Daily Lineups
I tried really hard not to write this, but unfortunately I have to share the good and the bad for Firefly.
Over 25% of the bands on the main release card will not being playing inside the main festival grounds. Thirty-nine bands.... Instead they will be playing in the camping areas. This irritates me on a number of levels.
First and foremost I feel bad for the bands.
Firefly: “Hey you have been selected to play at Firefly!”
Band: ”Awesome we are so excited.”
Firefly: “Well, actually you have been selected to play outside of Firefly but it’s really close to the same thing....”
Second - There are some really good young bands that I was excited to see that are now playing at either the North or the South Hub. Maybe the map will be different this year but the Hub by the race track is nowhere near the festival grounds. So basically if one of these exciting new bands is playing there at a time when you have already entered the festival grounds you are looking at a 20 plus minute walk each way to go see them play. This at a festival where unless you are Super VIP or Cabana pass holder you walk somewhere between 10-12 miles per day on average. Which means that once people go in, they aren’t walking back to the Hub locations to see anyone play.
Third - I get the Wednesday night special concerts for campers. I think that’s a great idea and Firefly should be applauded. I will admit that I don’t camp for Firefly, but I start everyday with a crew at the RV sites and walk from there to the main festival. My experience is that people aren’t randomly milling around the Hub hanging out to see who comes on next, people are on the move getting ice refills, a shower, or heading to the festival. They already have their schedule planned out to see everyone in the main festival. So I envision this as a torture session for these bands. On a stage in a parking lot or campground playing to no one.
Hopefully I’m wrong, hopefully this will be a great idea that I’m not smart enough to get. And most importantly hopefully these bands will get a good experience playing in front of an actual crowd.
There are 11 of the 39 bands that I would have been interested in seeing had the schedule worked out. Now the most likely probability is that I will see none of them, which I’m pretty bummed about.
Below are the 11 bands in the camping lineup that I would be interested in catching. If you are camping check out the attached lineup and make an effort to go support and hopefully see some awesome new bands!
1. The Social Animals – I love their single Cold
2. Carverton - punk/pop band with a late 90’s early ‘00’s sound
3. *repeat repeat - highlighted previously, love Mostly and Plugged In
4. Jared and The Mill - If you like the Banjolin genre, these guys might be better than Judah and the Lion, check out Breathe Me In and Messenger
5. Bencoolen - This band keeps growing on me, funk/rock/alt/jam band with lots of cool horns and great composition. Check out In Color
6. Future Generations - previously highlighted, check out Stars and You’ve Got Me Flush
7. Hamish Anderson - Love the single Trouble.
8. Vita and the Woolf - Previously highlighted, check out Qiet and Brett
9. Savoir Adore - They keep sneaking up on me in the playlist. Check out Giants and Dreamers
10. Spiritual Rez - Modern alt reggae, think Sublime, Pepper, Stick Figure - Check out Bring it On and Don’t Be Afraid
11. Luke O’Brien - Previously highlighted, check out Lifetime and Yesterday I Was 22
My positivity will be back next week along with a new Five on The Side, review of daily lineups, and band highlights.
Until next time... Jettyrat out. Happy listening.
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