Growing up in Maine one of my favorite parts of the summer every year was the week when I got to go away to camp. It meant meeting a bunch of new friends with common interests, playing games, and of course staying up way too late telling stories. A lot of the friends I made at such camps were friends I kept for life. As I have gotten older I certainly see that attending music festivals every summer has taken the place of camp. I get excited planning and packing and preparing. I make friends I’ll never forget and open myself up to meeting new people in a way I tend to avoid during the hum drum of my normal routine. Dirtybird Campout is the opportunity to experience a music festival in the environment of a true American summer camp.
Not only does the festival boast an insane musical lineup featuring the father of the label himself Claude Von Stroke, it also includes a full summer camp itinerary of friendship bracelet weaving, tug-o-war competitions, and archery. Events are led by counselors and some by the DJs themselves. The festival is about creating a community of fun and adventure. Unlike other festivals interaction between the talent and the fans is encouraged.
This idea totally embodies the collaborative element of this label. At CRSSD I saw Claude play b2b with Green Velvet, co producer on the hit track “Get Real – (mind yo business)” and the energy flowing between the two of them was palpable. It is the sort of collaborative spirit and funky bounce which an attendee of the campout can expect from such a stellar group of musicians and family members.
Other artists on the line up include J. Philip, Adralan, Justin Martin, Shiba Shan, Sacha Robotti, and Justin Jay and Friends (live). And that is not nearly the half of it. After hearing almost every fan at Lightning direct me towards this as my next festival I can certainly say I can’t wait to become a part of this family and sing camp songs and shoot arrows and dance to really awesome house and techno.
See also: Interview: Justin Martin
Who else is signing up for Camp? October will be here before you know it and what better way to hold off the end of summer than to attend this festival in Silverado, California the weekend of October 7,8, and 9th? Hope to trade friendship bracelets or maybe kick your ass at kickball. All I know is it’s going to be a great and funky time.
7 October | Dirtybird Campout | Tickets | Silverado, California
Photo Credit: Get Tiny Photography
