The hopes of putting together a perfect, better yet, flawless Music Festival are unattainable and impossible outcomes. Yes, there is a worldwide rolodex filled of unlimited artists to choose from in an attempt to merely approach such a result, but for every patron to become complacent with a final announcement is far-fetched. There are endless territories and regions on which to host your gathering, but obtaining permission to do so can be as challenging as gaining acceptance from your future fans. Obstacles are meant to be overcome, and one team that has managed to nearly accomplish this outcome are the adept individuals responsible for Hulaween.
Spirit of Suwannee Music Park is truly unparalleled in constantly delivering spectacular lineups alongside a breathtaking and endlessly changing landscape. How any of us legitimately find the time to venture away from the immediate area surrounding Spirit Lake itself is beyond me, but that’s merely the epicenter of this idyll. Not only did attendees have the pleasure of seeing familiar art installations, but they were just as astounded by this year’s newest masterpieces.
The 2016 additions will certainly act as staples to this event for years to come, proving that their innovation and creativity are nowhere near an endpoint. It is not often that you see as stacked of a lineup for Hulaween this year from a smaller scale festival, which is why weekend passes were capped at 20,000. Past and new Hulaween attendees would agree that this was an intelligent move in order to allow campers to save spots for friends and ensure roomy campsites.
As dazzling as the scenery is, another key component in Hulaween’s success is the vast amount of natural acoustics that engulf the stages. The reverberating sounds are as alluring and enticing as the dazzling lights that expose each performance.
So, since it’s two of us writing this review, we would like to share some of our singular favorite moments.
Sebastian’s favorite newcomer: Rüfüs du Sol
I have never allowed myself to miss a Lettuce performance when we’re at the same Music Festival. As soon as I read their name, my mind is made up. However, this decision was changed for the first time since All Good 2013. I tend to immediately ignore other acts that are scheduled to perform during their time slot, but Rüfüs du Sol was a live performance that I was specifically instructed to experience.
As cliché as this might sound, you were right. You were all so incredibly right. This Australian trio is as electrifying as any act that I’ve ever witnessed. Their focus is precise, their audience is completely engaged from start to finish (myself extremely included), and their style of production resonates a breath of fresh air. “Tonight” was a brilliant track selection because it related identically to the entire theme of Hulaween itself.
Lauren’s favorite newcomer: My Morning Jacket
I know for a fact that I am not the only person who believes Jim James is a musical god. So, when My Morning Jacket appeared as one of Hulaween’s headliners this year, I had to pinch myself multiple times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Yim Yames (as many hardcore fans know him) and his band know how to put on a show unlike any other band I have seen – they dig so deep that I uncover emotions I did not even know I had. (Yes, I have cried seeing them every single time.)
And they did not disappoint. The men played a set that ranged from oldies to new tracks, from Jim’s solo tunes to their multiple incomparable covers. They got the crowd cheering during “Off the Record” and set a more somber ambiance during “Victory Dance”, which yet again proves their versatility. How do you choose a favorite cover from this set? “Rocket Man” is the familiar choice, “Easy” is the one that got us swaying and singing, and “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2” was the big shocker!
Sebastian’s favorite veteran: The String Cheese Incident
Leave it up to the titans of Hulaween themselves to magically outdo themselves set after set. For an act to perform SEVEN times in one weekend is a daunting task, but these gentlemen have completely removed any synonym of the word “fatigue” from their mindsets.
One performance that stood out above the rest was their perfectly crafted 1980’s set filled with many of the greatest classics. One of my favorite SCI moments has to be their 2014 performance alongside Kool & The Gang, so this evening provided those equal vibes. From “Let’s Groove Tonight” to “Come On Eileen”, the hits never stopped. When I heard them finish Saturday night overall with a Stevie Wonder classic, I was certain that these men had searched my brain to locate all of my favorite tracks. (Only The String Cheese Incident and its members have permission to do so.)
Lauren’s favorite veteran: STS9
Those that know me would find this to be no surprise. I may be biased, but I just have to give it up for the bass babe and four fellows who make up STS9. They jammed out on the new stage – The Patch – which aided in loosening up foot traffic to and fro other stages, yet made a place for itself that I believe will be a permanent stage.
Sound Tribe definitely knows how to get a festival crowd going, and they did so by playing some fan favorites, such as “Blu Mood” and “Baraka”. I personally could not stop air drumming, but who doesn’t do that while watching Zach Velmer rock out?
The group released an album earlier this year, The Universe Inside, for the first time in five years. So it only makes sense that they played a couple of tunes off it, including “Get Loud” and “Give & Take”. Tribe amazed all fans that had the pleasure of seeing these songs performed live for the first time. Needless to say, I look forward to seeing the rest of them soon enough, and of course would love to catch them again next year at Hulaween.
Sebastian’s favorite art installation: As an Alabama graduate, anything elephant related is going to immediately draw me in. After belting out a well received “Roll Tide!”, I made my way towards the metallic, fire breathing Ganesh that was on the outskirts of Spirit Lake. Not only was the structure astounding in size and design, the fire itself provided a comforting embrace on the colder nights.
Lauren’s favorite art installation: The holographic arch across from Spirit Lake caught my eye as soon as I saw it and then continuously all weekend. It was so perfectly placed for picture-taking, and all of the gorgeous colors from the natural beauty reflected off the installation. A collection of paintings were located right behind it, so the creative path was paved for all Hulaween wanderers.
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