First things first, don’t forget your wristband!!! At every festival I end up talking to some poor soul who got hours down the road or even all the way there before realizing they forgot their ticket.  This is a buzz kill, and quite a crappy start to the festivities, so don’t let it happen to you!  Go right now and pack your wristband, ID, and cash!

The weather report calls for plenty of sunshine, so it is important to remember your sunblock!  I like to pack a variety of options to make sure I’m all covered (literally).  I pack spf 30 or higher waterproof/sport for face, arms, and shoulders, 15 for legs, feet, and back, 70 for my tattoos, and spray-on to throw in my pack for quick touch-ups.  This works well for me, but whatever you do just pack something!

Bring a refillable water container!  Staying hydrated is very important, especially if you are planing on drinking in the sun all day.  There are water refill stations available inside the grounds.  Last year the line for these was pretty long so filling a water bladder or large container can save you from having to wait in line as often.  I like to bring Pedialyte or other drink enhancement packets to add to my water.  These are small and easy to toss in your pack, but they can help add vitamins, electrolytes, and variety to your water to keep you drinking plenty of it.  Coconut water is also a good source of re-hydration.  Throw back one of these when you wake up and before you go to bed to keep your system happy and avoid those pesky hangovers.

Chairs, umbrellas  and Sunbrellas are not allowed inside the venue, so you have to get creative so you can make yourself comfortable.  Some folks like to bring a tiny plastic shovel or Frisbee to dig a hole and create a sort of sand couch.  You can spread a towel over it and make a nice little chill spot.   A small spray bottle full of ice cold water can be nice for misting off while walking around to avoid overheating, and big floppy beach hats will keep the sun off your face during the hot days.

The weather report calls for less than 20% chance of rain with sunny warm days, highs of 78 and lows of 66.  The ocean breezes can be a little cool at night so pack light layers as well as those bathing suits to be comfortable for the long haul.  A lot of walking will be done on sand so bring shoes that are easy to slip off and on.  I like to wear Tevas that velcro for quick on and off, and strap easily to my backpack so I don;t loose them in the sand.  Lots of items can get lost in the sand, so every time you switch locations be sure to check around for cell phones, wallets, sunglasses, etc.

Get in shape!  This is not so that you look hot in a bathing suit, though I’m sure that would be nice.  As mentioned before, a lot of walking will be done on sand and this can get tiring by the end of the weekend.  Festivals are always a little hard on the body but this one in particular can ware you out, so get up and moving these next few days!

Don’t forget transportation.  There is no parking at this festival, and no camping on site, so you will need to work out a way to get there and back.  Shuttle passes are on sale and have many locations to catch a ride.  These are a little pricey but you will be guaranteed a ride.  Cabs and the Chevy cabs (free for all Hangout patrons if you can find one) will also be an option.  Bike racks are available on site, or you can always hop in the back of a truck if you can find a willing driver.  Just be safe!

Start getting excited!  Just a few more days until we get to see all of your smiling faces on the beach.  Hope you find these tips helpful, and feel free to leave comments and add your own.  Save travels!

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Mulberry Mountain is a beautiful location for a festival! The scenic views and Mountainous terrain provides plenty of sights to gaze upon while raging out all weekend. You can also get back to nature by hopping on a shuttle to the river. Canoes, kayaks, rafts and tubes are all available for rental on site. If you like a change of scenery, this can be a fun little excursion to check out.

The weather can be a little hard to predict, so come prepared! Anyone who attended Wakarusa the past few years can attest to the fact that swings in temperature can occur . It’s best to bring some warm layers in addition to the shorts, bathing suit tops, and crazy costumes you have already planned on packing. No matter the weather situation, it is always important to remember water, sun-block, water, and more sun-block!

Wakarusa has become a beloved festival for many reasons, but one that I really find important is that Wakarusa allows you to be very comfortable in the venue. For example, you can bring large umbrellas, Sunbrellas, etc. to block the sun or protect you from the elements. Blankets, tapestries, and chairs are also permitted and can provide some comfort during a marathon day of shows.

Another reason that Wakarusa is such an epic festival is of course the lineup. For yet another year Waka has brought a schedule full of diversity and unbelievable talent. A lot of festivals boast “something for everyone” but Waka truly delivers. You can shoot from stage to stage all day long and be sure to find something that gets your foot stompin’ or booty shaking. Fans are already on the edge of their Microbuses to check out well known artists such as Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes, and Snoop Lion, which are sure to kill it, but the variety of other eclectic artists filling in the weekend are what sets Wakarusa apart from other festival destinations. For example, if you like some gritty, down home, Arkansas bluegrass, stop by and see the hot drunken messes known as Mountain Sprout. They will be performing two sets over the weekend, so maybe take a big slug of Whiskey to blend in. Nic Cowan is making his Wakarusa debut, playing a late afternoon set on Friday. This soulful songwriter has a unique and original sound that will surely set the mood for the fabulous night of music that follows. Do yourself a big favor and check out Quixotic Fusion for something truly amazing. This performance group brings a show the likes of which will leave you in tears. The beautiful music paired with unbelievable feats of acrobatics and lights is not to be missed!

Wakarusa will also be bringing you a ton of awesome activities! For those early risers and joiners, you can attend daily yoga classes, didgeridoo workshops, hoop and flow workshops, and World Music workshops. Get some instant good Karma by dropping off some non-perishable food items at the Conscious Alliance Art That Feeds Food drive. You will score a sick poster while feeding those in need. You can also get your jam on with the folks on the Music Bus, or enter the Disc Golf Tournament. Hop on the water slide to cool down or the Ferris Wheel for an aerial view of Waka. Make your mark on the Interactive Art Installations, and get yourself all gussied up for the costume contest and parade. These are just some of the ways to fill your days, which proves that if you are not entertained at Wakarusa, you’re not trying hard enough!

The countdown is on! Mark your calendars, pack up the car, and don’t forget to bring the good vibes! This is going to be one anniversary we will never forget, Waka waka!

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Upon returning to Wanee this year, I began to seek out my favorite camping spot. I attend many festivals at The Spirit of Suwannee, but I always like to camp in the same location. I believe that in a large camping venue, it’s nice to have that drunken muscle memory that always leads me back where I belong. With this in mind, a tip for those visiting this venue for the first time is to arrive with plenty of daylight on your side. Once you secure your wrist band and parking sticker (included in the ticket price) you are ushered through the gates of the park. No security checkpoints are between you and your campsite, with the exception of some attendants who just want you to flash your wristband along the way. Once you are through the gates, the campsite is simple lousy with awesome spots to set up camp. It is up to you to pick your favorite. Take a minute to roam the grounds and decide on a spot that fits your needs. Some people like to be secluded and off to the side, others enjoy being right up by the gates or right in the middle of a raging party. Whatever your preference, you can find a spot that will make you happy. Giving yourself plenty of time to roam around and pick your setting will get the weekend started off on the right foot.

When we arrived at our campsite, the daylight was starting to fade and we only had a little time to set up. Naturally I like to pack as much crap as can possibly squeeze into my vehicle. Many folks have their own setup camp ritual, and mine includes unpacking EVERYTHING and organizing it immediately so that the rest of the weekend I know where to find anything I need. With limited light on our side I was anxious to get the tent, shade tent, and lanterns set up. Within seconds of unloading, our neighbors immediately popped over to lend a hand. I am the first to admit that after years of traveling the festival circuit, I have been concerned about the new generation of festival kids. While adventurous and fun loving, they have also had a tendency to display selfish and self destructive behavior, making them the wildcards of the festival scene. With this gesture and those that followed, my faith in the kids these days was completely restored. After they helped us set up they told us they run a free festival kitchen. They buy an enormous amount of food and prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for any hungry folks in the camp ground who want to stop by and get fed. Even when they were not already cooking, I watched them make something special for anyone who visited them. It was a beautiful thing to witness.

The Wanee festival also host some other beautiful people, Conscious Alliance. If you are unfamiliar with this program, it is an innovative “Art That Feeds” food drive. You can stop by the tent to donate 20 non-perishable food items, and in return you get a super awesome poster, designed exclusively for Wanee and only available to those who donate. It’s good all around! You get to do something nice for other people while getting something cool in return, and all of the food gets donated to a local Florida food bank.

Now that I’ve covered the “Why Wanee makes me so freaking happy” portion of this article, here’s the need to know stuff. As mentioned before, security coming into the venue is not extensive, however it is important to keep your head on your shoulders once you enter the campgrounds. Local police will be present throughout the weekend so try to make smart decisions as to not make yourself a target for the fuzz. You can bring a golf cart or bike for putting around and exploring the grounds.  Bring a chain to leave your bike up front because they are not permitted in the music venue itself. Once arriving at the gates to the venue security will briefly check any bags, mostly looking for beer.  The security does this year round at this venue and are not overly aggressive so try and be nice to them and they will be nice to you. You are allowed to bring in chairs, shade tents, Sunbrellas, etc. so take advantage of this. Small half tents for shelter can be a great thing to have in Florida because it can be both very sunny and rainy all in the same day. You may also hang a hammock for lounging in one of the many trees at the Mushroom Stage. If you do choose to set up some shade, here are some good rules of thumb: don’t set up an entire EZ up style tent near the front.  Not only is this rude to those many many people whose view will be blocked, but security will also eventually ask you to remove it. Do not leave your tent up after the last shows of the night. We chose to set ours up on Thursday so it would be there all weekend when we wanted it, but the winds kicked up pretty intensely through the night. We came back the next day to find that our tent, even though staked down, had blown away and was picked up by security. We initially believed that some jackass had stolen it, but after looking around for it we spoke to some nice folks who suggested asking security. We got our tent back, but in a weird twist of fate the same folks who helped us out the day before arrived an Saturday to find that their tent had in fact been stolen. Moral of the story, sign your tent so that you can identify yours in case of theft, and take it down every night to avoid either of these issues. You are also permitted to bring snacks and water into the venue. If you pack a refillable water container there are great cold and tasty Brita filter stations available throughout the venue. If you don’t bring snacks there are some fantastic vendors available for your grubbing out pleasure. The park requires you to purchase tickets to exchange for all food and beverages. While it’s tempting to buy a whole bunch, my suggestion is to buy only a few at a time.  Without fail, I always come home with some hiding in my pack. They cost a dollar per ticket and you can not refund them for cash, but the line to purchase them was never very long.

While packing for Wanee, keep in mind that Florida weather can be unpredictable. This year we experienced every range of weather from scorching days, to windy, cold, rainy nights. The expression in Florida is “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes”. For the most part it was beautiful to be outside, but there were those intense points in the weekend where I was so glad to have some waterproof shoes, raincoat, and warm dry clothes.  Another thing to make sure to pack is bug repellent and after bite care. This park is a beautiful piece of nature, full of mossy live oaks and a lovely river, but with that comes lots of bugs!  Keep an eye out for those ant piles as well, those little devils are everywhere!

Many thanks to all of the kick-ass bands, friendly staff, and raging campers that helped make this year’s Wanee such a memorable event.  It was great to be back home with the Fam at Spirit of Suwannee.  It truly was magical.  A Merry Wanee to all!

Special thanks to Wil Arnold for the pictures. Happy friend-aversary!

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AURA was held in the traditional 3 day style, but many attendees were already reved up to go by the time the first band hit the stage on Friday afternoon.  I arrived just in time to catch Stokeswood  on the amphitheatre stage.  It was a beautiful sunny day and the mood was exciting and energetic.  Being an Atlanta gal myself, I will admit I may be a little biased, but I do believe that if this band continues to tear it up the way they did at AURA, we will be seeing them much more in the future.  Their energy on stage, the  way they interacted with the crowd, and the fun and thoughtful music they create makes them a band not to miss.  Stokewood was, in my opinion, the perfect way to kick off a weekend of music.

The crowd at AURA traversed the cold beautifully, and the music kept the crowd constantly happy despite the dropping temperatures.  One of the coolest things I saw all weekend (or perhaps ever at a festival) was the unbelievable Stevie Wonder tribute set performed by Kung Fu,Nigel Hall, and various other special guests.  Nigel Hall and the gang put together a set list that was both flawlessly performed and unexpected.  I came into the show expecting to hear a lot of greatest hits, but to my surprise the set was chock full of obscurity and old cuts that really made the crowd go wild.  It was so cool to hear Nigel Hall speak about his respect and admiration of Stevie Wonder, and he announced at the beginning of the show that this was a dream come true for him and he only hoped to do the legend justice.

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In case you haven’t seen the full lineup, THAT THING IS GOOD! Many bands including Papadosio, The Heavy Pets, Conspirator, and Perpetual Groove will be playing two sets. Kung Fu will also be premiering a tribute to Stevie Wonder including the Royal Family’s Nigel Hall. Don’t miss it! The weekend is going to be full of bands who don’t just play music, but create whole experiences with their instruments and light shows. Anyone preparing for AURA should definitely pack their dancing shoes!

The full schedule is up, so those who like to plan ahead can start immediately mapping out their experience. When you are planning your weekend, don’t forget that AURA and The Spirit of Suwannee Music Park will be providing lots of other amenities. If you want to relax your mind and get centered you can check out Yoga classes taught by instructor Kelly Searcy. She will be providing guided experiences throughout the weekend to get you loosened up and ready to dance, or just quiet your mind and provide some relaxation. Festivals can wreak havoc on your body , so waking up early to start your day with Kelly could help you make the most of your weekend.

You can also check out the other park amenities including biking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and even a disk golf course. Stroll among the moss draped live oaks and find yourself feeling back to nature
in no time.  If you’re the adventurous type, rent a golf cart to putt around the park and really explore the grounds. The park also provides comforts like a general store, full service restaurant, and shower and water stations.

When packing for your trip I highly suggest checking the weather forecast. Many are under the impression that Florida is always hot, but anyone who has visited Live Oak knows that the weather can be very unpredictable this time of year. It will almost certainly get super chilly at night so pack warm layers, heavy sleeping bags, and hand warm

ers. North Florida can get down in the 40’s this time of year and you do not want to brave the fun festival weekend unprepared. Campfires are permitted on the grounds so if you have space in your vehicle, bring firewood.  If you don’t, no worries, bundles of wood are sold on site. BE CAREFUL! Also be aware that showers are a common occurrence in North Florida so prepare yourself for at least a little precipitation. Bring water proof shoes, extra tarps, towels, etc. to get ready for whatever Mother Nature serves up for us. For some more ideas on what to pack you can check out the “Surviving a Rainy Festival” post or the “Ultimate Packing List”.

Don’t forget about the food drive and Project Shelter for those who would like to contribute to those in need, and keep up with AURA on facebook.com or join the mailing list to get all the newest updates. Most importantly, start getting excited! AURA is only a few weeks away and it promises to be an epic weekend for all! See you at Suwannee, family!

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The scenery leading up to the fest is pretty amazing, so I suggest taking a little extra time to to stop and smell the roses, or in this case, check out all of the beautiful mountain landscapes.  Do your best not to piss off any cops, even though, because the demographic is different from Wakarusa (which is hosted in the same location), police presence on the way in to the fest is not as aggressive.  At any rate, it is always good to observe speed limits, especially because there was a lot of construction on the neighboring highways.  Once you arrive at the festival grounds the lines for security checks are very short, and for the most part you have room to set up and make yourself comfortable.  I camped with the WET volunteers in a field straight across from the main stage.  Upon arrival I scoured the field to pick the best spot.  I had three agendas: 1-Find neighbors who seemed friendly and like minded to share my weekend with, 2-Find a spot that is not too long a walk to the nearest porta-potties (for those long drunken nights), and 3-Find level ground to set up a tent, as harsh weather was looming on the radar and I did not wish to wake up sleeping in a swampy tent.  After looking around for just a few minutes I found all three of my objectives and cozied up next to some fun looking folks.  After a long 12 hour drive, I got out of my car and said “Hey guys, mind if I camp next to you?”  They heartily replied “Please do!”.  As I started loading my junk out of the car Jordan came over to help me with my tent while Cassie cooked some dinner for the whole group and Kristen worked up some shots.  I knew immediately that this group of folks from Austin, Texas were a great choice!

After getting settled into the campsite I began to wander towards the stages.  A beautiful thing about Harvest camping is that from many campsites one can hear the music without ever having to leave your lawn chair, but I was ready to go get up in the nitty gritty Yonder set.  The weather took a turn for the chilly as the sun set and clouds started to loom in, so legging under my pants, thick socks, and several layers proved to be necessary.  On my walk in to the show I saw an RV with a lovely setup of lights, pinwheels, and best of all, a fire pit.  I stopped to warm my hands and compliment the setup, only to find that the two slightly older gentlemen who captained that RV were very open and friendly.  In true Harvest style they allowed me to warm my toes by the fire and warm my belly up with some whiskey. They invited me to come by the next day for some giant roasted turkey legs, which sounded amazing but I could not commit completely because who knows what tomorrow may bring on Mulberry!

I found some friendly hoopers and party favor connoisseurs at the Yonder show who were gracious enough to share their Hot Apple Pie Moonshine and accompany me over to the Everyone Orchestra set to have my mind completely blown.  If you are unfamiliar with this event, it is a collection of members of several bands who are set to perform throughout the weekend, all playing different instruments for which they have become famous, playing in a giant jam orchestrated, literally, by a conductor.  In this case the conductor was Matt Butler.  His eccentric style and high energy antics made an unbelievable jam even more ridiculously fun to watch.  The jam included members of Yonder, Dirt Foot, and countless other bad asses which, needless to say, was a sick way to see such talented musicians performing on one stage together.

After a fun night of hooping and hollering, I made it back to my campsite in one piece and called it a night.  Sadly, while I rested my head Mother Nature was busy causing a ruckus.  It rained buckets and buckets in the early morning hours, leaving the campsites a cold and muddy place.  This is a bummer, yes, but any festy kid knows that if life gives you mud, you mud wrestle your mood into submission and embrace the challenge.  I nerd-ed out by opening a book and hoping the rain and my slight hangover would pass.  After checking the weather on my phone and realizing that if I was going to hide from the rain I would be confined to my tent for the next seven hours or so, I decided to devise a new plan.  As I was working on finding my rain gear I heard a familiar voice outside my tent calling “Kathy Jo, wake up and come climb in with us!” My Austin neighbors had returned from their Work Exchange shift and without missing a beat began preparing mimosas, whiskey coffees, and of course what morning would be complete without tequila shots!  Because I am big on being prepared (hence writing a Festival Survival Guide) I also insisted that we take shots of AirBorne since we were sitting with our bare feet in cold rain puddles which had found their way inside the tent.  Since we had already had tequila, whiskey, vodka, and champagne in the first hour of waking, we decided to just keep it going and our day continued like this for hours until, to our joyful surprise, Old Mister Sunshine decided to come back out and play.  It was on to some music finally and wandering around to some new scenery.

Yonder Mountain was hosting a press conference with the visiting Media so I hiked my way over to the conference center.  If you ever get the pleasure of chatting with one of your favorite bands up close, I hope that they are half as interesting, humble, and engaging as the boys of Yonder.  It was such a treat to hear their thoughts on their own music, the changing music scene, their beginnings, and even the challenges and joys of hosting their own festival.  They were super excited that the landmark 1500th show was set to take place the next night at their own fest, They had plans to bring an entirely fresh set list, special guests, and lots of other surprise to their Saturday night set.  Unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans, but we’ll get back to that shortly.

While watching Mikey Hart get on a block of Dead songs, a nice young man approached me and told me that he was enjoying my hooping, and could he sit down and chill for a spell.  Or maybe I invited him to sit on my lovely assortment of trash bags used as tapestries…either way, we engaged in a conversation in which I found out that he was originally from Atlanta, just like me.  He had come to Arkansas back in May with the Gong Crew who entertained at Wakarusa and met an artist who inspired him.  The artist invited him to stay at his house and sort of apprentice with him to learn some new skills which could help him in his future endeavors. Aaron (my new festy friend) decided to take him up on this and had been living in Eureka Springs (a little quaint tourist town about an hour from the fest) for the past five months.  He was ready to make his way back to Atlanta because he had learned a lot and was ready to focus on his music full time.  Somehow, after knowing each other for only a matter of minutes I decided to go with Aaron to Eureka Springs, pack up his room, and bring him back with me to Atlanta.  That’s the funny thing about festivals, right? It makes you feel like strangers are instantly friends, and the “real world” does not exist in the scary “some strangers are ax murderers” kind of way.  So I agreed.

Saturday held even more surprises.  Even though the mud made it almost arbitrary, I decided to give myself a little cleanup.  I grabbed my shower bag out of the trunk and washed up.  After getting clean I wandered over to the other end of the campgrounds to get some breakfast.  Along the way some kids stopped me to ask about my Solarbak (the solar panel backpack I live by at festivals).  We chatted and they informed me that the weather report called for lots of heavy rain starting soon and not ending until well after dark.  With this information I figured that since it was the last night I may as well put anything I could into the car so that it would not have to all be put away soaking wet the next day.  I hustled back to my campsite only to realize that I could not find my car keys.  Now normally, I advise my readers to always have a spare set of keys hidden away somewhere in case of a mishap, however, this fest I rode alone and have never lost my keys, so I decided not to worry about it.  Bad mistake!  I hunted around for my keys to find that when I had gotten my shower bag out of the car I clipped my keys to it, then locked my car up when I was done. Sigh.

I walked up to the media center to see if anyone could help.  I was looking for the Saint Bernard’s, a group I had seen around Waka and Harvest giving out water and helping people out.  They were not around but I noticed Split Lip Rayfield hanging around outside.  I said hello and chatted with them a bit when Wayne informed me that his sound guy “Jimmy” ironically enough, may have a Slim Jim in his gear.  How awesome, I thought, to be let back into my car by a performer at the fest!  Unfortunately, I waited around for 45 minutes only to find that Jimmy did not bring these tools and it was back to square one.  I stopped by the Work Exchange post to ask our recent acquaintance if he could radio someone who may be able to help.  After a lot of running around I decided to head back to my car to wait for the locksmith.  On the way I saw a tent for the Vibe Tribe.  This group is a fun bunch of folks I had seen at many festivals hooping, dancing with fire toys, and being generally awesome, so I stopped by to see if they could help.  I was directed to a guy named Kent who was a locksmith and to my surprise he dropped everything, walked with me across the campgrounds to my car, and immediately opened my door in a matter of seconds.  Yay! He was so great, friendly, and efficient.  An added bonus was that he basically did it for a donation so it was half of what the locksmith would have charged and he hung out and drank a beer with us. Thanks Kent!

With that unpleasantness behind me the day raged on with muddy enthusiasm until what we had all been dreading all weekend was upon us.  The show had to stop! Just as yonder was preparing for their exciting 1500th show, the thunder began rolling in and the heavy rains began.  Yonder only got to play two songs before the announcement came through that all festival attendees should immediately hunker down in their cars because a tornado warning was in effect for our area and we could expect high winds and hail.  With this news we gathered up all the booze and food and piled into the Austin neighbor’s tent to weather the storm.  There was only a few minutes where I believed we were in real danger, at which point we had to run out of our tent and get into the car because the winds were so fierce and the hail began to come down.  While in the car, I looked over at my tent only to find that it was not there.  Apparently during the whooping winds, my tent pole snapped in half causing the jagged ends to puncture the top of the tent and rain tarp, then another gust or two and the tent was completely ripped in half.  Ugh…what is the return policy for an act of God?  Nothing to be done about that now, so onward and upward.  A few hours passed and we were starting to get on the dark side of hammered.  We passed around a bottle of whiskey and made up bluegrass songs to entertain ourselves until one by one we fell victim to the warm covers and fuzzy heads.  I don’t know how long we were asleep but I woke to someone saying “wake up, bitch! It’s time for Mountain Sprout!”.  I had been looking forward to that show all weekend, and although it was after 3 am and I was almost too inebriated to walk, I jumped up and rallied.  We headed off to the venue and it looked more like a post apocalyptic scene than a music venue.  Fields of mud, discarded tent remains, and lots of incredibly wasted people were scattered among the fields.  The “walls” of the venue had all fallen down so there was no longer a gate check to go through so bottles of moonshine and other booze were in the hands of almost everyone.  I was saved by the fact that our camping neighbor Luke is an amazing human being and made it his mission to see that i did not face plant into the mud.  I didn’t make it easy for him, as the parts of the night that are vivid are me acting like a weeble-wobble.  Luke swooped in just in the nick of time every time I lost my balance.  It didn’t help that a man dressed as Jesus continued to hand me a handle of cheap whiskey.  I wasn’t the only one who was a hot mess, however.  Once we got to Mountain Sprout it was apparent that the whole festival had become a shit show, especially the boys in the band.  The fiddle player managed to throw up and pee on himself on stage, which is a metaphor for the entire crowd.  It was a beautiful disaster, and I only managed to eat the ground once. Thanks Luke, Jesus gave me booze but you were definitely my savior!

The night ended in a warm fire and a pile of people on the one remaining air mattress that wasn’t covered in cold water, which was the perfect end to the crazy weekend.  It was time to go home.  The lessons I think we can learn from my adventures are these:  Having great neighbors can make all the difference at a festival.  Always bring a spare set of car keys.  When in doubt, find the Vibe Tribe.  If a tornado rolls through take down your tent and grab the whiskey.  And most importantly, Yonder throws one hell of a party!  See you all next year!

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After a long stint of going to multi-day camping festivals I had almost forgotten how different city festivals can be.  The crowd, the vibe, security…but the biggest difference between a camping fest and a city fest is that you have to worry about logistics like city traffic, rush hour, and transportation.  Music Midtown is in the heart of the city so parking can be a major pain.  Pay parking and bike racks were available in some places, though many chose to skip the $20+ parking and just take MARTA.  The trains run every 10-20 minutes so you can catch one with no problem and it only cost $5 a person for a round trip.  The ride back is a little crowded but we found it very worth it to leave the cars at home and over indulge in the $10 beers.

Speaking of that, the drinks were everywhere!  Vendors with cocktails, giant beers, and craft beers were all set up throughout the venue.  After arriving at the festival we found a good spot to chill and took out the tapestry to sit on.  From that point on a beer vendor with a bucket passed every few minutes so it would have been the perfect situation if the drinking of this beer did not inevitably lead to bathroom visits.  I’m not sure what was going trough the minds of the organizers when they planned the number of available porta-potties but it was ugly.  The lines were out of hand ridiculous and the locations were all far away from the stages.  This is the first time I have ever seen two girls actually come to blows over a bathroom if that paints a picture of how bad it was.  Hopefully the Music Midtown folks learn from this mistake and realize that a sold out crowd and tons of beer vendors equals lots and lots of bathrooms.

The eclectic lineup brought a pretty eclectic crowd.  People of all ages were present, including teenagers, middle aged folks, and even some families.  Some liked to get there early and set up a good chill spot while others chose to bounce around from stage to stage.  Those of you who remember the “old” Music Midtown will remember the spread out stages and large venue but this year’s show had two stages which were close together.  One set would end then another would begin.  We chose to plop down right in the middle of the two so that we could hear both shows without having to move.  This has it’s benefits, like being able to find your way back to your crew every time without getting lost, or find friends you are looking for.  Having a home base to kick off your shoes and chill is also nice.  If you like to bounce around there is lots to see.  You can ride the Ferris wheel, check out the beautiful Atlanta skyline, or just people watch.  So many beautiful people were in attendance at this show, so if you are a single person you could have a hay day in a sea of all the hotties running around.

Besides all the hotties, the main event, the music, was so amazing.  The headliners were a huge draw.  I mean… The Avett Brothers, Foo Fighters, Ludacris, and of course Pearl Jam.  Just hearing the lineup made me smile, so you can imagine the joy of actually getting to see all of these bands in one place.  It was a strange experience to see such different acts so close together, you almost had to hit reset on your brain between the shows.  It doesn’t get more opposite than hearing TI sing “Whatever You Like” then turning around 5 minutes later to hear The Avett Brothers with their folk sound belting out “The Fall”, or dancing your ass off to GirlTalk then turning around to get ready for Pearl Jam.   The highlight of the weekend for me was watching Joan Jett come out with the Foo Fighters and sing “Bad Reputation”.  She is such a legend and the Foo Fighters have become icons of our generation so this collaboration was just plain awesome.  Pearl Jam has not visited Atlanta in a very long time so fans came out of the wood work to experience this show, and they were not disappointed   The band really brought it on the set list, pulling out some old school and mixing in the new.  It was a great treat to hear them close the weekend with Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World”.

Music Midtown 2012 was definitely one for the win column, and with it’s stellar lineup and sold out ticket sales Atlanta can expect this tradition to continue to grow, I can’t wait for next year!

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I truly love Catskill Chill music festival and everything about it! To get the most out of your experience at Camp Minglewood, one must fully let go and be free. Specifically, because for four days you will be out of contact with everyone you know who is not lucky enough to be at Catskill. In this area of New York there is absolutely no cell phone reception, so you must be prepared to be thrown off the grid for a weekend.  Catskill Chill music festival occurs yearly towards the end of the festival season on the east coast, and is one of the largest September festivals. It has some of the most beautiful scenery, including a gorgeous lake, cabins, and great camp atmosphere.

Catskill Chill actually takes place on an over night camp ground not to far from where I used to go to camping as a kid. I was in a music cabin shack like thing at Catskill, relaxing, when I noticed in the cabin with me was the guitarist of Lettuce and some of his buddies. The guitarist then informed me that he learned to play his instrument in the very shack we were sitting in. He was a former camper at camp Minglewood. That was a magical moment. Many other artists that play Catskill every year also attended overnight camp there as a youth and mastered their instruments at this performing arts camp.

Along with all of the outstanding music, vending, and festy food, come some unique challenges. One challenge that must be kept in mind when packing for this amazing and fun festival is the fall season brings fall elements and weather. Up in Hancock, New York the weather is bi-polar. If you decide to go to Catskill make sure you’re prepared for heavy rain and winds by bringing a tarp, and something heavy to hold your tent down. Also bring a raincoat and a positive attitude regardless of what the weather may bring. If you prefer to not dance in wet shoes and socks like I did, boots are a necessity. Rubber rain boots will prevent your socks from soaking.  There were many hazards that we all encountered throughout the weekend due to a combination of domino style fallen port-potties, hail storms,  and raging winds that ripped some small camp sites apart. Apparently these storms were not new to Catskill Chill and the festival endured a storm every year at least once during the weekend. It only makes sense that during the beginning of September, storms are prevalent on the east coast, it is after all hurricane season. Pack for this!

Catskill’s lineups, and every single headliner threw down at the festival and was completely epic. A  young band known as “Pigeons Playing Ping Pong” threw down like some old  professional musicians. In the past at “Stirfry
Music Revival” a weekend before Catskill I watched Pigeons cover You Enjoy My Self. That was not the only cover Pigeons did but it was my favorite. Another thing I love about “ Pigeons Playing Ping Pong” is not only do they kill it covering our favorite music as a younger generation of the jam scene, they also definitely get into  some electro dance jazztronica fusion in there jams, similar to the Disco Biscuits, which young dancing audiences can never get enough of.

This summer Catskill had Lettuce perform once again, as well as Soul Live.  Break science destroyed it, of course, as expected. The Heavy Pets had an amazing set and filled with funky rhythms.  I have to say being a Philadelphia music fan and loving the Disco Biscuits, I was confused to see every member of the Disco Biscuits playing on stage at different times, and yet no Disco Biscuit headliner. For example the drummer of the Biscuits, Allen, played first night as “Dr. Fameus”  and killed it sweating his face off, while Conspirator played on the second to last night with keyboardist Aaron Magner and Bassist Marc Brownstien. Even the guitarist of the Disco Biscuits, Barber, or Jon Gutwillig was there playing the closing act of the festival with his super group “Kick Rocks” this group has only performed live once before Catskill and that was at Camp Bisco.

Catskill Chill is a music festival I will never forget. I know my time there would have been a lot more fun had I come more prepared, however now I know, and at least I survived. I know for a fact I will return to Catskill Chill
for years to come. I am certainly in love with that entire camp ground. Anyone who hasn’t given this fest a try should go completely prepared and see how amazing it can truly be. I guarantee you will be hooked.!
Yay Catskill Chill!
By Joshua Greenberg.

The post Surviving Catskill Chill 2012 appeared first on Festival Survival Guide | Music Festival Guide 2013.

While you are preparing to chill at Music Midtown there are a few things to consider for those who are not familiar with the area.  The most important of which is parking.  People are traveling from all over to attend this event, and parking is very limited.  The Meadow at Piedmont Park is a beautiful, wide open field, positioned (as the name suggests) right in the heart of the city.  It is located in between two heavily trafficked streets and the park has only a few parking locations.  The neighboring streets will be closed to non-residents, so there is no chance of parking on the surrounding roads.  The good news is, Piedmont park is located within walking distance to two MARTA stations (Atlanta’s public transit system).  The nearest stations are at Midtown and Arts Center.  For specific directions from the MARTA stations you can visit http://musicmidtown.com/location/directions-site-map/, or of course just follow all the people!

If you choose to ride a bike, the lovely people at Music Midtown will provide a rack for you to chain up.  There will also be a guard near by who will monitor the rack for safety.  Cabs are also an option for those staying in neighboring hotels or living close by.  Traffic is sure to be congested so give yourself plenty of time to wait for a cab and get yourself to the show.

Before and after the show there are lots of neighboring locations to grab a cocktail or a bite to eat.  If you are arriving early I suggest The Flying Biscuit, one of my favorite Midtown restaurants.  Their grits will make you melt and they have fine Mimosas or strong coffee to get your day started right.  Jason’s Deli is right next door and they have an amazing salad and sandwich selection, complete with free soft serve ice cream!  If you are looking for something with more of a kick, Blake’s, Zocalo, or Park Tavern will have the hard stuff you’re looking for.  The restaurants and pubs surrounding the event are sure to be packed, so give yourself enough time to walk around and hang out.

We are so looking forward to bringing this Atlanta tradition back this year, and for all of us here at FestivalSurvivalGuide.com it is especially close to our hearts.  This past year we have traveled all over so it is wonderful that we can bring our coverage to our home town.  Can’t wait to see you all there, and you can follow us on facebook and twitter so see how our Music Midtown adventure is shaping up, or find us to say hello!

Friday Schedule:

Van Hunt-4:30-5:15 Electric Ballroom Stage http://www.vanhunt.com/

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts- 5:15-6:15 Great Southeast Music Hall Stage  http://www.joanjett.com/

T.I.-6:15-7:30 EB Stage http://www.trapmuzik.com/

The Avett Brothers-7:30-9:00 GSMH Stage http://www.theavettbrothers.com/

Foo Fighters-9:00-11:00 EB Stage http://www.foofighters.com

Saturday Schedule:

O’Brother-1:00-1:30 GSMH Stage http://www.beneathyourgardenwindow.com/

Civil Twilight-1:30-2:00 EB Stage civiltwilightband.com

LP-2:00-2:45 GSMH Stage http://www.iamlp.com

Garbage-2:45-3:45 EB Stage http://garbage.com/

Adam Ant-3:45-4:45 GSMH Stage http://www.adam-ant.net/

Ludacris-4:45-5:45 EB Stage http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/home.aspx?artistID=7310

Neon Trees-5:45-6:45 GSMH Stage http://www.fameisdead.com

Florence + The Machine-6:45-8:00 EB Stage http://florenceandthemachine.net/

Girl Talk-8:00-9:00 GSMH Stage http://www.myspace.com/girltalk/

Pearl Jam-9:00-11:00 GS Stage http://pearljam.com/

The post Preparing for Music Midtown 2012 appeared first on Festival Survival Guide | Music Festival Guide 2013.