Looking Ahead to Summer Camp and Changes to the Festival

Written by: Michael Broerman
Some people like to spend Memorial Day grilling burgers in the backyard.  Some go outside and enjoy the beautiful beginning of summer. Others just enjoy the day off and relax with some friends.  But some people, some very smart people, do all of those things while enjoying some of the best music this country has to offer.  Those people, of course, are attending Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, Illinois.
The biggest Memorial Day cookout, backyard party extravaganza returns to Three Sisters Park for the 19th annual Summer Camp with tag-team hosts of moe. and Umphrey’s McGee.  
The seven Summer Camp stages (Moonshine, Sunshine, Starshine, Campfire, Soulshine Tent, Red Barn and VIP) are bursting at the seams with amazing artists all weekend long, including headliners STS9, Zeds Dead, Big Gigantic, Oteil and Friends, a live set from Chromeo, Gramatik, and so, so, SO much more.

 
The biggest Summer Camp news, other than the lineup, has been the changes made regarding the Vibe Tent, the former location of the vast majority of EDM sets.  In a statement posted to the official Summer Camp Facebook page, the festival organizers cited requests from attendees as well as their own observations regarding the frequent overcrowding of the Vibe Tent, a phenomena which usually results in a crowd overflowing out of the tent and a concert experience of lesser quality for many attendees.  In an effort to keep everybody included, many of the artists that would normally appear in the Vibe Tent have been moved to the Starshine Stage, which the organizers emphasized will allow for “advanced production and effects.”
So now, instead of having the Vibe Tent in the field adjacent to the Starshine Stage, that plot of land will now be occupied by the brand new Vibe Village, which will feature “giant tents for shade, cool art and installations for ambiance,” as well as eliminating the problem of competing music in close proximity between the former Vibe Tent and the Starshine Stage.
Another change to Summer Camp scheduling is that now there will be music all day long in the Soulshine Tent going into “the wee hours of the morning.” The Soulshine Tent isn’t just where you can buy beer, it also features an intimate stage for lesser-known performers as well as things like live glassblowing to check out, and some comfy couches to chill on if you need a rest.
A fun memory I have from Summer Camp 2017 was taking a load off on one of those couches in Soulshine around 3:30 am Friday night in order to try and save some energy for Turkuaz’s 4am set at the Campfire stage. The New Orleans Suspects were playing, the glass was blowing, and it was just all so serene that I fell asleep. I awoke around dawn to find the music over and most everybody gone, except for another sleeping camper next to me. While I may have missed what was surely a great late night set from Turkuaz, I found solace that this was the kind of cool, laid back place that would just let me sleep on this couch all night long and not give me any trouble.
But whether you’re at the Starshine Stage, Vibe Village, or sleeping in the Soulshine Tent: if you’re at Summer Camp this Memorial Day weekend, you’re gonna have a good time.  Happy S’camping!