Before You Blame The BassHeads
This past weekend at Camp Bisco a lot of individuals, even our fellow media outlets, have reported that BassHeads (aka Bassnectar fans) behaved very disrespectfully to performers and fellow festival-goers alike. Reports have been filling the internet that BassHeads were sitting in the pit all day with their backs to the stage and being rude to fans and performers while waiting for their beloved Bassnectar to come and melt their faces. This has spawned a huge backlash against BassHeads and is tarnishing the reputation of a community that is supposed to represent love and unity.
These articles made me recall previous times that I spoke with BassHeads who were actively waiting in the pit for their Lorin Ashton at other festivals, and I don’t recall any negative experiences with them, and to me it seems that there are a variety of factors that have made for such a negative experience with them at Camp Bisco. I recently covered a festival where this same situation took place but did not have the same experience with this fan base. Before anyone jumps to conclusions, we do not and will not defend anyone who was being disrespectful, but I will say this: When I last encountered BassHeads in a pit area waiting for Nectar’s show, it was 11:00 AM on a very hot, sunny day in June. I asked the fans who they were waiting for when a few replied with Bassnectar and Childish Gambino. There were two completely separate groups queued away from the pit waiting for their shows which wouldn’t be playing ’til later in the evening (1 AM in the case of the Bassnectar fans – over a 12-hour wait). The fans were kind, respectful, and having fun. I was amazed at their resolve in waiting all day and missing all of the other great acts just to be front row for their favorite performer. Many hours later, I had the opportunity to meet them again in the pit. I recognized faces that were sullen earlier, now full of life, energy, smiles, high-fives, and laughter.
Let’s imagine this not being an option, since Camp Bisco doesn’t yet clear the pit after each show. These hardcore fans had to sit there, invested in their marathon, not doing anything all day. They probably would have been perfectly happy sitting to the side of the pit, but this wasn’t an option. After hearing people comment on the fact that they wouldn’t move all day, I can imagine that tempers started to flare. Marc Brownstein even took to his Facebook to address the matter and openly admitted that an entire fan base isn’t to blame for this and that they will implement new rules to prevent this in the future, including the clearing of the pit after each show.
No one should jump to conclusions on this matter, blaming Bassnectar fans as a whole. Lorin himself only promotes love, community, and positivity as well as face-melting bass. Only the individuals who were disrespectful to either side are to blame, but this whole issue could have been prevented. Camp Bisco was in unfamiliar territory in a new location and has made sure to let their loyal fans know that they’re working the bugs out so this never happens again. Hopefully, other events take notice and implement similar solutions to this issue when they choose to bring the bass.