!

Escape to New York had a lot on its plate… and I’m not just referring to the World’s Largest Festival Brunch, which was planned to kick off on Sunday. The first-year festival on the Shinnecock Reservation in Southampton billed itself as more than just a three-day music event — like its sister festival in the UK, Secret Garden Party, Escape to New York promised an interactive experience of art, music, food, camping and culture (and by culture, I mean hipster culture)

The festival catered to a fancier crowd (after all, this is Southampton), one that expected on-site glamping with suped-up teepees, private performances and catered food by Fat Radish; while festival-goers expected an indie-happy lineup headlined by Edward Sharpe and Patti Smith, an off-the-radar dance tent and the convenience of raging the day away, in the comfort of their Hamptons ‘hood.

Although the 3-day party was cut short due to bad weather on the reservation (yes, I woke up in a soggy teepee with a soaked cell phone), Saturday proved successful enough for Escape to New York to announce that they’ll be back next year…. 

Next year, already? A bit soon, no? Clearly, this British bunch has a hold on the teammates-in-tank-tops who raided the empty lot off Route 27 for 3 days (did I feel like I was crashing a private party? Yes, yes I did), but a star-studded campsite does not a festival make. So let’s backtrack and face some facts…. [My HuffPo review]

Plus. 
Thank goodness for Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros who brought in an enthusiastic crowd on Saturday night. The stage, equipped with a busted NYC Taxi, was enough to impress the most cynical of cynics who compared this first-ever fiesta to Coachella. A calypso-inspired, steel-drum rendition of “Home” brought the creative set to a close. This was exactly the type of act that Escape to New York needs. One to keep your indie mantras, but draw a large crowd too. (Did their private performance on Sunday at the Mondrian diminish the importance of said show? Yeah, a bit). 

Founder Freddie Fellowes’ creative vision was brilliant. The festival was in fact full of surprises, pop-up performances and secret stages. This Midsummer’s Night Dream was a delightful change from the standard three-stage triangle formation we are used to finding during festival season. I loved the bicycle-driven musical Toad who played some of the best music I heard all weekend and the dance-off ring (and by ring, I mean an actual wrestling ring aka wedding ring) hidden deep inside the foggy forest.

Xaphoon Jones (of Chiddy Bang) spun an electric set on Saturday night. There’s nothing better than an out-of-nowhere, out-of-this-world DJ set, especially when most of the festivals this seasons have been on a recycling binge. Heilbronn, Duvall and Alex English rocked out too. 

Teepees and safari tents are winners, in theory…. 

The Minus. 
When you say glamping, I expect glamping. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some mud, but when someone shouts “G” for glamorous, I leave my supplies at home. Sans the bed, mirror, lights, bug spray and amenities of our promised “package,” these were just teepee shaped tents. Good thing I’m always Amazing Race ready. 

Asia Dogs, Standard Hotels, Milk Studios, Soho House, Veuve Clicquot, Fat Radish, Urban Daddy — there were super sponsors everywhere. And yes, there were some great acts (The Vaccines, Au Revoire Simone, Edward Sharpe) but put your money where the cash is. If E2NY had put just one art installation or chic-boutique on hold, they could have brought in a big name; and a big name draws a big crowd, and a big crowd brings energy. And energy was the one thing this clan forgot to buy. On Friday, they expected 5,000 people and according to The Guardian, 1,000 attended at max. (Side note: I lived for the low-key, well mannered and easy-going staff. If their attitudes were a result of the small crowd, it was still a great result.)

Despite the cheap cigarettes, Shinnecock proved to be a poor location choice. We weren’t really wanted there, as evident by the quick cancellation of the event on Sunday, and by the odd placement of the campsite off of 27. Second, the standard Native American-inspired garb found at fests (I’m 100% guilty of it) suddenly seemed inappropriate. While there was major space to roam free in the art-filled forest, the late-night ride to the grounds felt a bit like the start of a scary movie — and not even a good one.

Oh, and did I mention there was no liquor? 

I’ll never turn my back on innovation, and in that department Escape to New York wins. Winkel & Balktick produced a forest full of fantasy from the Panda Pit to the robotic Gamelan Orchestra. But what E2NY really needs is to get out of their own way. We get it, you’re the cool kids (I mean, Alexander Skarsgård probably stayed in your teepee — we saw him roaming the campsite during a surprise set from Gary Clark Jr.), but cool kids won’t fill acres. We will. Fans like me who love to fest, be it with Best Coast or Boyz Noize, will fill your field with fire.
And some fire is exactly what you need.

R

oundup of my favorite things this week…
Escape to New York Style.
Let’s get glamping! 

Festival. Escape to New York.
Any fest with a manifesto is alright by me, and Escape to New York has one for the books. What makes a good party? What you do, not what you see; Who you meet, not who you see; and what you make happen, not what you watch happen…. Born out of the Secret Garden Party in the UK, the quirky Escape to New York Festival is taking over the ancient lands of the Schinnecock Indian Nation in Southampton this weekend. The mystical music includes Patti Smith, Best Coast, The Vaccines, Alex English, Rich Medina, VHS or Beta and of course, Edward Sharpe. There’s stages and tents and art and teepees and creation galore. Yes, I said teepees, but more on that later.  

Music. Au Revoir Simone.
There’s something about Au Revoir Simone. Three girls from Brooklyn, two vocalists, two keyboards and one drum machine makes for melancholic melodies. There’s a Corner store sound to the instruments and a Middle school garage band sound to the vocals. It’s like the Cranberries met the Juno Soundtrack…. but I like them, I really like them, and their synthy sweetness. So take off from your teepee for this trifecta. 

Paris Remix ft. Au Revoir Simone; Shadows

Eat. World’s Largest Brunch. 
Escape to New York is making big moves on Sunday… moves towards a record breaking brunch. They’ll be attempting to knock the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s biggest brunch at a live music event. The menu, by Silkstone, will include fresh fruit, yogurt and granola, avocado toast with 6-minute eggs and the traditional English dish, Bubble and Squeak. Of course OJ, Bloody Marys and Champagne will be on hand… just in case this brunch bunch gets rowdy.

Images via Escape2NY

This past weekend, Coachella counting down-teens and over-the-Zoo adults hoped aboard the ferry to Governors Island for this year’s Governors Ball. The one-day, two-stage event featured some of the biggest and best live acts in electronic, dance, hip-hop and indie music; Girl Talk, Pretty Lights, Empire of the Sun, Passion Pit DJ Set, Das Racist, Neon Indian and Big Boi took over the isle (which is evidently the soon-to-be home of NYU Freshman) for twelve, straight, sunny hours. The idea of no overlapping sets was an initial game-changer – it made me, a Hamptonite at heart, skip the Sag to shoot the sets. However, as fantastic as it was in theory, it was bad in execution. They opted for two stages, set across the festival grounds which resulted in fans ping-ponging back and forth in 45 minute increments. Hearing all the acts – brilliant – but running back and forth all day – not so much. Despite that big boo-boo, the fest was extremely well run and organized; it’s got serious potential and is well on it’s way to being a summer staple in NYC.

My oh so serious thoughts….

• The fun-for-the-whole family vibe; Governor’s Ball skewed more classy than trashy as opposed to most of the festivals we’ve seen this year. 
• VIP being worth it! Hooray for skipping the ferry line and separate seating (kudos to the Fest makers for seriously well organized transportation)
• Airspace’s famous balloon chain which made me happy (not as happy as when I see it at Coachella, but happy) 
• Empire of the Sun channeled their inner theatre geeks with over the top costumes, and dancers that made their Coachella set look like a Coldplay concert. 
• It’s a good thing Girl Talk sprayed the crowd with toilet paper – he had something to clean up his mess of a set with… 
• Big Boi brought me back to 8th grade when I snuck into an Outkast Concert and lost my red Nokia cell phone. His set was a fun mix of tracks from his new album and old Outkast jams.
• We are not cattle, so next time, don’t herd us.  
• Electro-pop group Miami Horror, I like you. 
• Put a DJ on between sets - especially if you have two stages - have you ever heard of DJ Tanner?
• Beer Pong tent, great call. Just don’t tell anyone I said so, I went to NYU.

Ultra Music Festival 2011. Boo ya. 

!

Summer is all about festivals, but you don’t have to travel far to listen to music, hang out with your friends and soak in the sun. The Governors Ball Music Festival is a one-day, two-stage event that features some of the biggest and best live acts in electronic, dance, hip-hop and indie music. Girl Talk, Pretty Lights, Empire of the Sun, Passion Pit, Neon Indian and Big Boi will be taking over Governors Island, just a hop and a skip from Manhattan, on June 18. So forgot the Coachella or Bonnaroo fomo (I know, I don’t make it easy), because this time the tunes are coming to you… 

The Jetsetter package includes access to a VIP lounge with shade, seating, massage services (yes, massages), wine, beer and special food concessions, exclusive viewing areas at both stages, special restroom facilities, two drink tickets, access to the photo pit or sound board during selected performances and a two-night stay at Gild Hall. All you have to worry about is your endurance. 

Read More

R

oundup of my favorite things this week… follow it, don’t judge it. 

Photographer. Ryan Holden Singer.
This week has been all about family, and as I sat in my Uncle’s library last night, I was fascinated by a new piece of art he had acquired at a charity event in NYC. So the story goes “We we’re outbid at the auction, but Uncle Kevin was persistent. He went right to the photographer, and he schmoozed. Next thing I knew, the photo was ours.” 

Photographer Ryan Holden Singer has a very personal approach to photography, one that was clear to my Aunt and Uncle immediately after meeting him. Through portraiture mixed with an anthropological quality to his work, Singer creates images that not only explore the honesty in his subjects but also presents a very real and personal perspective. Singer landed on the continent of Africa where he documented the San Bushmen tribes in Namibia. These powerful images resulted in the Ryan Holden Singer collection consisting of 52 images contained in the Smithsonian Institutes National Museum Of African Art in Washington DC. He gets the good stuff by making it personal, the results are uncompromising and direct… and from our side of the lens, he is one to watch, closely. 

Read More

Darling I’m coming home….

$

I love nothing more than dressing that part…. especially when it comes to school girl attire or army-gear. Last year, Arielle Nachmani from Something Navy shared four timeless, fool-proof looks that even dorks like me can copy for Coachella. Here are my essentials…

Sustenance. I’m not down with dehydration. Stock up on sustenance and take care of yourself - it’s a H.O.T. marathon of music, not a sprint. 

Dress. Get distinctive and wear a look that is all you. 

Boots. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. A gal should always be prepared, so strap on some shoes that will take you from tent, to tent, and anywhere beyond. 

Speakers. Don’t let the dancing die out. Carry your own set of speakers for in between sets. 

Friends. There’s no better accessory. 

Hat. Where’s your head at, where’s your head at?

Paint. A perfectly childish midday activity. 

For all things Coachella….

Despite the many forces trying to keep crowds away (fire at Miami airport, delays into Ft. Lauderdale Airport, traffic all over Miami, overbooked cab companies) over 150,000 enthusiastic fans made their way to Bicentennial Park on Friday for the 13th annual Ultra Music Festival (raise your hand if you drove from Orlando!). It was hot, it was packed and the schedule was chaotic, yet fans banded together for one simple reason: to dance the days away to one of the best electronic music lineups ever put together.

What once started as a small party on the beach in 1999 is now the world’s biggest dance music festival, encompassing three days, eight stages and more than 200 musicians, evidence that the electronic dance music craze has exploded into a full blown pop-culture revolution here in the United States.

Read More

!

It was a pilgrimage, but we’ve made it home…. In honor of Ultra, I asked some serious spin specialists for their #1 not-to-miss show at Miami Music Week. Don’t take my word for it, take theirs.
Follow it, don’t judge it….

Name: Boys Noize
Won’t Miss Artist: Chemical Brothers
“I hope I can catch the Chemical Brothers live show. They have always been a big influence in my music, they are soo good!
Note: Catch Boys Noize on the Live Stage, Saturday at 7PM; Chemical Brothers on the Main Stage 7:30 pm, Sunday. 

Name: Paul Harris, from Dirty Vegas
Won’t Miss Artist: Duran Duran
”As well as being a hero of ours at Dirty Vegas, I’ve actually got to know Simon trough the years, so it’s going to be great to see them.”
Note: Catch Dirty Vegas in the Heineken Dome, Saturday at 4:00 pm & on the Main Stage at 12:30 pm, Sunday; Duran Duran on the Main Stage, Friday at 8:15 pm.

Read More

The Guardian has been doing some of the best, most innovative online journalism out there, and this is one of my favorite things they’ve produced: A page that pulls in all the great SXSW coverage by the Guardian’s reporters on Tumblr into a single, sortable space. Especially nice: Developer Dan Catt’s explanation of how he built this using the Tumblr and Guardian APIs. Definitely worth a look, and worth stealing ideas from - via markcoatney

!

There are a lot of music festivals out there, from big names like Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, to smaller fest’s like this summers Electric Forest and Governors Ball - yet few challenge your mind and body quite like this past weekends Snowball Festival in Avon, Colorado. Sure, Bonnaroo is boiling, and Coachella, well it’s full of hipsters, but the first Inaugural Snowball Music Festival tested ones ability to brave the cold in pursuit of musical bliss, and brave the cold we did. Here’s the rundown…

Fly & Drive.
Friday. 8 AM. 
Leave NYC, and don’t miss your flight (not that I did or anything). Drive from Denver to Avon, Colorado and suit up for a day in the snow.  

@Zeds Dead & @12th Planet.
Friday. 5 PM.  
Pre-Pretty Lights a slew of DJ’s and artists took to the smaller stages. The Groove Tent housed some serious spinners throughout the day including Zeds Dead, 12th Planet and Diplo. The Zeds Dead duo was a complete surprise; their dubstep/electronica mix warmed the crowd (literally) as the Groove Tent turned into a steam room. Their energetic performance prepared festival goers for 12th Planet. Known for his mix of hip-hop and dubstep, 12th Planet played a passionate set and also gave us a laugh or two as he covered his face with a beanie and commented on the overly clothed-girls. The casual nature of the whole event was refreshing.

@Diplo.
Friday. 7:30 PM.
Diplo carried on the lighthearted spirit and let a herd of fans join him on stage, resulting in a scene reminiscent of a high school prom. Surrounding the DJ booth, cheering him on, snapping pictures - it was a moment that could only have happened at a first-year festival, and one that left festival goers feeling “lucky to have been there.” I felt lucky to have been there when he dropped some ol’ school M.I.A.

@Jetsetfarryn: Ummm @Diplo just dropped Bucky Done Gun @M_I_A @therealryeye @ItsSnowball
@diplo: @jetsetfarryn nice monkey @ItsSnowball 

Read More

Music festivals are only as memorable as their surroundings, whether it’s the fleeting tent cities that spring up around Bonnaroo and Coachella or the storied settings of New Orleans’s Jazzfest and Austin City Limits. This April, Lollapalooza is heading to Chile for its first-ever event outside the U.S. Don’t just go — attend as a Jetsetter VIP. Our exclusive package includes two-day VIP tickets to the festival (with unlimited access to the Lolla Lounge and reserved bathrooms), three nights at Santiago’s Le Rêve Boutique Hotel, transfers each day to the show and more. 

Read More