Deep in the jungles of South Florida during the first weekend of March mystical events were afoot. Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival took over the small town of Okeechobee for a weekend. The locals still mystified by the in surge of people looked on with wide eyes as people from six of the seven continents, over 60 countries, and every U.S. state came together in their small town for what was a one of a kind event.
The festival started on Thursday morning when the gates were opened, and cars flooded the grounds. Chobeewobee Village opened soon after the first ones through the gates were settled, attendees received glimpses of the weekend that would ensue. The Aquachobee Beach stage was the first stage to emit music into the air with an array of jam bands that eased everyone into a melodic atmosphere. Chobeewobee came alive with everything from yoga classes, to DJ’s that used the acoustics of the surrounding forest, and lake to show off their unique skill.
Friday morning came fast and the antsy music lovers finally got to take that step into the portal and into The Grove. “Be Here Now” the moto of the festival rang through the Grove all weekend as the Okeechobee earthlings mapped out what time and where their shows would be.
Perpetual Grove brought the “Here” stage to life and set the pace for all the Jam, Funk, Alternative, and Indie bands that would follow them on the “Here” stage throughout the weekend. Pell did his own jaw dropping set, and then joined Louis the Child on stage where the group formed Pellican Child. Pellican Child performed “Turn Me Down” one of the tracks that they released at the end of last year. Louis the Child kept the energy high with tracks including “Weekend“, “Fire“, and closed their set with “Love is Alive.” SnakeHips followed Louis the Child and kept the “Now” stage’s energy electric. The hoops, poi, and staves lit up as sun set and the bigger names took over the stage. Logic over on the “Be” stage set a new standard for the word humble. The rapper not only attracts the crowds attention with a magnetic performance, but also encourages his followers with a “you can do anything vibe.”
Space Jesus, Wiz Khalifa, Galactic, and Young the Giant were some of the other artists across the wide array of stages though the night. The final show and our personal favorite of the night and of the weekend was Flume. Only three weeks off of his Grammy win the Australian DJ put on a wild performance with entrancing visuals. Flume has this undeniable talent to keep the crowd moving, charging, and holding their breath for every drop. “Enough“, “Never Be Like You“, “Wall Fuck“, and “Say It” were all tracks that flowed through the amp and fell on the open ears of the crowd. Friday night was closed out with the song “Free” and it was only fitting, because at that moment we felt free from reality in the portal.
In the wee hours of Saturday, Vulfpeck the Michigan funk outfit took the “Be” stage enabling the adrenaline coursing through your veins from Flume to have a positive outlet. The group, who would also participate in the Pow Wow later on Saturday, brought everything they had to the stage and the crowd ate up every second.
Jungle 51 which had all the Techno you could ever ask for, Incendia which had a secret morning show on Saturday with Snails and 12th Planet, and Pavilion Palace were constantly a buzz keeping a non stop flow of artists that would keep the torch for the party ablaze.
Throughout Saturday morning and afternoon hours the Yoga, Flow, and Meditation classes had valuable information that would grow and soothe your spirit to keep you refreshed. The Chobeewobee village was also home to Participation Row which housed sponsors doing giveaways, The Tea Lounge that had live performances, and Halcyon which had pop up shows.
Saturday’s performances included The Floozies who came, saw, and conquered the “Now” stage with their nasty beats, Griz drew people of all ages in with his enviable saxophone skills, and Snails who is getting bigger by the second sealed the crowds fate with an everlasting slime on their ears.
Bassnectar also performed Saturday night. The puppet master starts the crowd up and pushes their buttons in such a synchronized pattern knowing exactly what to hit with an elegant flow and transition. He started with a “Sandman” intro followed by “Massive Attack – Risingson(Remix)“, throughout the set you got other great remixes including “Immigrant Song(Remix)“, “Run DMT-Sugarcube(Remix)“, and for the set closer “LAXX-Noise”
The melodies from Usher with The Roots, and the raspy soul of Sturgill Simpson echoed throughout Florida. The amount of talent in such a small space could only be described as an other worldly experience.
The Pow-Wow which included the Snarky Puppy, members of Steely Dan, Gallant, Griz, Vulfpeck, Eric Krasno from Lettuce, and soul singer Antwaun Stanley created a vibe like no other in this mega collaboration of some of the most talented people. I was standing waiting for Usher when suddenly a jazz band traveled right through the crowd in this magical moment where you were a part of the “Be Here Now.”
To close out the Grove on Saturday Porter Robinson took the stage for a very unique live set. “Sad Machine” rang out as the crowd depended on Robinson to show us the exact reason we still love every thing he touches even though he is still on his Worlds tour. From way in back you could still see the gigantic smile Robinson has on stage the man has passion an really does love what he does. “Divinity with Shelter” made the crowd go nuts, “Fresh Static Snow“, “Here the Bells” with the closer “Language” the live DJ set was a successful ending.
Sunday came slow and then all at once. The impending closure of the portal loomed, but not out with out one last magical day. The Mega Fauna of the Saber-tooth tiger had finally been completed, and was outfitted with lights for the final day. The tiger welcomed you into the Grove where The Delta Troubadours, The Knocks, and Allen Stone were dancing, singing, and easing us into the final hours. The Lumineers put on a masterful show with this deep connection they conjure with the crowd. Pretty Lights closed out the “Be” stage with “Hot Like Sauce“, “Let’s Get Busy“, “Color of My Soul“, and finally “We Must Go On.” After the set I kept repeating we must go on an as I walked to my final set.
The closer of the Grove was Kings of Leon. The four piece band from Nashville closed the show with a twenty one song set in which they put in all the energy in which the crowd was giving them. The “Now” stage rocked the amps until twelve o’clock in which if you were not already in your car on your way home you were at Jungle 51 or Incendia soaking up the last minutes of techno and bass that you could before going back to reality.
Despite the crazy winds you had to battle throughout the weekend the organizers at Okeechobee not only know what they are doing, but are setting the bar for the ways festivals should be run. The weekend proved to be the most perfect kickoff to the 2017 festival season. I know here at RaverRafting we are looking forward to year three.
Photo Credit : Rebecca Victory
Featured Image Photo Credit: ATS Photography
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