Despite organizational flaws which lead to a confusing schedule and many late performances, F.A.R.M. Fest 2015 created a weekend community in Southern New Jersey which could comfortably celebrate life, love and music. The musical performances were superb all weekend, stunning works dotted the trails, and the wooded campgrounds + fire dancers lit up the beach at night. F.A.R.M. could not have chosen a better setting than the aptly named Paradise Lakes Campground, as volunteers and attendees did their best to “leave no trace” by cleaning up after themselves.
Gaia gave us three beautiful, sunny days at F.A.R.M. Thankfully we avoided the wet, muggy heat which usually settles in New Jersey during the dog days of summer. Besides, virtually every camp was laid out beneath shady pines, and when anyone did work up a sweat they had an ice cold lake to cool off in. Mid-day when bands like Manifested and Bats Dynamic String Band started grooving, it almost felt like some extended family barbecue on the beach without the brisket.
F.A.R.M. Fest rooted itself in the local landscape, showing those who came from far and wide why New Jersey deserves its moniker as the Garden State. The main stage was decorated with local flora and fauna, a welcome change of pace from expensive light shows or gaudy industrial stage designs. F.A.R.M. opted for a different type of immersive music experience, reminding us that music originates in nature itself in a bird’s melody or the rhythm of our hearts.
Speaking of music, it never stopped at F.A.R.M. Fest. We’ll not call this “good” or “bad”, because I’m sure some enjoyed and others resented the fact that music was scheduled until sunrise, and often continued past it into the next day. A grievance shared by all, however, was the fact that sunrise sets were played in the Untz tent instead of the beautiful Spotlight stage pictured above. Sixis played until approximately 4:30 am Friday night on the beach, and afterwards the excitement for a Desert Dwellers sunrise set in the sand was squelched by an inexplicable announcement that music was shifting to the Untz tent where the sun did not shine.. Facing east, the lake would have proven a special setting a Dwelling at sunrise, and F.A.R.M. Fest’s inability to capitalize on this was the definition of a buzzkill.
Unlike the music schedule, the workshops were always running on time. In a spacious dome from Synergeo Domes attendees participated in everything from yoga and meditation to classes on mineralization, permaculture and our personal favorite, energy manipulation.
Dr. Ren sharing the secrets of her healthy, organic brews
During and after the festival we spoke with Johnny Crupi, the F.A.R.M. employee who organized the workshops. “I aimed for a dynamic range of workshops being offered with a particular progression in which they happened. There is a reason each workshop was placed where they were.” So for example the first event of the weekend was a workshop on expressing oneself through spoken word, the perfect way to kick off a weekend of creativity and expression. “F.A.R.M Fest is not just about music,” he stresses, “it is about building a community of people who share and exchange knowledge to better ourselves and the world we live in.”
One special aspect of F.A.R.M. which we’ve never encountered at another festival was the presence of Hebrews who established a space for Shabbat. Shabbat is Judaism’s day of rest running from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. During that time Hebrews are encouraged to put down their work and their cell phones and simply share a day of experience with each other. The spirit and the sacred space which this group established at F.A.R.M. was available for everyone to enjoy. NaNach Nation was responsible for it, the non-profit organization distributed delicious challah bread and lovely vibes all night on Saturday.
A banner marking NaNach’s safe and sacred space
Strong feelings of family and community were ubiquitous throughout the weekend, but one moment in particular will always stick with me personally. Friday night after a beautiful set from Papadosio many left the beach without picking up their trash. Realizing it would be impossible to enjoy myself on a littered beach, I began to clean up. Others joined me and in the process and I made a few new friends: sharing laughs and smiles with new faces as we upheld our responsibility to Paradise Lakes Campground and Mother Earth.
Out of all the artists and performers at the fest, we were most impressed and enthralled by the fire team, made up of the ladies from Hoopsie Daisies and other talented performers. There were two simultaneous shows on the beach each night: music on the stage and fire play to its left. The fire team deepened the immersive experience on the beach, and without platforms to stand on they afforded everyone an up-close look at their amazing performance art.
Hoopsie Daisies trio performance (photo by Josh Scott)
F.A.R.M. Fest’s lineup was so deep, delic and talented. Upon arriving we were treated to a righteous set from Nahko and Medicine for the People, a folk rock group who encouraged us to love the earth and one another. Later that night Haywyre brought the funk to the Untz tent with his keyboard synths before G Jones absolutely destroyed us with his heavy blend of trap and grime. Space Jesus’ music was complimented well by the band D.V.S., Freddy Todd’s performance was hot like the sun, and Brightside brought the farmily together Saturday afternoon. i.ll Gates and KJ Sawka played a great set to close the fest, but because of poor organization they finally arrived on stage at 4:00am to a weary crowd.
We’d also be remiss not to mention DJ Qbert, the world champion of scratching who spun dub and hip-hop vinyls in an absolute treat of a set. Unfortunately, it ended early after about 45 minutes. We’re not sure why they kicked him off stage, especially considering the next two hours featured only one act, L’Especial. This snafu and others were inexcusable. We understand that small festivals often have trouble when it comes to seamlessly transitioning from artist to artist, but replacing a world renowned DJ with the nonsensical ramblings of L’Especial’s frontman was tough to handle as a fan.
In the end all was well, and the poor organization was outweighed by the loving, communal vibe created by the roughly 2,500 people in attendance. Though music is an extreme priority, we’ll settle for some late sets if we can exercise total freedom and sustainability in a beautiful environment for three days. The intimacy of F.A.R.M. and its beautiful setting will be a tough act to follow for other small East Coast festivals.
For a full rundown of our favorite sets, check out “5 Massive Set From F.A.R.M. Fest 2015”.
Connect with F.A.R.M. Fest:
https://www.facebook.com/events/785420821554984/
http://www.farmmusicandarts.com
Share On
