Sights and Sounds of 2017 Suwannee Hulaween: Relive the Magic of This Year’s Best Festival
Way down along the Suwannee River lies the most magical place on earth – a place where the trees dance to the sounds of horns and drums are the heartbeat to our souls. The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is not just a venue but an earth-shattering background that shares the very pulse of its patrons. Suwannee is life-changing, to say the least. When you add world-class art, one of the most diverse musical lineups of the year, and a dedicated fanbase of new and experienced fans, Suwannee Hulaween has the perfect recipe to cook up one of the most beloved festivals in America.
Hulaween has been lovingly nicknamed the “Electric Forest of the South,” but anyone who has been to both will tell you that Hula takes the crown. Beside the obvious (holiday weekend and lineup), ease of festival entry, camp setup/freedom, distance between attractions, plumbing/free showers, sense of community, grounds transportation options, and number of amenities are among the reasons given that Suwannee Hulaween simply cannot be beat. What started as a small festival in 2013 with around 7,000 attendees has mutated into THE festival of the year. On its fifth birthday, Hulaween celebrated its growth with a sold-out concert for the history books.
So how does a young festival gain the traction to compete with its monstrous senior festivals? Take a look through the sights and sounds of 2017 Suwannee Hulaween that keeps fans begging for more:
CAMPING
Immediately upon entry, it is evident that Suwannee Hulaween is not like other festivals. There is no parking staff directing you to line up in your chalk-outlined 10×30 space. After a fairly painless entry into the grounds, campers have the freedom to traverse the park and find the space they want to call home for the weekend. Early arrivals can reserve a reasonable amount of space for their crews, hang hammocks in the seemingly never-ending sea of mossy oak trees, and even dig fire pits for toasty evening s’mores. Suwannee allows early entry for a fee, so a festival trip can begin with a quiet camping vacation in prime locations for those who like to plan ahead. Many campsites put on elaborate jam sessions and electronic music productions throughout the weekend, so there is always something to do. There’s no doubt about it: camping at Suwannee is second to none.
STAGE AREAS
Admittedly, there have been a few growing pains in this category. Those who attended in 2015 remember congested arenas throughout the park, making it difficult to move around and get through the entry points. The park responded by introducing the Patch Stage in 2016, widening the venue area and creating more access points. The addition was a blessing and a curse: The Patch could not comfortably hold the number of attendees and there were security checkpoints between both the campgrounds and Patch AND between Patch and Meadow (main stage). This caused an incredible amount of congestion, to the point where people moving between stages were literally “moo”ing as if they were cattle.
In 2017, Suwannee NAILED it by reinventing the Patch. The stage area doubled in size, and the stage itself was a monster. There were convenient access paths from the Patch to both the Meadow and Spirit Lake, and there were no additional security checkpoints between any of the spaces. Traffic ran smoothly, and there was little sound bleed between any of the stage areas. The improved Patch was a welcome addition to the 2017 festival.
By putting such a sizeable stage in the Patch and using strategic scheduling, the legendary Amphitheater stage opened up tremendously and rarely felt congested this year. If you’ve never been to Suwannee, the Amphitheater is an electric bowl of gooey acoustic deliciousness, laden with mossy oaks that reflect light, movement, and energy in every direction. It is easily one of the best stages in America. The only amphitheater that I can think of that rivals the Amp stage is Red Rocks itself. This platform harnesses an unexplainable aura that has to be experienced to understand. Suwannee veterans and newcomers alike have been mystified by the Amp for years, and 2017 Hula was no exception. Fans mounted their hammocks in the trees (in the back) and melted into the groovy beats being played by some of Hulaween’s top acts all weekend.
Part of the Spirit of the Suwannee’s intrigue is the incredible sound quality and clarity that radiates from both the Amphitheater and the main stage, the Meadow. The Meadow’s viewing arena is concave, allowing listeners to be completely surrounded by the musical elements. Barring a little flooding during the great Hula monsoon of 2013, the Meadow is an ideal space for soaking up every drop (pun intended) of sets from the biggest names in the festival scene. There were no major changes to this area from previous years. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! The Meadow was perfectly comfortable for all headlining acts, which is a huge improvement from the overly packed Ghoul Train-themed Cheese set from 2015. There were fantastic smaller acts playing on other stages while headliners were commanding the Meadow, and the positive impact on space from the crowd split was noticeable and appreciated.
The Meadow
Spirit Lake is always a sensory feast, but this year blew all the other years into the dust (both literally and figuratively). Demonic water fountains greeted you at the main entrance to the area, and the other two entryways brought a sense of nostalgia with the beloved monster gatekeeper installations from previous years. The Spirit Lake stage stayed pretty true to form, although the production was more dramatic and enticing than ever before. I found myself getting sucked into the arena and just staring at all the performers and visual treats for what seemed like hours.
The Campground stage was nestled in the back of the Spirit Lake area and hosted both exciting smaller acts and the Silent Disco. Campground has local charm, stellar entertainment, and a great view of Spirit Lake behind it.
Between the Spirit Lake and Campground stages was Incendia – a stage featuring two fire domes on its sides with seating inside to warm up patrons, impressive pyrotechnics shooting breathtaking flames into the sky, and always boasting the hottest secret sets. If you spent any time at Incendia after hours, you were sure to catch a once-in-a-lifetime performance from the best DJs on the bill. The most notable secret set at the fire stage this year was a collaboration between Space Jesus and MZG on Sunday night.
The space between the three stages in Spirit Lake (and the Patch) is a whimsical forest of majestic art displays including a giant metal pyrotechnic creature with a DJ booth inside (the creatures in this space annually are actually Burning Man installations), a mural maze, meditation space, the famous jellyfish swings, and live painting, and the famous giant recycle monster Snorra (created by Thomas Dambo and introduced in 2015) has a makeover and a new friend – a gigantic spider monster with a cuddle lounge inside its abdomen. Cold attendees nestled inside this space to thaw out all weekend. The lake itself was a watery stage for a performer who used a hydro jet pack to do aerial shows throughout the weekend. The art area seems to have greatly increased in space compared to previous years as well. Many art displays from past years made appearances and new installations debuted, putting fans in awe across the space. Spirit Lake acted as a hub with arterial walkways between the Amphitheater/Patch stages and lake camping, which greatly cut down the walk to the Patch from Renaissance/Pine Field/Farm Field/Sanctuary camping. Being visually appealing, entertaining, and functional, the park outdid itself with Spirit Lake this year.
MUSIC
Thursday
A widely known festival saying is, “Never miss a Sunday Set.” Anyone who has been to Hulaween will tell you that rule doubles down with the Thursday pre party. Thursday is arguably the most magical day of the festival, and missing it should be a crime. A miss-demeanor? I digress… Below is a handful of reasons to request that extra day off:
Exploding out of the gates was an energizing set from Zach Deputy from Savannah, GA. Deputy has often described his style as “island-infused drum n’ bass gospel ninja soul,” which is apparent in his act. It is an absolute pleasure to watch him live-loop his songs during his solo performance, combining the beat, bassline, instrumentals, and vocals before your eyes. Zach is at the top of a brilliant class of up-and-coming producers who are boldly leaving their mark on festival stages, changing the way we see live music forever. His talent, finesse, and positive energy are a joy to behold. If you ever get the chance to see Zach Deputy live, it would be a disservice to yourself to skip.
One of the most talked about sets of the weekend was Spafford. This genre-bending band is known for their mind-melting mix of jam, jazz, reggae, electro-pop, soul, ska and generally anything else that feels good. They played fan favorites like “The Postman,” “Minds Unchained,” and “Todd’s Tots,” as well as some newer material. The track that brought the crowd to its knees was a cover of “Mad World” by Tears for Fears, a moment that will go down in Hulaween lore. Suffice it to say, Spafford lived up to the pre-Hula hype.
LETTUCE AT THE AMP. Need I say more? Ok, I will. Lettuce and the Amphitheater stage make one of those beautifully perfect combinations like Romeo and Juliet, milk and cookies, or bagged wine and slaps. I don’t even know whether to review this set or just fangirl about the god of the bass, Jesus (pictured). Lettuce brings a dirty funk that leaves you in a cloud of euphoria for hours afterward. Every set they play is the best set they’ve played. Each time I knock out a set, I leave wondering, “How was it possible for them to be even BETTER?” It’s only natural that a band like Lettuce command the Amphitheater to set the mood for the entire weekend.
The next few hours were a whirlwind of diverse beats with Umphrey’s McGee (x2), Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (x2), Elohim, and Buku. I was like a pit bull chasing tennis balls, hopping stage to stage and soaking in as much as I possibly could in the amount of time given. I did stay at the majority of Umphrey’s second set because, let’s face it, Umphrey’s is life. The pinnacle of the entire Thursday preparty was when Umph rocked “Shine On You, Crazy Diamond” by Pink Floyd. There wasn’t a person in the crowd without goosebumps and starry eyes. I’m getting goosebumps again just thinking about it. A petition for two Thursday Umph sets at Hulaween forever is definitely in order after 2016 and 2017.
Greensky Bluegrass destroyed their preparty set that began with “Burn Them,” “The Four,” and “Take Cover” before they dove deeply into a string of blazing hits. The set ended with an endearingly named “Hey Thanks, That Guy! Breakdown,” a beautifully magnificent and deep 20-minute mix of “Bring Out Your Dead,” dedicated to an EDM fan who approached them a few years ago and thanked them for introducing him to bluegrass.
Thursday closed out with Liquid Stranger. This Swedish DJ has been steadily climbing the bass/EDM charts with his unique dub sound, borrowing styles from all around the world. He is currently one of the most talented artists of the genre due to his transnational perspective on electronic music. It was a particularly moving set for me because my jam-only camp neighbor and I walked over from Greensky, and he promised to keep an open mind. A song or two into our time at this set, my neighbor was jumping up and down exclaiming, “I get it! I see why people like this stuff!” and other general statements of approval. Liquid Stranger played the best set I’ve seen from him to date. He included just the right amount of grit and versatility, and my camp neighbor was like a kid in a candy store. All around, one of my personal favorite moments of the weekend. Shout out to Marcus, wherever you are.
I dropped by the Silent Disco after hours eager to see Aurakull, but time got away and I ended up catching Ivarr and Nugz Bunny instead. Late night creatures packed the area and danced the chilly night into morning with the fly tunes of the talented DJs on both headphone channels.
Nugz Bunny
…and that was just the pre-party.
Friday
Every once in a while, a tragedy happens where much needed rest and nutrition cause a festival-goer to miss an epic run of shows. I experienced this tragedy during the first few hours of Friday’s music. I wouldn’t mention it, but the early sets included the Heavy Pets, Dumpstaphunk, Michal Menert and the Pretty Fantastics, Marco Benevento, Greensky Bluegrass, and Dirty Dozen Brass Band, so I deserve to be publicly shamed. If you haven’t already, become a fan of all these amazing acts while I hang my head in anguish.
Fast-forward to 4:00… (yes, all that happened before 4:00. I still had time to redeem myself!)
Friday (unofficially) started in the best way imaginable. The Polish Ambassador played a fun, freaky, and fabulous house-forward set. Dressed in a shiny futuristic homage to an ‘80s jumpsuit, the Polish Ambassador (TPA) is as glorious to see as he is to hear. He is one of those artists who quite possibly has more fun during his performance than his fans in the crowd. There was a point where he spotted a group of fans dressed in replicas of his signature jumpsuit, so he invited them on stage for a formal meet & greet. He later explained, “When you look out in the crowd and see a posse of 20 people dressed up as TPA for Halloween, you gotta invite them up on stage to rock out.” Later, guitarist Ryan Herr, aka “The Purple Wonder,” joined in his equally impressive intergalactic glitter-chic garb to contribute to an out-of-this-world collaboration.
Next up was a split between American folk/rock/blues sensation Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats and the smooth, sexy funktronica breakthrough act the Russ Liquid Test. Both sets were stellar and flawlessly orchestrated. This was one of those timeslots where it didn’t matter where you ended up, you were having the time of your life. Nathaniel Rateliff has become a staple in the festival community with his big band charm, transcending decades of inspiration to create an original but familiar sound. The Russ Liquid Test joins the small league of pioneers of the newer electrofunk sound, bridging the gap between genres by introducing a medley of quirky funk instrumentals layered on top of powerful electronic compositions. It was an absolute pleasure to see both of these wildly talented and energetic acts.
Big Wild followed on the Patch, which was a convenient walk from both Rateliff and Russ Liquid. I was looking forward to his set after missing his Florida run. Big Wild is a multi-talented producer/composer/musician/DJ who got his break when ODESZA stumbled across him in 2015 and invited him on tour. He has been slaying crowds ever since with a sound that is fluid, charismatic, and well-received by fans of many genres. The electro-chameleon lit up the Patch with an upbeat live loop set, and his stage presence had everyone on their feet dancing. Big Wild surpassed expectations and illuminated the souls of the entire audience during his fiercely playful performance.
The crowd shuffled toward the Meadow for the first String Cheese Incident set. The boys warmed up with a set that included “Colorado Bluebird Sky,” “Search,” “Valley of the Jig,” “These Waves,” “Djibouti Bump,” “Rhythm of the Road,” “Sirens,” and “Nothing But Flowers.” Meanwhile at Spirit Lake, Crywolf delivered an emotional downtempo electronic set that ended with a dramatic guitar smash. Both performances were perfectly poised to pack a punch and prepare the audience for a long night of pure bliss.
One of the more unusual live sets in recent years has been bluesjazzfunktronica act Manic Focus. The band/DJ combo lit up the Amp stage with an exciting burst of horns, drums, bass, lasers, and an insane mix of original and remixed material. A personal favorite moment was when they smashed a dirty mix of “Miss Primetime” by Big Gigantic featuring Pell. I’m still recovering from that one.
Luckiest moment of Friday: I left Destructo’s mind-melting West Coast G House set to check out some of Cheese’s second set. While I was there I witnessed the collaboration of a lifetime: Cheese and Beats Antique twisted an Eastern-inspired mashup with the lovely belly dancer and Beats drummer Zoe mesmerizing thousands with her snake-like charm and sensual dance moves. Though I wasn’t there for the entire set, the list included “Howard,” “Close Your Eyes,” “Black Clouds,” “Sweet Spot,” “Wake Up,” “Way Back Home,” and “Beautiful” and ended with this beast of an encore.
When I got back to Spirit Lake, the distinct house beats of Claude VonStroke were radiating across the sky, and gogo dancers were spinning LED and fire props. Fans created circles of space to have dance battles, and Claude intoxicated the masses with a jaw-dropping set that melted the hearts of his fanbase. Spirit Lake was pulsating with raw energy and enthusiasm throughout the entire show.
RL Grime opened in true holiday form with the Exorcist theme, an eery start to arguably the dirtiest hour of the weekend. The widely-known trap DJ lived up to his name by delivering banger after banger, complete with signature fog blasts during his monumental drops. His mix of “The Hills” by the Weeknd is always a crowd favorite, and the rest of the set was an artfully crafted monstrous mix of old and new material.
I made my way to the Meadow to meet up with my squad for Bassnectar. The field felt like the calm before the storm, almost surreal. Seemingly out of nowhere, a voice resonates… “Who you tryna get crazy with ese? Don’t you know I’m loco?” The line from Cypress Hill and Zoolander was twisted up into a creepy opening track. Nectar played a controversial “Drum and Bassnectar”-style set, which was a bold choice for a crowd expecting him to stick with his more recent trap style. He introduced a couple new tracks, put wild spins on fan favorites, and brought back material from earlier in his career, showcasing his versatility during this unexpected performance. As many know, Bassnectar was a topic of heated debate in the months prior to his Hulaween show. Love him or hate him, his overall production and stage presence are undeniable. Oh, did I mention the FRICKIN’ LASERS (in my best Dr. Evil voice)?
Needless to say, I needed a nap after this epic string of performances. Friday: conquered.
Saturday
Dedicated funk fans dragged themselves out of their caves for the early Saturday sets and were handsomely rewarded for their commitment.
Big Something opened the day dressed in crazy wigs and shirts that resembled straitjackets for an explosive Amphitheater show dubbed “Insane Asylum.” It was an incredible performance with the energy of 3,000 Red Bulls. The band featured complex bass lines, creative keys, sexy sax, and an unbelievable synergy. Big Something has made it to my festival “do not miss” list, and with good reason.
The next hour was a split between the Roosevelt Collier Trio and Magic City Hippies. Roosevelt Collier is no stranger to Suwannee. He is a long-time supporter and performer with a beautiful soulfunk style that emits radiant rays of positivity across the audience. I can watch his band a thousand times and never get enough. Magic City Hippies is the band on all your Spotify playlists that play all those songs you like, but you can’t really think of who plays them. I was eager to catch them, and I’m glad I did. They executed a spirited performance with a distinct part pop, part funk, part electronic, part indie sound that is all their own. Spirit Lake was glowing during their performance.
Tank and the Bangas and Perpetual Groove split the next timeslot. Tank and the Bangas lit up the Amp with booty shakin’ upbeat jams that lift your soul to higher ground. They killed a cover of “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See” by Busta Rhymes, playfully bouncing around the stage with an enthusiasm that had a smile on the face of every member of the audience. Another notable cover was a crafty mix of Anderson .Paak’s “Come Down,” among other covers and original material. Perpetual Groove has been a funktastic staple of the Southeast for years, and, whichever stage they grace, they bring the heat. They put on a groovy, fluid set that had fans swaying like the trees surrounding the Patch.
Getting my workout in, the third split set in a row was Kamasi Washington and Aqueous. Kamasi Washington is a soul sensation with clear ‘70s influence. Experiencing his live act is nothing short of inspiring. I recommend everyone catch Kamasi once, but like Lay’s potato chips, you can never have just one. Meanwhile, Aqueous steadily slammed jam ballads in Spirit Lake with supersweet guitar riffs that powered through the entire set. Their sound was whimsical, hypnotizing, stylish, and fresh. Aqueous is definitely primed to become a household name in the near future.
Of all the wildly talented live-looping multi-instrumentalist/producers bursting onto the scene, my favorite by far is FKJ (French Kiwi Juice). I could go door-to-door with pamphlets spreading the good word on this guy. After being blown away by the set he played with June Marieezy at Okeechobee earlier this year, my top Hulaween priority was to see him again at any cost. While this daytime set was much different, FKJ put on an awe-inspiring performance that I wished would never end. His transitions are flawless, and his soulful, intoxicating sound puts listeners on another level. Just watching him work is a visual treat in itself. I went backstage with my counterpart to meet him after the show, but she got to meet him, and I didn’t. While I’ll be forever jealous, it’s probably for the best because I’d have probably lost it and fangirled all over the place.
I elected to go back to camp at this time to prepare for the evening, sacrificing set one of Saturday’s String Cheese Incident production. With two more sets tonight and a superpacked schedule, it was a tough but necessary choice. During my excursion, I missed “Believe,” “One Step Closer,” “Sometimes A River,” “Falling Through The Cracks,” “Give Me The Love,” “Can’t Wait Another Day,” “Joyful Sound,” and “Rumble.”
I passed by Poolside destroying their chillwave set at the Amphitheater stage on my way to Beats Antique at the Patch. I was not emotionally prepared for the number of Saturday conflicts, but Beats puts on a production that cannot be missed, so I made the difficult decision to keep moving. This sunset production did not disappoint. Beats Antique turned it up with their signature Eastern-inspired electronic feast of drums, belly dancing, original bass lines, and a second-to-none stage show. Beats has a way of channeling your inner freak, and everyone in the audience could feel it in synchronicity.
String Cheese Incident #2: Cheese put on an incredibly strong second set, as expected. They had magical energy and finesse as they knocked out “Let’s Go Outside,” “Rollover,” “Song In My Head,” “Outside and Inside,” and “Bumpin’ Reel.” The pinnacle of the set was a monster cover of “You Wreck Me” by the late Tom Petty. There wasn’t a dry eye in the entire crowd. Fans danced their hearts out in ecstasy through the second show as they eagerly awaited the most anticipated set of the week, due to start in just one short hour.
Nick Murphy (Chet Faker) has been my unicorn for a years now. He has teased me relentlessly by playing adjacent festivals the same weekends as I attended other ones. This set was to be conquered as much on principle as entertainment. Consensus? Nick was 100% worth the wait. He played mostly material produced under the Nick Murphy title and laced in a few key Chet Faker hits. The sound quality was pristine, and the audience was completely captivated by his presence. My campmates probably came close to killing me the next morning because I couldn’t stop talking about Nick’s set and singing “Talk is Cheap,” repeatedly reliving the moment.
Here it is: the moment we’d all been waiting for. Suwannee Hulaween would not be complete without the String Cheese Incident’s annual themed set, and this year’s theme was “The Night of the Loving Dead.” This year’s theme set started off gently and gradually blasted off into the biggest dance party of the weekend. The carefully selected cover set was on point and executed in a way only Cheese can manage. The tracks played were “Love Rollercoaster” (Ohio Players), “Did I Hear You Say You Love Me” (Stevie Wonder), “Love and Happiness” (Al Green), “Higher & Higher” (Jackie Wilson), “Think I’m In Love” (Beck), “The Power of Love” (Huey Lewis and the News), “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” (Sting), “Is This Love” (Bob Marley & The Wailers), “Turn On Your Love Light” (Bobby “Blue” Bland), “Let Love Rule” (Lenny Kravitz), “What I Got”(Sublime), “Crazy in Love” (Beyoncé), “Where Is The Love?” (The Black Eyed Peas) “Whole Lotta Love” (Led Zeppelin), and closed out with a rocking encore of “All You Need Is Love” (The Beatles).
The Disco Biscuits executed a brilliant set. They played fan favorites like “Digital Buddha,” “Above the Waves,” and “Basis For a Day” and debuted a chilling mix with the Exorcist theme to pay tribute to the Halloween weekend. AURA fans definitely came prepared to show love for the Biscuits. There was an overwhelming amount of positivity radiating from all around that could be felt in the depths of the soul.
Run the Jewels put on a great performance, satisfying an amphitheater full of hip hop fans. They preached a message about “keeping your hands to yourself,” speaking against violence and sexual assault, and leading a singalong with the audience to the tune of “We Are the Champions” by rock legends Queen. It was an all-around good time, and the Amp was bursting at the seams with Hulafreaks getting crazy.
I closed out Saturday with one of the top performances of the weekend: Damian Marley. I knew it would be a good time, but I honestly was not expecting it to be as mind-blowing as it proved to be. Damian Marley was a sensory experience. The sights, sounds, and smells created an ideal environment for this reggae god’s performance. The entire audience sang along to hit after hit, and I’m sure the food vendors were probably pretty busy afterward. It was a buttshaking, jump-up-and-down, feel-good time. Shout-out to the guy on stage waving the rasta flag the entire set – I now have a new career goal.
I went back to camp to get some sleep but was awakened by some friends who wanted to go dance. We walked to Spirit Lake, but they were closed for the evening. On the way back to camp, we were lucky enough to stumble across Camp Reddit and their phenomenal afterhours party. I’m officially giving Camp Reddit the 2017 Hulaween “Camp of the Year” award due to their bacon pancake breakfast, craft beer exchange, and this savage late-night production led by DJ Press Play. I’m still cracking up at his name, but his set was no laughing matter. We were exhausted, but we just couldn’t leave his sick beats. The sky eventually started to lighten up, so we finally peeled ourselves out of Camp Reddit to catch a nap.
Sunday
NEVER. MISS. A. SUNDAY. SET.
Ok, I missed some Sunday sets. The glorious Saturday night that turned into Sunday morning gave me a late start. Sadly, this meant that I sacrificed TAUK, Stick Figure, and the String Cheese/Phantoms split. Shame on me…
Cheese Sunday Set #1: “Born On the Wrong Planet,” “Mouna Bowa,” “Get It Tight,” “Don’t It Make You Wanna Dance,” “High On a Mountain Top,” “My One and Only,” “Birdland > Wheel Hoss > Birdland”
The Portugal. The Man/Keys and Krates split was on deck. Portugal. The Man is consistently one of the better acts in the festival circuit and never fall short of amazing. They ripped through a string of heavy hitters out of the gate and rocked the socks off the entire crowd. Impressive is an understatement. I rushed over to Keys and Krates, already in progress. The trap-hop trio delivered an electric performance that slayed the audience. I’m not sure which act I enjoyed more, because they both brought their A games.
I elected to split Goldfish and Space Jesus instead of the final Cheese set. Life’s full of tough choices. String Cheese Incident‘s final set: “Dirk,” “Hi Ho No Show,” “Hotel Window,” “Colliding,” “Round the Wheel,” “Just One Story”
Goldfish is an exuberant electrofunk duo that have changed my life time and time again. They love being on stage and have an unbelievable synergy. Switching between decks, sax, flutes, and stand-up bass, they put on one of the most engaging performances of their genre. It’s no wonder they have been steadily gaining a cult-like following. The duo funked their way through a fantastic set and tossed paper goldfish into the crowd for fans to keep as commemoratives.
Space Jesus is the king of weird. This DJ has a super-strange futuristic electronic sound that’s all his own. The sun was still out while he played, but it still blasted fans into another dimension. Mixing signature synths into a blend of sexy, filthy, and creeptastic beats, Space Jesus brought the Patch to its knees, and patrons were temporarily possessed by his mystifying tracks. He even dropped two new collab tracks (Digital Ethos and Sayer).
The temperature started dropping, and I realized that I needed to go back to camp put on more clothes before it got dark. I was closing in on my camp when I noticed some activity next door. I went to see what the fuss was about and stumbled across MZG and GRiZ laying out a ground-splitting secret camp set 30 feet from my camp! I only caught the tail end, but what an awesome surprise it was. I’ll forever be grateful that I needed a onesie exactly when I did.
Back to the Patch for the best Lotus show I’ve ever seen. The jamtronica group put on a soul-piercing performance with sexy layers of instrumentals mashed up with gooey electro beats. They were so good that it was nearly impossible to break away. I stayed for at least two more songs after I told myself I had to go. Lotus was one of my favorite Hulaween sets, hands down.
2017: The Year of the GRiZ. This year, GRiZ has evolved into a superhuman beast – a musical King Midas. Over the course of his career, he has become THE most versatile artist of his genre. It’s only fitting that he closed out one of the best weekends of my life. For those who understand “GRiZ speak,” he played a Good Will Continue-style set with the same lighting rig from Basscenter X. If that doesn’t make sense to you, suffice it to say the show was EPIC. He demonstrated heavy remixes of his popular songs, and his ebb and flow between the harder tracks, classic sounds, and transition pieces led the audience on a glorious musical journey. He spread a message of love while he and Muzzy Bear orchestrated a set that was nothing short of perfect. GRiZ beat out Big Gigantic for my all-time favorite Hulaween closer, a title not easily earned.
The weekend was finally over. It felt like the longest weekend ever, but simultaneously it flashed before my eyes. The end of Hulaween is always bittersweet. While we must go back to the real world, we take our memories and friendships with us. Parting is such sweet sorrow.
The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, Purple Hat Productions, and Silver Wrapper have truly outdone themselves with Hulaween this year. With the monumental lineup, world-class art installations, top-notch performers, and everything in between, it’s no wonder Suwannee Hulaween has earned its place among the greatest festivals in America. I can’t begin to fathom what they will have in store next year. Until 2018, my friends…