Get Hype for Suwannee Hulaween 2017

by Spencer Storch • August 10, 2017

Let’s go! Let’s go! There isn’t any time to waste! Suwannee Hulaween is coming October 26th! We must get both our bodies and our minds right as we prepare to go to the baddest festival in the country. I’ll be honing my senses: touch, smell, taste, sight, and maybe the most important, hearing, as I get ready to embark on the adventure that is Suwannee Hulaween 2017!

Alright, so I’m going to assume you just got your jogging pants on, you have cracked a few raw eggs to drink straight from the glass, and you’re almost ready to go running up stairs like Rocky in order to get in shape for Hula. But wait, let’s hold off on Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” and try some new music from this year’s insane lineup!

My first recommendation is Marian Hill, an alternative R&B/synth-pop duo consisting of production artist Jeremy Lloyd and vocalist Samantha Gongol. A pair that has been heating up since 2013, Marian Hill caught fire in 2016 with their debut album: Act One. Their hit single, “Down” was featured in an Apple AirPods commercial. This propelled them to further notoriety as people took a second look and realized that this combo from Philadelphia is the real deal. Also check out my other favorite of theirs, “Wild.”

Also on your list of artists to check out before Hulaween in October is Kamasi Washington! Kamasi Washington is an American jazz saxophonist known for playing with the likes of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Snoop & and the Snoopadelics, Flying Lotus and Thundercat. In 2015, he recorded sax for Kendrick Lamar’s album, To Pimp a Butterfly. Composer, producer and overall badass, KW is sure to impress.

Whew! Hot jazz baby! Yes! I can’t wait! I need a breather. Lets take a break from audio training and talk about your eyes. Start going through your old I-spy books to train, this festival is that kind of thing on steroids! Every single person is in costume the entire weekend and especially on Saturday night. Hula-hoops to the left – duck! Now bubbles and fire to the right – swerve! Wait, was that Elvis? And my friend swears she saw a live monkey on that guy’s back! Don’t forget to bring a few costumes of your own too. Hula will be announcing themes for the weekend soon. Besides the people, Hulaween boasts the best art section for any festival around: Spirit Lake. Mind-melting live art, hoops, stilts, paintings, sculpture, fire, lasers, colorful trees, projections, two stages and and all my friends can be found in Spirit Lake, the heart of the festival.

Okay, back to those ears! A quick q-tippings and they are ready to receive their next musical offering: French Kiwi Juice. Vincent Fenton, better known by the abbreviation FKJ, has blended the sound of sexy, smooth electronic music with a jazzy finish, music fit for a classy pool party. Blurring the lines between genres, this solo loop-master can get the crowd going all by himself. A Parisian that appeals to young and old alike. I for one can’t wait to sip that juice.

Next up: Spafford! Hailing from Phoenix, AZ, this four-piece prog-rock group of heavy jammers is dark and mysterious. A winding snake of sssizzling guitar, mixed with perfectly balanced keys and supported by sick drums and heavy bass. This snake has four pieces: Jordan Fairless (Bass/Vocals), Red Johnson (Keys/Vocals), Brian Moss (Guitar/Vocals) and Cameron Laforest (Drums/Vocals). Get ready, these guys love to jam-out and its possible only play a few songs due to their length and complexity. One song is certain though, “The Reprise.” Also, check out their new hour-long jam session release “Abaculus” on the Spotify player below!

Okay I need another break for my ears. Let’s sharpen our noses and mouths before going to Hula. We will need to be resilient through dust storm roads and inevitable black boogers, and of course standing next to a wook who hasn’t showered in a few days. The smells aren’t all bad though, there’s tons of great food both from the vendors and friends! Oh man, I can’t wait to pass some whiskey while listening to some great tunes in the amphitheater….

Okay, so we’ve covered sight, smell, taste and hearing but we haven’t touched on touch. So to train, I recommend running a feather up and down your arm to simulate all the multitude of goosebumps you can expect while at Hulaween. Goosebumps from sick sets, from sights your eyes can’t believe, and from magical moments with your closest friends.

Claim your spot now to experience the best sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and all the feels.

Get down with your bad self and buy a ticket now. You know you want to…

Get Hype for Suwannee Hulaween 2017 by Spencer Storch. Edited by Richie Williams (The Sober Goat).