewelry

“Follow your dreams full heartedly, don’t hold back, be your authentic self and the rest will follow and flow naturally,” Ten’s advice to other young entrepreneurs.
Two gypsy souls brought together by their passion to create. Their nomadic collection is handcrafted and one of a kind. Their pieces are elegantly made for the rough and the rigid… For the night-dwellers, and the day-trippers. For the fierce and the fancy. For the starry-eyed vagabonds dancing through life, painting the world with their spirit.
Tenisha and Tree carefully craft their jewelry using materials like leather, metals and precious stones. Inspired by the beauty of nature, they travel across the globe to soak up Mother Earth’s magic. TenTrees Tribe is a collaboration of handmade elegant, bold, and beautiful creations– A shared vision of raw stones, layered chains, and unique designs with intentions of awakening both the wild feminine and masculine within. In their line some of the most coveted pieces are the body chains, druzy rings, statement septum rings, and quartz crystal necklaces. They also do custom pieces by request.
Check out their website:
TenTrees Tribe     TenTrees Tribe     TenTrees Tribe     TenTrees Tribe     TenTrees Tribe 
We got to [virtually] meet the two rad babes behind the incredible TenTrees Tribe and learn about what it takes to be a young entrepreneur in today’s competitive environment. Check out how they got started, how they run their business, and what fuels their fire…
 
Q & A with the TenTreesTribe Babes
How did you girls start your business?
We’re actually cousins, and in the summer of 2010 we started going to a bunch of festivals like Coachella, Lightning in a Bottle, Burningman, etc. This started our love of the festival culture and style. We started making feather earrings and feather hair clips for fun, and quickly it became a small business that helped fund our festival attending. Over the years this turned into what is now known as TenTrees Tribe! Everything we’ve ever created has been completely self-taught; Tree has a more classic, elegant style, while Ten has more of a funky bohemian edge. We both bring a different set of skills to the table, and together we balance out the business perfectly. We’re only 22, but we have huge dreams, determination, and big goals in our vision. Our ultimate dream is to open a store one day!
How long have you guys been in business?
We’ve been doing this for 4 years. It was originally a small hobby, and now it’s turned into this! Every day it becomes more and more of a reality that this is our life; we’re living our dream.
What is your biggest inspiration?
Traveling is our biggest inspiration! It’s the classroom that makes us happy and we chose this life over a traditional education. This may be one of the hardest decisions we’ve made in life thus far, but we went against the grain and chose to pursue these dreams of seeing the world. Through this we’ve gained an open hearted open-minded passion and lust for life. We find ourselves bouncing between SE Asia and Central/South America. We’re greatly inspired by the jewelry, and the cultural fashion! Being from Humboldt County, nature is also a huge inspiration to us. We love the raw, the real, the weird and the wild. We appreciate the mystery as well as the natural textures and patterns found in the forest and the ocean. Lastly, music is a pivotal part in inspiring our self-confidence and motivation. The way some music can make us feel is the way we want the tribe to feel when wearing our creations; free, infinite, and unstoppable!
What kind of music do you listen to while creating?
The Grateful Dead and the Beatles always! As well as Thriftworks and Phaeleh… and some recent musical musings would be Biolumigen, Hakuu, and Onhell.
Do you plan on transitioning to an independent website vs. Etsy? 
Yes, hopefully over the course of the next year. For now we have a high demand from retail stores so we’re focusing more on that versus online sales. Right now we’re currently being carried in Divine Origin located in Redway, CA and in The Lucky Heart Shop located in Fortuna, CA, and will be in another soon to be announced. We’re also currently looking to branch out and get our jewelry in stores located outside of NorCal. There’s only two of us in this business and we can only do so much, hmmmm..Maybe it’s time to find some apprentices 😉
What’s next?
Focusing on taking our business to the next level. We’re working on designing a clothing line for next summer actually!
Any advice for young entrepreneurs?
Ten: I once read a quote from a fortune cookie that said: “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” That quote has always stuck with me, and how you really can accomplish anything you set your mind to even if it seems impossible. I think our overall advice would be to follow your dreams full heartedly, don’t hold back, be your authentic self and the rest will follow and flow naturally…and like they say, we all have as many hours in a day as Beyoncé 😉

 ***Save 20% with coupon code: DAYTRIPxTTT***

   tentreestribe, bohemian jewelry, gypsy soul, daytrippingal, vanessa nealey photography, tentreestribe jewelry, bohemian, hippie, chicago fashion blogger

tentreestribe, bohemian jewelry, gypsy soul, daytrippingal, vanessa nealey photography, tentreestribe jewelry, bohemian, hippie, chicago fashion blogger

tentreestribe, bohemian jewelry, gypsy soul, daytrippingal, vanessa nealey photography, tentreestribe jewelry, bohemian, hippie, chicago fashion blogger

Written by Stephanie Bacos of DayTrippinGal
 @daytrippingal

Editorial Pictures by Vanessa Nealey
@vanessanealey

Jewelry by TenTrees Tribe
@tentreestribe

Rompers by Futa Kashmir
@jocelyn.b.futa

Header Picture by Joshua Lee
@joshualee_sunyata

Categories
Festivals

Freaky Deaky Lineup Announced

For the seventh annual FREAKY DEAKY, React Presents is thrilled to announce the expansion into a three-day festival!  The event also has a brand-new home, the massive Toyota Park, about 12 miles away from downtown Chicago on October 30 – November 1, 2015.  Featuring a fully interactive spooktacular experience, with 75+ artists, 3 stages, and 3 days of music, Freaky Deaky 2015 promises to bring the freak out of everyone this Halloween Weekend.
Tickets are on sale now at www.freakydeakyhalloween.com!
The Largest Halloween Event in the Midwest returns with a monstrous lineup that’s bigger than ever before. Powerhouse headliners include BASSNECTAR, ARMIN VAN BUUREN, PRETTY LIGHTS, 2 CHAINZ, BIG GIGANTIC, and CARNAGE, along with eclectic artists like ACTION BRONSON, BENNY BENASSI, BORGORE, DATSIK, FLYING LOTUS, GRIZ, LOGIC, MAC MILLER, OLIVER HELDENS, and many more.

In support of genres and talent from all spectrums in the dance music sphere, Freaky Deaky will also be curating themed SCARY STAGES hosted by electronic tastemakers MARKUS SCHULZ, GESAFFELSTEIN (DJ Set), and RICHIE HAWTIN.
Additionally, this year’s annual Halloween event will bring a wide range of sounds that will keep more than 75,000 fans dancing throughout the weekend, spanning from Hip Hop acts RIFF RAFF, JOEY BADA$$, VIC MENSA, and CL, to underground connoisseurs like DUBFIRE, PETE TONG, JORIS VOORN, and THE MAGICIAN, along with Trance Family mainstays including SUPER8 & TAB, MYON & SHANE 54, plus a special back-to-back set with CASH CASH and TRITONAL.
Complete with top notch decor, carnival rides, games, and terrifyingly fun haunted houses and graveyards — have no fear of missing out and join us with the ghastly ghouls and wicked witches at Freaky Deaky!
FREAKEYLINEUP
About Freaky Deaky:
Ever since this dark and twisted adventure was founded in 2008 by React Presents, Freaky Deaky continues to grow bigger, better, and a little spookier every year, transforming into the freakiest costume party in the Chicagoland area. In 2011, the single day event expanded into Detroit with over 5,500 people in attendance. In 2012, Freaky Deaky expanded to two days, which attracted over 9,000 attendees, making it the largest Halloween event in the Midwest. Offering a diverse range of world class artists, past performers include MSTRKRFT, Chromeo, Wolfgang Gartner, Laidback Luke, Dada Life, GRiZ, Claude VonStroke, Flux Pavilion, Nervo, Knife Party, Danny Brown, Tommy Trash, A-trak, Araabmuzik, Kill the Noise, Tchami, Bloody Beetroots, Crystal Castles, Boys Noize, TOKiMONSTA, and more.
Toyota Park
7000 Harlem Ave
Bridgeview, IL 60455
18+ | 2:00 PM Doors
www.reactpresents.com
www.freakydeakyhalloween.com

Categories
Festivals

North Coast Music Festival Official After Parties Announced

North Coast Music Festival (NCMF) is thrilled announce 2015’s Official After Parties, happening at the finest clubs and venues in Chicago! Tickets for the Official After Parties and the festival are on sale now at www.northcoastfestival.com.
THURSDAY 9/3

  • Le Youth + Plastic Plates – the MID 21+ | Free with RSVP | Tickets

FRIDAY 9/4

  • Daft Rock – Future Rock Performs the Music of Daft Punk + North American Scum – Members of Turbo Suit, Digital Tape Machine, Spare Parts Present the Music of LCD Soundsystem – Concord Music Hall 18+ | Tickets
  • The Main Squeeze – Official Mind Your Head Album Release Party – Bottom Lounge 17+ | Tickets
  • Knife Party – the MID 21+ | Tickets
  • Salva, Sicko Mobb, Martin $ky + Cofresi – Cobra Lounge 21+ | Tickets

SATURDAY 9/5

  • The Disco Biscuits – Concord Music Hall 18+ | Tickets
  • Lyrics Born, The Heard + O.R. They? – Cobra Lounge 21+ | Tickets
  • Sweater Beats, Humans + Smoko Ono – Bottom Lounge 17+ | Tickets
  • Steve Aoki + Ricoshei – the MID 21+ | Tickets
  • Galactic – 1st Ward 18+ | Tickets
  • Chromeo (DJ Set) – Studio Paris 21+ | Tickets

SUNDAY 9/6

  • Goldfish + Auto Body – Bottom Lounge 17+ | Tickets
  • Green Velvet – the MID 21+ | Tickets
  • Kill The Noize, The Trap House + Rodga – Transit 21+ | Tickets
  • Until the Ribbon Breaks, GGOOLLDD, Equator Club – Cobra Lounge 21+ | Tickets

MONDAY 9/7

  • NCMF Official Closing Party w/ Porn N Chicken + Special Guest TBA – Evil Olive 21+ | Tickets

 

About NCMF:
North Coast Music Festival was originally founded in 2010 by a group of independent promoters who came together to create an urban taste-maker festival of emerging and established artists from a diverse range of genres. Between them they produce hundreds of Chicago-based events each year, including multiple festivals in the Midwest, one off events at Chicago’s premiere music venues, street festivals, and more, that attract thousands of fans and artists from all over the world. Last year, NCMF celebrated it’s 5th year anniversary and sold out of 3-day passes for the first time, with nearly 60,000 people in attendance.
North Coast Music Festival
September 4th – September 6th, 2015
Union Park
Chicago, IL 60607
17+
Friday: 3 PM – 10 PM
Saturday/Sunday: Noon – 10 PM
www.northcoastfestival.com

Categories
Festivals

Summer Set Music & Camping Festival Guide

Summer Set Music & Camping Festival is right around the corner. With an amazing lineup including headliners like Bassnectar, Big Gigantic, The Weeknd, and deadmau5 there’s absolutely no reason why you should miss this festival. This year SSMF added a 5th stage, The Meadow. The new stage, dubbed A Live One, will feature critically acclaimed bands with live performances from Purity Ring, Thievery Corporation, Railroad Earth, Lettuce, Boombox, Cloud Cult, Tanlines, and many more.

SSMF Must-Haves
• earplugs
• baby wipes
• mophie charger
• sunscreen
• camelbak
• extra tent stakes
• comfortable shoes
• warm clothes
• water-bottle or camel back
• sunglasses
• rain boots and sandals
• cooler
• extra chairs for visitors and friends
• disposable camera
• canopy
• wrist watch – cellphones die
• propane grill
• goodies to share
• tapestry
• flashlight
• sleeping bag, pillow, tent
• bug spray
• toilet paper
• GOOD VIBES


sslineup

15 Sets We Hope You Don’t Miss at SSMF

– Friday –

Bass Nectar

Odesza

TJR

Keys N Krates

Woo Park

– Saturday –

Big Gigantic

The Weeknd

Tycho

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Manic Focus

– Sunday –

Deadmau5

Zeds Dead

Lettuce

Vaski

Milk & Cookies

Official SSMF 2015 After Parties

Screen Shot 2015-07-28 at 8.30.54 PM

Friday
Griz
Haywyre

Saturday
The Floozies
Ton Loc

Going VIP at SSMF is definitely a plus!

VIP Perks Include the following:
• Preferred on-site parking
• Advanced entry to “The Woods” VIP campgrounds beginning on Thursday August 14th at 4:00 pm, ahead of the General Admission ticket holders
• Private viewing areas at the Main Stage and Grove Stage
• Free access to Friday and Saturday’s on-site after parties
• Private restrooms and showers
• Full assistance from dedicated VIP staff members
• Free professional massages
• Access to an additional mini-stage featuring intimate DJ sets exclusive to VIP campers

– Buy Tickets Here –

We are giving a pair of 3-Day GA Passes to Summer Set. To enter go to our Facebook or Instagram page!

Categories
Festivals

[Review] Camp Bisco: Journey To Amazing Music

After a one-year hiatus Camp Bisco returns to a new home in Scranton, Pennsylvania at Montage Mountain. This new home offered a wide array of different activities for festival-goers to partake in but it definitely was not without hiccups. After traveling 11+ hours through the night from Chicago to Scranton we arrived at the off site parking around 6:30am to a beautiful sunrise but that’s not all…a long line of tired and cold festival goers stranded at the bottom of the mountain stare back at us. After waiting in the off-site line for well over four hours, we finally were placed on a shuttle up the hill only to be greeted with yet another grueling line. At this point everyone was exhausted, dehydrated and fed up with everything that we had already endured to get to this point; but little did we know it was not over. Once on the poorly run tracker shuttle and dropped at the bottom of the hill, we were greeted with the epic trek up the side of the ski hill to get to our camping spots. Campers and their gear was scattered all over the rocky paths and panting as the sun beat down on our backs. After pushing and pulling our very limited amount of camping gear up numerous paths; we settled on a spot shaded by some of the beautiful lush forest that was situated beneath the ski lifts…. and that is where camp Dante’s Inferno was born.
crowds
Now I know what you are thinking, why the HELL would you put up with all that? Let me tell you, the music made up for all the crap we had to deal with throughout the weekend. I have never heard so many great sets in one place. The music didn’t start till Thursday evening so we had time to recover from the extreme task of getting to our camping spot. The evening started with a literal bang at Zoogma’s set, where if you have read anything about Camp Bisco this year you probably know what happened. A disgruntle fest-head leapt on stage and crashed into their equipment, cutting the sound.   Besides that minor incident, their set was a great way the start the weekend. Atmosphere was up next on the main stage – Electric City. This large pavilion tent housed some of the best music of the weekend, with amazing views from the lawn; there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. IMG_3859_Fotor As the crowds began to fill, it was time for my personal favorite to take the stage, STS9! Bringing a fire set, everyone washed away their tired vibes from the seemingly never-ending journey. With a quick run back to camp, we passed by hip hop group Flatbush Zombies at the Above the Waves stage, which literally was next to a wave pool. Festival-goers could enjoy the music while they floated in the water with waves crashing on them. The first set of six amazing Disco Biscuits sets was just getting underway at Electric City when we returned. Sunset disco DJ Goldroom, provided a great intro to the late night party that was about to happen. Pretty Lights took on the main stage shortly after and the feeling in the air was unmatched. Floods of people lined the pavilion seats and packed the lawn, eagerly awaiting the nasty beat and amazing light performance that was about to ensue.   It was like Derek was a conductor for the thousands of people dancing in unison. The night closed out with a DJ set by Classixx, at Above the Waves, where some were still enjoying the comfort of the wave pool in the cool nights air.
Awaking Friday, everyone was sore from the trekking and constant dancing and shenanigans from the night before.   Luckily for us we could enjoy the groovy music of Tauk from our campsite, which got us pumped for what the day had to offer. First up on the list was The Motet at Electric City. Along the way we spotted a spray paint duo, Pineapple Paint, who were doing body-art paint so naturally we had to stop. After getting painted it was Motet time.   Their funky beats with jazz influences were a soothing soundtrack to the afternoon. Brother duo, The Floozies, laid some fresh electronic beats, which got the crowd jumping at Above the Waves. Emancipator had the crowd entranced with their spine tingling tracks from their upcoming album “Seven Seas.” Getting from Above the Waves to Electric city was quite a challenge during peak times especially with the multiple alcohol check points along the way but finally after making our way through the seas of people we made it just in time for Mr. Carmack. Walking into the furthest stage, Steamtown, it was apparent that he was on the wrong stage; the place was completely packed shoulder to shoulder. With a slight sound issue leaving him with no sound for a bit, he made up for it by throwing down a nasty set for the jam-packed crowd.   Set three of the Biscuits followed as beams of lasers shot well into the crowd, everyone got down with their jams. BIGGIGANTIC The sax slaying Big Gigantic closed out the main stage and they definitely did not disappoint! Tucked away right in the middle of the venue laid the Disco Lodge, which held most of the after hours. Since we had not checked it out yet we decided to give it a go, Buffalo Analog, from Exmag, was laying the tracks for the early morning dance party. On our way back to camp we stumbled upon Camp Hate, a renegade stage that was playing some deep beats that we couldn’t resist. As the sun started to peak over the mountains it was time to head back to camp to recoup for the final day.
 
Saturday started with the flood of one day only campers filing in, taking whatever space they could find left. After the late night, The Werks were a great into soundtrack to the final day. One of my other favorite sets from the weekend came from Moon Hooch, a saxophone, percussion trio, at Steamtown stage. As the day progressed the music started to shift into party mode to prepare for the evening’s main event, Bassnectar. Exmag threw down an amazing set at Above the Waves. At this point there was a shift in the wind as a severe storm started to approach the area, a voice came over the intercom announcing that everyone must exit the venue and return to their camps. Right after that the downpour started, rain came down from the sky in sheets soaking the grounds lasting about 45 minutes. As the skies began to clear a beautiful double rainbow appeared over the backside of Above the Waves stage. This was the theme for the entire weekend, although things may have been rough at times; to find a rainbow, you must weather the storm. With the storm an updated schedule was announced and no acts were cut. Papadosio was up on Above the Waves playing at the end of the rain and delivering an amazing set to the freshly washed crowd.   The air was thick with excitement at the second to last Disco Biscuits set as they pumped the crowd up for the hours and fifteen-minute block of Bassnectar. Although there has been a lot of controversy going around the Internet over these back to back sets and disgruntle fans of each artist, from where we were everyone was pleasant and having a great time with each other.
bassnectar
As the time approached for Bassnectar to take the stage all you could see was a sea of people anxiously waiting for him to step on stage. As soon as the first note played out those speakers, the crowd went completely wild.   Each with their own style of dance, Bassnectar brought everyone together for the love of music. The night closed out with a trippy set from British composer Tipper. A sadness hung in the air as a final note sang from the speakers as Tipper walked off stage; no one was ready for the weekend to end.
CAMP BISCOI will spare the details of the exit but I will give a clue that it was quite similar to our experience entering the festival. Overall there were some amazing times had this past weekend by each festival-goer, but there are definitely some logistical issues that need to be worked out for future Bisco’s. This is going to be the case for any new location; The Disco Biscuits are aware of the issues and plans are already in the works to improve the hang-ups next year. The weekend is about the music, which did not disappoint. We will definitely be returning next year but with a bit of advice: be sure to bring your hiking shoes.

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Festivals

Summer Set Music & Camping Festival Schedule and Set Times Announced

Summer Set Music & Camping Festival (SSMF) is thrilled to release the 2015 schedule and set times!  A limited amount of single day tickets are on sale now, and discounted 3-day GA and VIP passes are still available, so get yours now before prices go up.  Tickets are available at www.summersetfestival.com!
The SSMF Schedule is here:

Additional support for Friday and Saturday night’s official on-site after parties has also been announced.  To kick off Night #1 at the Grove Stage, pre-futuristic jazz-fusion producer HAYWYRE will support GRIZ’s infectious sax-infused headlining set, while 1980s rap pioneer TONE-LOC is set to support THE FLOOZIES’ cutting edge production and crowd-rocking funk for Night #2. Tone-Loc was the second rap act ever to reach #1 on Billboard’s album charts with his 1989 Loc’d After Dark album release, which spawned his best-known hit singles “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina”.
 

Summer Set’s late night after parties are only accessible to festival attendees, and VIP ticket holders will have free access. The discounted ticket package for both nights have officially sold out, so don’t wait and encourage your crew to purchase individual tickets for only $20 each before it’s too late.