Hosted by The String Cheese Incident, Hulaween encapsulates the spirit of music from every end of the spectrum.
Anything from future funk to new-grass jam will be pulsating through the scenic Spirit of Suwannee Music Park, granting you and your friends a little bit of everything.
Aside from the bangin’ lineup, Silver Wrapper, Purple Hat and SCI decided to simplify the process of choosing a Halloween Costume by appointing a widespread weekend theme “GHOUL TRAIN.” Imagine a fusion of the hit TV show “Soul Train” from the ’70s and ’80s united with “The Addams Family.” Festivalgoers are highly encouraged to deck themselves out in their best-themed threads.
The bill includes diverse performances from Lettuce, The Floozies, GRiZ, Chance The Rapper, Pretty Lights, Papadosio, Railroad Earth, STS9, The Polish Ambassador, Slightly Stoopid and loads more.
Via: Flickr
Reasons to Jam:
1. The String Cheese Incident founded the event three years ago. The legendary group will play three nights with a special three-set show on the spookiest night when all the Suwannee creatures come out to play.
Dressing up in true Cheese fashion, the country-infused psychedelic jam band throws a Halloween party like no other. Expect performances just as funky as the band’s name while they take the stage seven times, one of which will include a highly anticipated classic cover set.
Last year’s Halloween spectacular was comprised of back-to-back covers of “Stairway To Heaven” (Led Zeppelin), “Don’t Fear The Reaper” (Blue Oyster Cult), “Break On Through” (The Doors), “Live and Let Die” (The Beatles reprise) and “Thriller” (Michael Jackson) among others. This year’s cover set will be cohesive to the theme “Ghoul Train,” and we can only imagine the spooky celebration and tunes Cheese has prepared for us.
2. One of the most anticipated centerpieces for Hulaween is the magical Spirit Lake.
In the past, the visual experience has encompassed a beautiful display of multimedia artwork. As if the enchanting forest of the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park wasn’t magical enough, it will now include a collaboration of artists, live performances, paintings, light projections, nature creations, three-dimensional designs, sculptures and metalwork. Embellished by Spanish moss-covered oak and cypress trees, the visual production transforms Spirit Lake into a vibrant, hallucinogenic wonderland.
Via: Flickr
3. The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is one of the most striking venues in the country.
The Suwannee River rests near the festival grounds, sprinkling the campground venue with small ponds throughout the forest. In the past, camping in SOSMP has allowed wiggle room. The land is expansive and welcoming and is only a short walk to the music and art attractions.
4. Hulaween is bringing back the Thursday pre-party again this year with new-wave funk/groove/soul powerhouse comprised of Leisure Chief, Herd of Watts, EOTO, Dumpstaphunk and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead.
Although the weekend is already bursting through the seams with remarkable music, it’s hard to think of a reason not to get there a day early to “throw it in the Dumpsta.”
5. There’s nothing like the 2 a.m. Suwannee rush when get-down beats from the day and night continue to pump through your bloodstream and provide a surge of energy late into the night.
For all the night owls and party animals that just can’t quit, DJ’s at the silent disco always have your back. Providing after-party grooves under the transcendent trees of Spirit Lake, the sets continue until 5:00 a.m. against an eerie backdrop perfect for Halloween revelries.
Spotlights
Local:
Morning Fatty, an ever-evolving punk/ska turned reggae-funk band, has transformed their sound yet again.
A local favorite, this talented group combines individual musical prowess to create a strong collective chemistry.
Based out of Gainesville, Morning Fatty challenges the norm by continually transforming and revolutionizing their sound since coming together in 2004. The group’s original dynamic shifted incredibly with the recent addition of experienced drummer Tim Mulberry. The syncopation of their new sound can only be described as Funk Rock Electro Dub, or simply FRED.
Via: Facebook
The four-man band will perform a six-piece sound with the assimilation of MIDI keys controlled by guitarist Miller Joyner and a mini key synthesizer played by bassist John Pop. Morning Fatty has been made whole by the addition of Mulberry, who will be manning a new electronic drum pad that becomes the catalyst for what is sure to be a fantastic fusion of funk.
“We all keep growing as musicians, and that allows us to step outside our box,” says Pop “It’s also really fun music to play.”
By melding electronic hums and filthy guitar licks with sweet melodies, Morning Fatty discovered a distinctive sound that pays homage to each member’s unique style.
Although Fatty joins the list of veterans returning to Suwannee, their Hulaween performance will consist of a weekend of firsts. On Friday, October 30 at 4:15 p.m., Morning Fatty will take the Campground Stage to showcase their all-new FRED sound, play their recent single “Fight for the Rhythm” and perform at a festival with Mulberry for the first time.
Not-so-local:
Electric soul legend Michal Menert brings his “Space Jazz” sound to the Hulaween line-up.
Based out of Denver, Colorado, Menert is an electronic music artist and producer who co-produced the raved-about album “Taking Up Your Precious Time” with Derek Vincent Smith (Pretty Lights).
Menet was the first artist to join Pretty Lights Music in 2010 with the release of his album “Dreaming of a Bigger Life.” Over the span of his career, Menert has performed with respected artists, including Break Science, Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) and Bassnectar.
It appears his band, The Pretty Fantastics, will not be accompanying Menert on stage this Hulaween. But with the unpredictable mind of Menert and the wondrous magic that pulses throughout Suwannee — anything can happen.
Featured photo courtesy of: Unsplash
