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Festivals Uncategorized

Come, Let Your Freak Flag Fly at Suwannee Hulaween 2017

Suwannee Hulaween Announces Lineup for October 27-29, 2017
at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida

Where: Set in the midst of 800-acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress along the black Suwannee River. Complete with the largest bat house in the southeast U.S, Suwannee Music Park is one of the most beautiful live music venues in the country. The park also offers guest comforts including a general store, full-service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms and water stations. We recommend flying into JAX if you can because it’s an easy airport that’s only 1.5 hour from the fest. You can find some pretty good deals if you fly into Orlando which is 3 hours from festival. Regardless you’ll need to rent a vehicle.
As always with a camping festival, FLY SOUTHWEST. Plan accordingly. Think about it – you can check a chair and tent. If you have a bigger bag for your tent that can fit your comforter, pillow, etc. that’d be ideal. Then bring on the plane a decent sized luggage and backpack. Travel with a buddy and share a tent so your partner can pack the cooler and any large essentials.
There’s a million trees – bring your hammock!
When: October 27-29, 2017
Lineup Sampling: Hulaween attendees may find themselves entranced by the world-leading instrumentative wonder of The String Cheese Incident, The Disco Biscuits, Greensky Bluegrass, and Lettuce, being blown away by dance-floor commanding electronic giants like Bassnectar, GRiZ, RL Grime, Claude VonStroke, Beats Antique, FKJ, Shiba San, and Manic Focus, or being treated to globally renowned headlining live acts like Ween, Run The Jewels, Portugal. The Man, Nick Murphy (Chet Faker), Nathaniel Rateliff, and many more.
Scene:  It’s definitely a family-feel festival. Between the wicked art installations to tasty, healthy, organic, vegan vendor options and music diversity – a very well executed and planned affair.  Traveling to Live Oak, FL is slightly tricky unless you’re from the neighboring state. Attending Suwannee takes planning. THIS morphs the festival vibe. It’s more intimate and you have a focused crowd. Halloween weekend is filled with music events all over the country. You can go anywhere….but when you choose to attend Suwannee you’ll be apart of something very special – WE LOVE THIS VIBE. The festival goers are a chill group enjoying killer music in fun Halloween costumes. That’s a big part, everyone is in a costume!
The Brotherly Love, Madison House and Silver Wrapper are a wicked combination. Suwannee is produced by a powerhouse of event organizers! These crews know how to get down and get the right fans in attendance. The schedule is arranged so there’s no overlap. There’s a lot of space to dance, rest, move and everyone is generally friendly – that goes for the security and staff too!
Attire, Weather, Food: Everyone is in Halloween costumes all weekend. This is the place to let your freak flag fly. Its HALLOWEEN WEEKEND. Don’t forget to look up the weather and theme nights on the festival website. The weather ranges in northern Florida. It can be as high as 70’s (possibly 80’s) during the day and as lows 40’s and 50’s at night. Dress in lots of layers!  You will need a tent. Camping is in the forest. You can try for an RV pass if you’re not “outdoorsy”. The camgrounds are very well maintained and they are in the forest surrounding the festival. Security is minimal to non-existent entering the campgrounds. They check for booze and whatnot when you enter the actual festival/music area. They have a ton of food vendors – great options. Our personal favorite vendor makes “Mountain Tropps” – quiona, apples, beans, feta, lemon, avocado… we’re probably missing a few key ingredients.
Notes:  This festival is our favorite Halloween Festival. If you’re looking to get down over Halloween weekend, this is the party. It is a very well organized and executed event. From creative design, music, event grounds, stage set-up & lighting – hands down one of the best in the country!
Suwannee Hulaween, always delivers a diverse music and arts experience at the historic Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. It has revealed a spooky dub-filled, old-school line-up with extra cheese. 
Celebrating its fifth year, Suwannee Hulaween will offer a wide-reaching exposé of live and electronic music’s finest to soundtrack a fully immersive creative journey.
The String Cheese Incident will remain at the helm of Hulaween, lending their creative vision and experiences touring as one of the world’s most sought after jam acts to help shape the iconic look and feel of their flagship festival.
This movement shaping event offers its loyal followers a doorway into a visionary paradise, a channel into a reality defined by boundless surprises and exploration. Suwannee Hulaween’s five year anniversary will fuse a diversely curated musical lineup with awe-inspiring art installations, live performance, yoga, workshops, a speaker series and a slew of interactive activities to get lost in.
It remains the artistic triumph of Hulaween’s fully immersive inventive playground, Spirit Lake, that continues to defines the multi-faceted Suwannee voyage. Psychedelic media arts, otherworldly lighting design, and bewitching projections lure attendees deeper into the wooded lakeside oasis where they may encounter live performers and of course costumed fans embedded into this wildly collaborative passage.
Suwannee Hulaween has built its reputation on an unparalleled combination of world class musical talent, finely curated artistic programming, and a stunning natural location. It is such attention to detail and dedication to immersion that offers Hulaween attendees a truly peak experience.
The 2017 festival will also feature a fully programmed Thursday pre-party on October 26 at Spirit Lake with musical offerings from the likes of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Greensky Bluegrass, Lettuce, Liquid Stranger, The Devil Makes Three, EOTO & Friends, Zach Deputy, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, and more.
In co-producer talent buyer, Michael Harrison Berg’s own words on Suwannee Hulaween’s fifth year, “Suwannee Hulaween, our flagship event, turns 5 years old this year and feels like it’s finally flowered into a grown up. Between the ever evolving and diverse musical line up with a curated blend of Jam, Dance Music, Rock, and Hip Hop, along with with the experiential art experience of the Spirit Lake installation, back dropped by the natural beauty of the Spanish Moss laden oak tree forest at Spirit of the Suwannee, there is no better Halloween party in the world. Five years ago, we set out to take The String Cheese Incident’s annual Halloween bash, and grow it into a full scale festival. Now, we have the honor of producing an event that we’d personally want to be at. We’ve watched the process come and go full circle as we’ve grown together with the most loyal and dedicated fanbase we’ve ever witnessed in our collective career. For our 5th anniversary in 2017, we plan to level up across the board.”

About Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park

For More Information, Tickets, and VIP Packages for Suwannee Hulaween 2017, please visit:

WWW.SUWANNEEHULAWEEN.COM

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Events

Watch Chicago's Growth Summit LIVE!

This Thursday, June 22nd, Techweek hosts the all new Growth Summit:
30 Founders & CEOs from high growth tech companies in Chicago speaking on topics that matter: customer acquisition, talent recruitment, growth financing and more.We are live streaming the Growth Summit for all those who can’t attend.
Chicago Growth Summit speakers this year include:
Miami – March 23  •  Detroit – May 23  •  Chicago – June 19-23
Toronto – July 24-28  •  Kansas City – September 11-15  •  Washington D.C. – October 2-6
New York – October 16-20
Dallas – October 30 – November 3  •  Los Angeles – November 13-17
Get your tickets at Techweek.com!
Categories
Festivals

Top Ten Reasons Not to Miss the ARISE Music Festival 5th Year Celebration

Aug 4-6, Sunrise Ranch, Loveland, Colorado. 3 Day and Single Day tickets available here. Price to increase Sunday, June 25 @ 11:59 PM. www.AriseFestival.com

1) THE MUSIC – The 5th Year Celebration will feature a not-to-be missed lineup across 7 stages including: Atmosphere, Tipper, Lettuce, Beats Antique, Ani DiFranco, SunSquabi, Rising Appalachia, The Expendables, Brother Ali, Break Science, Desert Dwellers, Dopapod, The Grateful Ball, The Travelin’ McCourys, Jeff Austin Band, Late Night Radio, Wookiefoot, Dirtwire, Bass Physics, Brasstracks, The Brothers Comatose, RDGLDGRN, The Ghost of Paul Revere and so many more!

2) EXTRAS – Included in your ticket is walk-in camping, yoga, workshops, films, speakers,  presentations and much more. The featured yoga instructor for ARISE 2017 is Shiva Rea! ARISE is also excited to present Android Jones as the featured 2017 artist and Barbara Marx Hubbard as the Special Honored Guest Presenter.

3) CHILDREN’S VILLAGE – KIDS 12 & UNDER FREE – The ARISE Music Festival features a children’s village with fun activities all day, and a designated family campground for families of all sizes.

4) THE ART – Feast your eyes on a visual array of live art, galleries, art installations and top-shelf performance/visual art including productions with Tipper, Beats Antique, Fractal Tribe, Android Jones and more.

5) GREAT VARIETY OF FOOD & BEVERAGES: – You can grab a specialty organic Ozo coffee, a refreshing Odell craft beer, a high-quality meal from the Food Truck Village or feast away with the freshest possible food at the Sunrise Ranch Farmers Organic Market where all the food is grown right there at the Sunrise Ranch farm.

6) VILLAGE PEOPLE: ARISE features a Children’s Village, Solutions Village, Wisdom Village, Healers Village and a mouth-watering Food Truck Village.

7) A GREAT VALUE: Your ARISE 3 Day pass gets you access to all scheduled programming available. Over 200 scheduled events!

8) THE LOCATION: Located on a 350-acre organic farm, only an hour from Denver and the Denver International Airport, the beautiful Sunrise Ranch is easy to access. Surrounded by sweeping valley views and nestled in an unrivaled red rock landscape – the festival site is nothing less than truly epic.

9) THE ETHOS: ARISE plants a tree with every ticket sold, does not sell water in plastic bottles,  presents a 3-Day Permaculture course and Action day, plus offers workshops, panels and moderated dialogues on leading sustainability and environmental practices. ARISE is dedicated to a leave-no-trace ethos and to being a vehicle for artists and activists that speak up and take a stand on relevant social issues that affect our shared world.

10) YOU DESERVE IT: It’s been said before, and it will be said again: you bring the greatest magic! It’s your presence, participation and smile that makes everyone want to do this again year after year. You deserve to be a part of this magical co-creative experience!

A limited supply of discounted 3 Day & Single Day Early Bird Tickets are available now!
Price will increase Sunday, June 25 @ 11:59 PM

www.AriseFestival.com

 An Independent, Family run, Leave-No-Trace event.

Categories
Festivals Nightlife

The Party Doesn't Stop – Mamby on the Beach Afterparties Announced!

We’re thrilled to announce this year’s Official Afterparties! Whether you’re looking for an intimate DJ Set at the MID, a live performance at Concord Music Hall, or a rooftop party at the Virgin Hotel’s Cerise, we’ve got you covered. Tickets to Mamby’s after parties are on sale now and we’re anticipating these to sell out so don’t delay in securing your late night adventure.
SATURDAY JUNE 24TH:
Local Natives w/ Klangstof at Concord Music Hall: 10:30pm, 17+ – Tickets HERE
Sam Feldt at The Mid: 10pm, 21+ – Tickets HERE
RKCB (dj set) at Cerise Rooftop at Virgin Hotel: 10pm, 21+ – Tickets HERE
SUNDAY JUNE 25TH:
Justin Martin at the Mid: 10pm, 21+ – Tickets HERE
Klingande at Prysm Nightclub: 10pm, 21+ – Tickets HERE

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Festivals

MAMBY ON THE BEACH 2017 SET TIMES RELEASED – Exclusive Green Velvet Documentary + Expanded "More Than Music" Series

MAMBY ON THE BEACH, Chicago’s only beachside summer music festival, is thrilled to release the 2017 Set Times and premiere an exclusive Green Velvet Documentary in honor of Relief Records’ 25th Anniversary. Check out the set times HERE. Download the app for iPhone and Android to create your schedule and receive real time alerts and festival updates!
As the countdown to Mamby ticks down, GREEN VELVET visits the beachside festival grounds to reminisce on his career and his excitement about performing in the city for the 25th Anniversary of Relief Records. In anticipation of his takeover at the Mixmag Tent, we caught up with the acclaimed house legend to hear about his musical beginnings, Windy City history, why he started Relief Records, and the meaning behind his upcoming celebration at Mamby. Watch the documentary below.

Once again, Mamby’s More Than Music Series will offer a variety of free activities for attendees, which is one of the things that makes the festival a truly unique experience. This year attendees will enjoy even more activities from wellness workshops, Nadi yoga sessions and beach-friendly games, to other inclusive forms of expression including live painting, fire performances, tarot card and palm readings, along with meticulous art installations created by Chicago’s Bam Creates collective. For those looking to get pampered or up their festival fashion, the Braid Bar, Henna and Body Art Domes and the Red7 Salon “Beach Beauty Oasis” are a must.
Returning to Oakwood Beach will be a one of a kind Burning Man favorite, the Solarbeatz Art Car. Standing as the “ultimate exhibition of clean energy,” the Solarbeatz Art Car is a mobile soundstage and performance venue fueled by an array of electronics to create an outrageous audio-visual experience all powered by the sun! Over the course of the weekend, the Art Car will host a wide assortment of activities including silent disco yoga along with wellness workshops. A full event schedule will be released soon.
As the “More Than Music” experience continues to grow, Mamby also partnered with Young Chicago Authors (YCA) for curated live poetry and open mic performances. On Sunday June 25, YCA will host engaging live pieces and activities including madlibs, wordplay games and more starting at 2PM, headlined by The Bomb Squad live poetry performances and a curated open mic sessions at 4PM.
GA, VIP and Cabana Packages are Available Now at mambybeach.com!
For those with an open mind and a curious heart, Mamby On The Beach is an opportunity to escape the monotony of our daily routines and explore the most precious parts of our collective being. As Mamby brethren, united around common bonds of freedom, expression and beauty, we invite you to bring the memories made here wherever you go.
“A two-night stand where summer beach vibes ruled onstage and off.” – Chicago Tribune
“A beachfront festival where people can live out their romanticized
‘weekend in Ibiza’ fantasies.” – Chicagoist

“This boutique festival [provides] the perfect laidback setting to cater to true music fanatics.” – Mixmag
“Mamby takes the lead of other dance-focused city fests by mixing DJs with synth-loving bands,
and DJ sets from people who play in synth-loving bands.”  – THUMP/ Vice
Categories
Festivals

A Midwest Gem | Rootwire 2K17 | Pomeroy, OH

Rootwire is a 4-Day, 3-Night Transformational Experience designed to Celebrate and Inspire Love, Beauty, Music, Community Building, and Shared Consciousness. 
Now in its seventh year, this is one of the premiere transformational festival in the Midwest. Everyone in attendance: musicians, artists, presenters, organizers, volunteers, staff, vendors, cooks, attendees – is asked to actively participate in the Transformational Act of personal and collective creation. In hopes that from day one everyone is there thinking, “Love starts from me!” and goes back home four days later feeling it ten times stronger.
As with every year, Rootwire meticulously searched far and wide for the most amazing and inspiring Transformational musicians, artists, and presenters available and have already assembled an impressive lineup for Rootwire 2K17.
As you’ve come to expect, this year’s musical lineup once again features jaw dropping sounds from local, regional, national and international acts. To enhance the music, aesthetically, Rootwire offers the largest festival-based visionary art exposition in the Eastern United States, hosting an international lineup of artists whose works are of the most moving and stunning expressions the imagination and spirit can manifest. And while the art and music of Rootwire will certainly open your mind and fill your heart, it doesn’t stop there. This landmark festival also gives the same conscientious attention to the soul … to spiritual, educational, and ceremonial aspects of celebration, offering a transcendent selection of inspiring speakers, master practitioners, devoted activists, tribal elders, and activated yogis.
Rootwire intends to supercharge every joy, dance, love, laugh, spin, hug, and think molecule in your body and beyond. Rootwire is about tapping in, about getting deep, about planting roots in things that matter, about blooming and branching out to connect and flow in the spirit of love.

“This festival changed my life in the strangest ways! I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that the people here care deeply for the earth, the music, the diverse art and the beautiful people in Appalachian Ohio, and created a space where everyone who attends – whether local or international – leaves having been inspired by amazing new creative processes, expressions and personalities. And the artists, musicians, performers, workshop presenters, and fellow campers are approachable and happy to interact! 

The lineups are crazy good, especially for the price of the ticket! (The Polish Ambassador, RJD2, Phutureprimitive, anyone?) The care of the aesthetics is obvious and wonderful, and the healing tent (all included in ticket price) offers massage, energy work and body work of all disciplines! As a summer fest warrior, this stands out as such a supreme service, and it is done with love and intent. This fest is also the cleanest music festival I have ever attended! Thanks, Zero Waste! Oops … I went on and on.  Go to this. You won’t regret it.”

You will make a difference if you’re there,
so join us at Rootwire 2K17!
Categories
Festivals

5 Magical Moments From This Year's LiB

As the sun sets on the 12th edition of The DoLab’s, Lightning in a Bottle Music & Arts Festival it gives us time to reflect on what our favorite moments from this year’s festival were.  Although there were many moments that truly stood out this past weekend these were the cream of the crop:

Thunder Stage: Elohim

Another Sunday favorite was Elohim; a mysterious LA based electro-pop wonder. As I ate below a nearby shade structure; the sounds of Elohim’s “Sensations” envelope me and carry me to the Thunder Stage. On stage I find one single girl, a keyboard, and so much energy.  Her catchy tunes fill the ears of her onlookers as they dance in unison to the melodic, yet spunky music.  Closing the set out with some new music; she left the stage with her supporters on a high and craving more.

Increase in Big Art

BIG. CLIMABLE. ART. The increase in large art installations truly pushed this year’s LiB over the edge of greatness.  From pirate ships overlooking the pristine Lake San Antonio to spinning globes (but only for a day) perfect for watching the sunset, the art reigned supreme.  The attention to detail on all of the different installations truly captivated its onlookers, taking them deep into the brains of each of the artists.   Other large non-climbable art was scattered throughout the grounds including Lightboxes, which told the story of other civilizations around the world thru photographs and the beautifully architectured Pulse Portal.

Do-Over! Beauty Salon & Barber Shop

Forgot to get a hair-cut or hit the salon before you headed out to LiB?  Look no further than the Do-Over – LiB’s onsite beauty salon & barber shop.  If you did not catch this interactive experience, boy did you miss out.  The stylists, LA Sirenes, put on quite the eclectic show for everyone.  Contestants were selected from the crowd by various means and put against each other in assorted challenges; all of which were you had to be there to believe actually happened. A few clues I can provide involved carrots and lap dances… The winner of each contest had the pleasure of spinning the Wheel of Misfortune, where they were rewarded with their day at the salon.  If you did not walk away with your cheeks hurting and thinking “what the heck did I just watch” you must not have been witnessing the same show.

Thunder Stage: EDiT with Special Guest the Rest of The Glitch Mob

No better words to describe edIT’s set than, a sunset throw down.  Midway thru the hard-hitting bass set edIT welcomes the other 2/3rd’s of The Glitch Mob on stage for a GM reunion. The sun shined perfectly through the cracks of the LED screens behind The Glitch Mob as they curated the most incredible set that had the whole Thunder Stage on their feet dancing.  Closing out with some soon to be released new music; the trio thanked the crowd for an amazing time but in actuality, we wanted to thank them for what we just had the pleasure of witnessing.

The Lake

The biggest, most noticeable change to this year’s LiB was the appearance the FIRST EVER Lake San Antonio.  Even in the chillier weather, the lake was lined with patrons atop their unicorn floaties, floating islands, and blow-up boats enjoying a cool, refreshing dip.  Positioned just right, you could enjoy the powerful bass at The Woogie or be serenaded by the sounds of The Beacon while catching some rays out on the lake. The aquatic art installations floated like beacons to guide festival-goers to the water to make new friends with a round of Slap-The-Bag up on them.  We hope the lake is here to stay because after this year, I cannot imagine LiB any other way.

Honorable Mention Goes to the People of the Festival

Shout out to all the participants of this year’s Lightning in a Bottle.  Attendees, Volunteers, Builders, Organizers; without all you there would be no LiB.   We are all there to celebrate life, music and art and to have a safe space to do it in.  You are there to be whoever you want to be, however you want to do it and live your fullest life. YOU make the festival what it is, YOU are the most important part, congrats on making it the best year yet!

See you in 2018!!

 

Categories
Events

Techweek Returns to Chicago, June 19-23

Nation’s Leading Tech Conference Spotlights Local Tech Startups, Provides Access to Top Talent
Chicago — Techweek is bringing a weeklong celebration of technology and innovation back to its home city for the seventh year in a row, June 19-23. With a strong focus on high-growth startups this year, Techweek Chicago’s exciting, extensive lineup of events and speakers offers attendees exclusive access to top industry leaders and opportunities to learn about innovative local startups.
Uniting visionaries, influencers and thought leaders, Techweek Chicago aims to make the world a better place through tech entrepreneurship. The conference will host numerous educational and networking opportunities for attendees throughout the week, including interactive workshops, a hiring fair, Launch Showcase and numerous speaker panels. Techweek’s goal is to help local tech startups become substantial and influential companies, increasing their influence and notoriety, while also bringing jobs and excitement to the Windy City.
Discussing some of the hottest tech topics in Chicago, ranging from high-growth startup strategies and diversity in tech, to acquisitions and scaling businesses, Techweek Chicago’s list of prominent speakers includes Mike Rothman, CEO of SMS Assist; Pat Vihtelic, CEO of Home Chef; Amanda Lannert, CEO of Jellyvision; and Justyn Howard CEO of Sprout Social, among others.
Complete details of Techweek Chicago’s 2017 schedule of events will be announced on Thursday, June 1, with highlights including:

  • Techweek Chicago Kick-Off Party: Monday, June 19 at 5 p.m. at the MillerCoors rooftop
  • The Capital One Gathering, which will take over three floors and feature 3D printerspace, coding, robot wars and more: Tuesday, June 20 at 5 pm at Capital One
  • Techweek Launch Showcase, a summit featuring top local startups from the Techweek100: Wednesday, June 21 at 5:30 pm at the Bottom Lounge in the West Loop
  • Nerdery Virtual Reality Event, with leading content and interactive activities: Wednesday, June 21 at 7 pm at the Nerdery
  • Women in Tech Breakfast, where female business leaders share their thoughts on tech entrepreneurship, in partnership with Syndio: Thursday, June 22 at 7:30 am at VenueSix10
  • Growth Summit, panel of CEO’s speaking about company growth topics: Thursday, June 22 at 8:30 am at VenueSix10
  • GoGo Air Gathering, featuring the passenger experience in the future: 5:30 pm on Thursday, June 22 at GoGo Air
  • Techweek Gives Event, announcing the most generous company: Wednesday, June 21 (time and location TBD)

Whether networking with industry leaders at fireside chats or discovering and exploring new technologies, there is something for everyone at Techweek Chicago. Guests are also invited to meet this year’s honorees of Techweek100, a celebration of 100 startup professionals reflecting the Hero Company thesis of economic development through contributions to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The full list of honorees will be revealed on the Techweek website at the beginning of June.
“As the city where Techweek originated, Chicago always has a special place in our hearts,” said Amanda Signorelli, CEO of Techweek. “Our city has one of the most diverse economies in the country, packed with numerous fast-growing startups, Fortune 500 companies and rising tech employment, along with world-renowned tech programs at local universities. All of this makes Chicago one of the most influential tech economies in the world. Now is more important than ever to help entrepreneurs in the city continue to learn and grow.”
To further its support of the Chicago ecosystem, Techweek launched TechweekGives this year as an opportunity to give back to the non-profits making a difference in the city. Techweek Gives is a campaign aimed at raising $1 million over a 90-day period by involving Chicago’s technology community. In partnership with uBack, a mobile giving platform, along with Walker Sands Communications and DLA Piper, the organizations will rally Chicago’s technology community to come together and give money, time and goods to S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) and other worthy nonprofits. So far, in just the first eight weeks of the campaign, TechweekGives has tracked/logged nearly $600K in money, goods and volunteer hours.
 
Techweek Chicago 2017 is one of nine conferences across North America, with other cities such as Washington DC, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. For more details about Techweek Chicago, to purchase tickets or to find out more about other events throughout the country, visit www.techweek.com.
 
About Techweek
Techweek is a seven‐day conference, expo and festival where entrepreneurs, tech visionaries and thought leaders gather together to enable to innovation ecosystem in the cities of Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Toronto and Washington DC. Techweek curates a compelling programming that allows a global spotlight to shine on each ecosystem and its leaders. Past speakers include Rahm Emanuel (Mayor, Chicago), Travis Kalanick (CEO, Uber), Craig Newmark (Founder, Craigslist), Dan Gilbert (Founder, Quicken Loans), Jonah Peretti (Founder & CEO), Susan Paley (First Employee and Former CEO, Beats by Dr. Dre), Peter Diamandis (Founder, X PRIZE) and Pitbull (world-renowned musician). The Techweek expo has gathered more than 200 sponsors, including companies such as Google, American Airlines, Microsoft, Motorola, Redbox, Uber, Yelp and WordPress.

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Festivals

My Name is Mud – Summer Camp Music Festival 2017

We began our journey to Summer Camp Music Festival Friday afternoon after scrambling last minute for the necessary items to pack. I became lost between blankets and pillows in the back seat of the car to only be awakened by the rain that crashed against our car windows. We drove up with our videographer who was obviously anxious to finally be able to cover one of his favorite DJ. Figure had personally asked him to shoot his set this year and we were more than excited to get the opportunity.
I myself was extremely curious to finally get a chance to speak with Figure after learning about where he gets his inspiration for producing. I am always fascinated at the psychology that goes behind making music for any artist and how someone can use the exact same medium but completely create opposite effects with it.
Low chatter came from the front seat as I sat contemplating over why and how artists convey certain emotions with their music as windshield wipers fought off the water. We inched closer to Three Sisters Park as the rain still continued to fall. Luckily, we made it in the festival in nearly perfect timing to completely avoid getting wet.
We learned a heavy lesson from last year about how hot it can get in the morning. How rudely the sun can awaken you in its heat and stickiness of sweat and stuffy tent air. We trudged through the mud with our belongings to find a camp site large enough for two tents. Thankfully we found something hidden beneath the cool shading on the forest camp site. Camping in the forest allowed us to stay out later and not feel the regret of no sleep in the morning. We comfortably slept past noon this year without interruption.

Venturing through the park I immediately realized just what type of mess the rain would leave us with, mud! How appropriate the first artist I remember hearing singing was Les Claypool. Unfortunately, I felt it did bring some peoples moral down or at least the amount of dancing was far less than what I remembered the year before. The difficulty of dancing or traveling from stage to stage while our feet stuck to the ground and sunk deep into its clutches was Hardly an environment to move around. I also noticed a smaller percentage of girls hooping because of the conditions.
We found ambitions pathways around the small ponds of mucky water. They also as always ran a trolley which was free !
The mud also effected the cleanliness of the porta potties. There was water on the floor with mud that is not the most appealing to be mixed. Up inside a bathroom. There was a high density of mud that accumulated outside the porta potties due the high traffic of people in the surrounding area. Lines were less long for the porta potties because I’m sure most were just a bit grossed out with the situation. VIP bathroom were your best bet unless you were an artist.
Besides the mud I wouldn’t even have complained and after awhile like I said I sort of got used to it or found it fun change of pace from my clean city living. There were so many things to see and do that the whole mud issue began to take a backseat.
There were daily workshops to attend in order to help cultivate and spread awareness. The permaculture workshop addressed natural building methods, soil health, water design integration, planting techniques, edible food forests, container gardening, and much more. The complete immersion event includes prepared meals, camping, morning ceremony, evening discussions and a dynamic learning environment.
Food vendors offer wide varieties of food that seem to expand every year. Choices like Heady Taco, Asian Sensation are some of the campers favorites! There were also choices of Greek, middle eastern, American food, Mexican food, as well as a coffee booth who created a big buzz in the mornings! These choices are great for people who are just too lazy to prepare! One thing I would like to see in the future is more vegan options and fresh fruit.

Another great point about the festival was there were dozens of Live artists selling their creations. I saw anything from paintings to festive pins. Mack Glass Blowing was there making all kinds of glass art and jewelry with live flames right in front of your eyes.
One of my favorite artists to meet was Phil Kutno who creates trippy pencil drawings that are nothing like I’ve ever seen before. His style incorporates taking several objects or people, then slowly fractals it into a larger picture!

Summer Camp Music Festival seems to always have the perfect balance between electronic music and live acts. There were live acts such as Umphrey’s McGee, Moe., Trey Anastatio, Electronic fused acts like Gramatik, Pretty Lights, and Manic Focus lastly, pure electronic music like Figure, Liquid Stranger and Rezz.
I found myself in the Photo pit for one of my favorite bands growing up. Primus approached the stage with a southern swag and his captain Morgan stance confidently perched on a speaker.

Zeds Dead as always killed their set! It’s great hearing their fresh take on music. In the age of anxiety this music draws people together and relieves their fans through their energetic music.
EGi is an up and coming jam band with a great following on the local scene. Ethereal is nothing short of the term that can encapsulate the pure human emotion behind their passion and art. Each band member plays a very important role and you can see the camaraderie and true respect they have within their membership. Their style gives an edge to jam

Bands with their fluctuation of styles. Noe seamlessly rips in and out of various scales created the third dimension to their music. Their bass lines are intricate and full of funk while they styled in influences from new age house beats. They are also known for their strong inspirational roots of Santana, but have endlessly proven that no one style can box them in.

Figure commanded the crowd and was def the one of the filthiest acts this year. Die hard fans came out of the wood works to womp out and get out any aggression. His sets are always so fun to watch and be a part of and his fans are super passionate and interactive. It was a pleasure to speak with him after the set and get to know him more. He is a very down to earth guy who invited his cousin and her boyfriend along for his trip. He explained how horror films have been a huge inspiration for his music and how he loves creating music while watching some of his favorite films. He sported a Jean jacket leather boots and a Halloween II t-shirt. His tattoos only emphasized how deep his love went for gore and horror flicks.
To our surprise, we ran into Yonder Mountain String Band backstage and had a chance to briefly talk to them. They graciously allowed us a picture and we more than happy to talk to us. We ask them how their set went that day and they replied with smiles, telling how great the festival was going and how they had an amazing time playing for everyone. Yonder Mountain String Band is a progressive bluegrass band who takes high pride within their craft, proving their love for music, reinvention, and instrumentation. They have also been working on a new album entitled, LOVE. AIN’T LOVE which comes out June 23rd of this year!
While most people come to Scamp for the music, it can’t be boxed to plainly Judy listening to music. Scamp becomes a place to meet new people, experience new perspectives, connect, and learn more about yourself. Each tent holds a story waiting to be peeled back and experienced.
Our friends introduced us to a young man from New York who could of, hands down had the coolest tent I’ve ever been in. The spacious tent resembling a white lotus was lined with an Armenian rug, tapestry neatly thrown over tables to hold intricate trinkets and the sounds of a djembe drum altering us into another state. Holographic art laid on the floor for visitors to pick up and admire beautiful faces of women melting into each other. A China doll transformed from left to right into a blue smiling lizard woman then into Snow White blonde and back around.

When Sunday came the mud seemed to have dried up and hardened for the most part. There was a path that allowed easy entrance to the Moon Shine stage which had previously been swamped out around its entrance. Today more and more people were willing to dance and hoop without getting slowed in the grips of the quick sand mud.
I met with a man who ran a radio show in Cincinnati with two women who were happy to tell me all about how the music festival scene has evolved. One woman explained how when she was only 14 years old when she hitchhiked to buy tickets to a music festival! Now that is dedication! She went on saying there were no debit cards, no cell phones, no internet! She explained that you had to meet with someone purely out of faith they would be there at a random head shop or record store and buy the tickets with cash. She went on by saying how no one thought about bathrooms at Woodstock! This group of friends have been coming to Scamp for over seven years and aren’t quitting anytime soon! Now I definitely felt spoiled after hearing their story!

In the grand scheme of things, this festival is far more than music it can truly enrich your perspectives and broaden your horizons with its choice of music, art, and the connections you will make. I wouldn’t allow a little weather discourage the natural curiosity of adventure. The endless possibilities and exchanging of thought wrapped in these small psychological espionage awaiting from stage to stage. Though improvements will always come as we age the most interesting part I believe is seeing how this scene is constantly evolving!