Keeping it Weird at Dirtybird Campout 2016
Secret sauce, booties percolatin’ and A Whole Lot of fun! Dirtybird Campout 2016 partnered with the Do LaB was nothing short of great laughs and bizarre moments to last a lifetime. The three day festival at Oak Canyon Park in Silverado, CA took place from October 7th through October 9th for an experience like no other festival out there. It’s a completely different vibe when you’re at a music festival where you know you can’t miss even one single set because the music you love will be mixing with new music you know you’re going to love too. It’s music fan heaven. Dirtybird fans love the new comers just as much as each OG player. Compared to a mixed label festival, there’s no awful moments of uninterested sets or obnoxious fans who don’t even know the DJ bumping into you through the crowd. The idea of having only one stage takes away the stress of Where’s the schedule? and Who’s on next? to allow fans to focus on why we came in the first place; total unsolicited bliss.
Even before the festival began, the final lineup announced popular guests like Mr. Carmack and Green Velvet. Off to a pretty great start I’d say. This worry free weekend is the epitome of what this industry could be and what true music fans love, which Dirtybird actually makes happen at every event they host. The production value was perfect: simple and straight to the heart, just like the label it’s self. The Birdhouse stage has continued to be a simple house set up, using the natural trees as the perfect backdrop. When days turned to night, multi-colored lights illuminated the tree leaves and the cool Los Angeles breeze not only maintained comfort but added that natural sway of tree branches for a perfectly beautiful atmosphere. Dirtybird Records is it’s own little monster. Not for the fake EDM fan, not for the girl trying to celebrate her 21st birthday at her first club, and most definitely not for anyone who doesn’t appreciate the real funky bass that IS Dirtybird. When it comes to Campout, fans feel safe and loved. Each Dirtybird player as a collective does a great job of constantly raising the bar with unexpected surprises to keep fans going all night.
There were quite a few highlights from this year’s shenanigans to remember. Costumes and totems took the cake. We saw full body size Steve Harvey, a wild bird’s nest, the head of Gaten Matarazzo from Stranger Things, and every variation of lit up Dirtybird eggs possible. The level of creativity was unhinged. Fans dressed in full Dinosaur costumes make an appearance on Saturday afternoon. We saw Pizza-men, flamingo hats and all kinds of boys and girl scouts claiming thier rightful patches through out the weeknd. With such a successful first year, Dirtybird Campout 2016 had now welcomed 2,000 more attendees to be blessed with the madness. Two die hard fans marked history by having their wedding ceremony over the bridge on Saturday. The couple was welcomed with cheers from all across the festival as they kissed as husband and wife over the pond. The one and only disappointment would have to be not feeling those delicious spacey vibes from J. Phlip for her Saturday night set. Although she was truly missed, the family-style vibe that Dirtybird gives its fan is like nothing any other label will be able to accomplish so nothing felt lost nonetheless.
Dirtybird Fam at the Birdhouse
Did I hear…Ass Out?
What makes this record label greater then any other is that their entire progressive process from the day four friends were just playing in a San Francisco park for 10 people has become a full 3 day event selling out to thousands of people. Not only that, but the fact that the label has stayed true to who they were since day 1 after more than 10 years speaks wonders. While handling their own PR, producing their own events, creating a special secret sauce for their BBQs, these guys have built a true family; Dirtybird Fam. Even Campout itself was totally hands on from Claude’s brother hand making and painting each corn hole down to all our favorite DJ-wives making sure things run smoothly behind the scenes.
“The Music brought us together but our hearts pulled us in tight”
Dirtybird Campout 2016 gave us new activities and a BBQ spread to make your mouth water. They even made sure to keep constant entertainment at the Bunkhouse where the BBQ was served with live comedy shows, open mic nights, and our favorite: lap dance music chairs (impromptu tradition started from last year). This year I got to play corn hole with Grillson, the grill master himself along with Ardalan, Kill Frenzy, Worthy, and Justin Martin but of course Papa Claude took the crown on that one too during our special press versus the artist corn hole competition.
Press vs. Players Corn Hole Competition
The participation this year from the fans down to each and every DJ is what makes Campout such a unique 3-day adventure. There were time of making instant best friends with strangers solely because you know they love Dirtybird just as much as you do. DJs like Sacha Robotti joined us in the crowd to enjoy the experience with his fans and all who love the label that his changed his life. Even our petition prayers were answered with Justing and Christian Martin’s famous Drum & Bass set together, which debuted at Campout last year. Claude even exceeded all expectations by playing more sets we could’ve imagined. Friday’s Claude Vonstroke set set the tone for the weekend, his Alias set as Barclay Crenshaw on Saturday at the Late Night Lounge took a turn we’ll never forget and Green Velvet’s guest set went into a mind blowing surprise Get Real experience. Claude was front and center for Sunday’s closing family set as well, which brought all our favorite and still standing birdies together to play the fan favorites, like Voicemail mixed in by Green Velvet and Will Clarke’s Booty Percolatin’. Speaking of, I’d have to say my absolute favorite set throughout the weekend was Will Clarke. There was maybe 1 song in that hour and 30 minutes that I recognized. That’s exactly how new festival sets should be and he nailed it.
There’s something to be said about these guys and gal (can’t forget our token princess, Ms. Phlip) when the fan base has become such a loyal connection. I remember hearing Claude say that he just wanted a place where all his favorite people can come together for a party just the way they’d like to throw it. We partied with the DJs at Dirtybird Campout, we didn’t just go to another festival. THAT’s Dirtybird in an eggshell…If you haven’t yet attended, be sure to start your patch collection soon, this isn’t something you want to miss.
Campout Tree Fort
If you haven’t already, be sure to follow Dirtybird Records and king Claude Vonstroke on Soundcloud. The label is also celebrating their one year anniversary of Birdfeed, an exclusive fan membership where subscribers get a total VIP experience with first releases, discounted BBQ passes, merchandise discounts, first dibs on ticket sales and all the best insider info for just $7 a month. If you’re not already a member, be sure to sign up here.