Father Claude has decided to bless the East Coast this holiday season by giving us our very own Dirtybird Campout! I think I lucked out way too much on this deal because not only is it being held in Florida, but it is also just a mere 30 minutes from my apartment.
Claude VonStroke just happened to pop into my life at Suwannee Hulaween 2016, when some random insisted that I go catch this set with him. I had never heard of the name VonStroke before, but after that night I became a huge fan. And of course, if you’re a fan of Claude, then you know Dirtybird and Dirtybird Campout.
photo by Juliana Bernstein
The wonderful stories I have heard from “grown-up camp,” (as our Artist-Relations Manager, Helen, described it) left me in disbelief. After reading all about what Dirtybird Campout West Coast was like, I knew I just HAD to go. Killer music all weekend long, so many different camp activities to participate in, a bunch of festival goers being split up into color teams to compete with each other AND WITH FATHER CLAUDE AND THE REST OF THOSE DIRTYBIRDS. Yes, you read that right, apparently the artists hop right into these activities and competitions along with everyone else. This place seems like the most fun a person could possibly have, and I was absolutely itching to find the funds to make my way to the other coast for this experience. BUT NOW I DON’T HAVE TO. It’s coming right to me. Thank you, festival gods!
As excited as I am to be playing kickball with Claude VonStroke and Green Velvet next month, there is one other thing that has my heart fluttering. If I were to ask you, “What’s one song you always hear crowds at festivals singing?” what would pop into your mind? I really hope you thought of “Just A Friend,” because that’s where I’m going here. Even my man Biz Markie is on the East Coast Campout lineup. For real, every festival I’ve been to, the crowd bursts into song with “Oh baby Youuuuuuuu,” and what better way to kick off festival season than with hearing that song performed live? This place isn’t a snack… it’s a whole meal.
