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Tag: Mamby on the Beach
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.
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.
“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
MAMBY Makes the Beach Go BOOM!!
Being unique in an ever changing world isn’t like it used to be. I mean how many variations can we find for the same thing? The festival world tends to have a very similar way of curating its artists over the course of the same summer. For this reason, boutique festivals have become a new place to look for the big talent that excites us and an avenue in which to discover talent that we would never have considered before. Couple that thought with an amazing venue and you have the mix for something great!
MAMBY has made this kind mark on the Midwest, if not National, festival circuit unlike any other boutique music event. With so much great talent out there creating the best blend with the most engaging over all experience has become an art in and of itself. React Presents has, in most resent years, increased their game on this level and with the visual creatives that they have partnered with in BAM Creates have created of the most engaging festival experiences that’s being offered to us this summer.
One of the top enthralling performances of the weekend definitely goes to Bishop Briggs. After playing the Pre-Mamby party at SoHo House the night before day one Bishop Briggs brought a force to that stage that definitely will land her a headlining spot very soon. The power of her voice was complimented by the simplicity of her style. Her whole band gave the perfect support for her to blow up that stage. K Flay, Lany, Black Madonna, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down and Wild Belle gave killer performances each, adding to the female power of the weekend which Santigold rounded out splendidly on Sunday night, but let’s not get to far ahead of ourselves. If you found yourselves in the midst of debate as to whom would win out over the battle for bodies, you weren’t alone. I knew that Kaytranada would have to wait this time as I was bound to be bouncing back and forth between Thomas Jack and Hanna Wants. I ended up sticking with Thomas Jack as I knew that later that evening I would see Hanna Wants at Evil Olive. And woah! The Hanna Wants after party was packed and off the hook! Evil Olive, one of Chicago’s hottest venues, is fantastic on really any given night of the week, but that night held no comparison.
Back on the sands of Oakwood Beach, however, Thomas Jack was melting faces with amazing mixes, as he is known for. Now, from that point I set my photographer loose to catch Wilde Belle, whom he has never seen live, but since I have, as great as they always are, Shiba San and Lido were calling, so, I had to answer. It was no surprise as half the fest answered that same call as soon as they heard Chance the Rapper showed up surprising us half way through Lido’s. Getting close to the end of the set I left Chance and Lido to finish my hour with Shiba San. I passed by the restroom/market/food area and noticed, even in my hurry, how well organized and clean they all were. Things that you go “hmm”. Now, after Shiba the crowd again faced an yet another first world decision: Atmosphere?…or Tycho? BOTH! Duh! That was the Beauty of Mamby; how easy and short of a walk it was to make it to the sets that matter. In the case of this fest, pretty much all of them were gold, but that’s what made it so fun and so difficult to decide.
Three roads diverged on a yellow beach,
And sorry I could not travel all,
And be one traveler, well I preach
And stood long to look and listen, to each
Milky Chance, Tale of Us, and Animal Collective. I can’t even begin to explain how my head was exploding. I think I spent more time passing through the boulders that lined the beach just before the “MAMBY” Plant Sculpture (another amazing piece courtesy of BAM) then with my friends broken into their separate factions. I mean I love my Festie Crew, but, dude, there was music happening everywhere and I was like a kid I an audio candy store. I had to keep moving. I will happily admit that I ended at Milky Chance that evening. It’s impressive how well they can jam! Their set was poignant, energetic, and super professional. Even while they were temporarily upstaged by the fireworks they vamped throughout the whole display and as soon as the last cherry popped they sucked you back into the noise and made the masses dance like it was their very first time.
Day two: I kicked it off as soon as doors opened with some Yoga that was offered. But I wasn’t going to miss INPHINITY. Nothing like dancing to a sick House set to wake up my body after a morning stretching session. After that, I pretty much didn’t leave the MIXMAG DJ Tent the majority of the day
Marcus Marr! Woot! That boy has got something! And although Chet Faker, whom we saw later on, helped bring him more into the lime light with their collaborative EP Work, Marr gave us some sick quirky funky stuff on a crazier level than I have wrapped my mind around yet. Be on the lookout and listen. Steve Bug was a blast back. Having grown listening to him because of my club head brother I couldn’t believe his set was so evolved and heavier hitting. Continuing with our city’s own Derrick Carter, I was a happy clam. Never doubt the man’s mixes…never! You know who you are.
With all these names flying around this page and on the stage that weekend it was nearly to an end. I hope Chromeo won’t be JEALOUS but it was the first opportunity to see my hometown hero Lupe Fiasco. I found him late into his game but I was front and center that night. Dude had that crowd in the palm of his brilliant hands. I was proud to make that choice. Now, I knew that I was to see Loco Dice and Martinez Bros. at the MID that night so I made the move to Chet Faker.
I went back to Santigold. I did. But after seeing her twice in New Orleans I had to spread the love around. So I went back to Chet just in time for the EP set with Marcus Marr. And man! It was better than the recordings! Of course! Did they play Gold? Hell yeah. Learning from your Love? Dude! The Trouble with Us? STOP IT! I don’t know much but I know there was a lot of people going home after that set to practice making babies. MAMBY was off the hook. And gonna be real hard to beat!
#Back to the Beach#
Mamby is BACK! Now hear this, Get on it! React has secured the best line up so far of the summer. Banger after banger. I will tell you this if you aren’t going you are missing the best party and after party series of what will be here in Chicago this year. Some fests may be bigger and have more days, but to jam such great acts on the beach with the best local support is going to he hard to beat. Let’s take a quick look; shall we?
Map
There’s not much that needs to be said about the headliners other than the fact that they’re here in Chicago and you need to see them. The talent there already speaks for itself. But what can we expect from the festival and the grounds? Bam Creates is a part of the artistic team that will be blowing this beach up. Fresh off of winning the best one off party of the year at the Chicago Nightlife Awards for their Industry Sleepover, BAM is creating tons of eye candy as a backdrop for the beautiful people in bikinis and bathing suits. Joe Quade (who heads this outfit) designed for Mamby before so if you were there last year, you know it’s going to be good.
Now if you’re like myself and love to play in the nightlife scene, then the names Gene Farris and Garrett Inphinity will be of no surprise. These Chicago killers of spin are hitting up the second stage with massive selections that I have gotten the privilege to sample. I know all of my house heads will be present, but for those of you for Who haven’t had the chance make a point to, do so.
I have sat with Inphinity on a number of occasion but did so just recently for Mamby. I was curious to know about some of the things that placed him on the line up. Here were his thoughts:
CMF: You have been jamming in the scene for sometime now what drives you to continue?
INPHINITY: It’s been a trip being able to be a full-time DJ and producer. Loving what you for a living is all I need to continue. Having some of the best friends and supporters believing in what you do makes it a bit easier.
CMF: What’s your process like when producing a new tune?
INPHINITY: Usually, it’s the drums and groove first. Then I’ll start working on the bassline. When those two elements are sounding right, the rest will fall into place rather quickly.
CMF: How do you know that a track will get an audience going while you are creating a track?
INPHINITY: That comes from years of experience in DJing nightclubs. I see what works on the dance floor night after night.
CMF:What’s most inspiring to you in your work?
INPHINITY :Making music that people will listen to or dance to for
years instead of weeks. Quality over quantity. It makes the creation process harder, but the end results most satisfying.
As of right now the forecast looks good, but I’ll tell you this with the lineup as it is there is absolutely no way come rain or shine you should miss this show, because come rain or shine this show is happening. If you work, call in sick! It’s someone’s birthday? Forget the dinner party buy her a ticket! Understand, I’m not advocating everyone to shirk your responsibilities…but shirk them! Shirk them NOW! And if for some reason you just can’t make it (we’re not going to excuse you for that) there are plenty of after parties that will definitely be worth your time.
Here Is the list of after parties going on in the city.
Link to after party tickets
Most of them are sold out but if you hang outside I’m sure someone will have a ticket that they are looking to get rid of.
React is definitely on fire this year having just finished Spring Awakening with some killer headliners, over taking a lot of the booking at Schuba’s, and mixing up the type of talent that they’re bringing into their wheelhouse. However, if my instinct is right they are going to out do themselves next weekend. All the signs are pointing up and up and the anticipation here is way above anything that has been circulating around the other upcoming fests or parties.
I am most excited to see the pairing of Marcus Marr, who is spinning on the second stage, and Chet Faker. Their collaborative EP just released five months ago is an amazing pairing of rock and electronic sounds mixed with Chet’s smooth soulful voice. I have had this on repeat for the past month and it still hasn’t gotten old. Here take a listen for what’s in store.
Marus Marr
Chet Faker
Now listen, I am gonna step up on the proverbial soap box for a second. I know a lot of you are going to be out there drinking and turning up which means things are going to drop, people are going to lose items and garbage is going to collect. After this past Memorial Day, North Avenue Beach was completely destroyed and the cleanup was horrific. This is our city people. These beaches are home to all of us. Can we please put on our big kid pants and keep it clean? What’s the point of having it on the beach if we can’t come back to it? Let’s just make an unspoken pact to take the 10 extra steps to put the cans and bottles in the right receptacle. It’s better that it collects around the trashcan than spread out over the entire beach. Nobody wins after that kind of aftermath. Personally I advocate leaving no trace but I can’t expect everybody to follow suit. So please take your trash with you and find the right receptacle. #Stepping down#.
Going green, Mamby will be providing free shuttle transportation between the Cermack Redline station and the McCormick Place Greenline station each day between 12pm to 11pm. This should help with parking and keeping festival goers safe. Everybody be safe.
Last but not least, It shouldn’t have to be said but it’s better to be reminded, HYDRATE. There will be filling stations throughout the grounds so bring a camel back, canteen, goat skin, whatever, just keep hydrated and make sure your friends do too.
This year at Mamby on the Beach we’re gonna blow it out of the water!!!