Every summer, music festivals seem to get bigger and more intense – the crowds double, the camp sites get further and further away, and it gets harder to catch the bands you really want to see.
Every summer, music festivals seem to get bigger and more intense – the crowds double, the camp sites get further and further away, and it gets harder to catch the bands you really want to see.
Well the good folks at Camp Barefoot have a great option for those who prefer a more intimate camp/festival setting, and they want to invite you to come out this year for Barefoot’s 8th anniversary.
Expect some of the best jams in the world as you sit next to some fun-loving new friends in beautiful Bartow, West Virginia the weekend of August 21st.
You can pick up your tickets here, but take a chance to learn more about the event thanks to a conversation RVAMag’s own John Reinhold had with Camp Barefoot producer Scott McLain.
Camp Barefoot seems to get better every year, how do you do it and keep sane?
Keeping sane can be extremely hard! Honestly, without the support of our Super Fans, a select group of hardcore Camp Barefoot lovers, we would not have a festival on the horizon. Our production took a big hit this last year with bigger festivals popping up in the region as well as the festival market becoming over saturated. Our Super Fans organized themselves to help us cut our debt, rebalance, and refocus for 2014.
They believe in our vision of what a music festival community can be and are dedicated to helping us promote that ideal. The tight knit community of around 3,000 people who converge in the scenic mountains of Bartow, West Virginia, every summer is what keeps me sane. With other festivals on hiatus, the lineup falling together perfectly, and the positive response to our efforts thus far, the Stanlee Ventures production crew is excited for Camp Barefoot 8!
Tell us about the Super Fan, and any special circumstances of this years event?
The Camp Barefoot Super Fans consist of hardcore, avid music fans who have organized to keep Camp Barefoot alive. This group of people evolved almost totally on their own in response to fundraising efforts that our production crew was promoting to make sure Camp Barefoot 8 would happen. In the grassroots festival world and the music industry as a whole it is difficult for a small company to stay afloat. It can take close to ten years to pay off your bills and become profitable. The Super Fans are people who understand the financial limitations of organizing an event likeCamp Barefoot, care about the music and the community it creates, and want to see our event continue.
Of course there are multiple perks to enjoy for Super Fan members, join the club and find out! Email Campbarefoot@gmail.com to find out more.
Hows does your team prepare each year in planning an event of this size?
It literally takes the entire year for the Stanlee Ventures, LLC production crew to plan this awesome festival. Our administrative group is unique. We are not like most companies where we are all based in one location or do festival promotion/production as our primary job. Our group is spread out across three states and relies heavily on technology to bridge the gap. The entire staff of Stanlee Ventures also works full time jobs, volunteering their time to produce Camp Barefoot. We are scientists, public educators, graphic designers, nurses, engineers, and photographers to name a few. Of course our goal is to become a profitable entity but what keeps us coming back for more is the sense of accomplishment we feel when our musical community comes together. It’s about promoting the music, plain and simple.
Recently Camp Barefoot released the full lineup headlined by Beats Antique, Papadosio, Lettuce, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, and The London Souls. How are you feeling about this lineup for Camp Barefoot 8?
I personally think this is our best lineup in eight years! We are extremely excited to host first time Camp Barefoot attendees like Beats Antique, Lettuce, and London Souls. We are also honored to have Kyle Hollingsworth back for his fifth year. Each year he brings his “A” game and this time he is doing a set of his original music and then a Motown tribute set. I can’t wait to see if Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, and even the Jackson 5 are in the mix. Working with a big national act like Beats Antique is exciting. The energy and art they bring to the table is extremely unique. To say I’m super pumped about this year would be an understatement!
Last year had some amazing artist joining other artist on stage, creating a special unique kinda moment for the audience. What kind of collaborations and on the spot special guest do you think we will see this year?
Musical collaboration is one thing we love about Camp Barefoot. The special moments and surprises that are created escalate the vibe to the next level. When artists get to mingle and get comfortable, sit ins and jams are born. These spontaneous moments are one of the things that we feel make our festival special.
Any information about some of the other killler bands on the lineup for people to look out for?
We work hard for our lineup to represent multiple genres of music. While the national acts are a big draw for attendance, don’t forget about the awesome regional and independent bands! Camp Barefoot aims to provide them with the exposure they need to take their music to the next level. There are so many bands to check out like Moon Hooch, Tauk, Zach Deputy, Kung Fu, The Motet (a favorite among our production crew), Dopapod, Mike Dillon Band, Brothers Past, and so on. There is something for everyone! The complete lineup can be found at www.campbarefoot.org.
Are there any special events leading up to Camp Barefoot that fans should know about?
We have a handful of showcase shows where we showcase the independent bands throughout our region. These events are a fundraiser to help offset festival production costs. There are raffles and discounted tickets at these showcases. The community’s support is a vital part of producing a grassroots event like Camp Barefoot and we look forward to these shows as a way to stay connected with our fans. Upcoming showcase shows can be found at https://www.facebook.com/CampBarefoot.
