written by Matt Long
photos by James Coletta Photography
Folks, Minus Zero 2018 is upon us and whilst remaining one of the coldest festivals out there, Minus Zero continues to bring the heat in its fifth year. Zeds Dead is running it back as headliners, and this time they are joined by our friends ODESZA, Tipper, REZZ, and Claude VonStroke to name a few. For those looking for a change of pace from the traditional festival atmosphere, look no further than Mount Snow. Minus Zero has established itself as the most extreme, yet cozy, festival on the east coast. Swap the tent & sunscreen for your snowboard & hot chocolate as you literally board your way into the best music festival Vermont has to offer.
Venue:
This year Minus Zero has decided to move to a new location to accommodate the growing number of attendees. After selling out last year, it’s safe to assume this year’s crowds will be bigger and better than ever. As a result of the growing demand, Minus Zero has also added a Friday pre-party to the previously 2 day festival, as well as a new indoor house stage allowing for a huge increase of artists & variety in 2018. Despite the vast increase in size and scale, we certainly expect Minus Zero to remain the coziest festival of the year. There’s something about battling the snow and staying warm with your squad that gives Minus Zero a great sense of community and comfort. When looking for the warmth, there’s a variety of lodging & hotel accommodations available both independently and through the Minus Zero website.
photo by James Coletta
Key Lineup Additions:
Zeds Dead
Returning for their second year in a row as a headliner, Zeds Dead will qualify as a MUST SEE on this lineup. Fresh off their latest release “Samurai” with Ganja White Night, Zeds Dead will bring a mix of original dubstep & trap along with some fire remixes off their 2017 Northern Lights Remix album. In 2017, we saw them drop their Nirvana remix of “Lithium,” that had the whole crowd in awe. Expectations are at an all-time high this year.
ODESZA
After a 2017 that included a major headlining tour with stops at some of the country’s biggest and best venues such as Red Rocks, Staples Center, and Barclays Center, ODESZA finds themselves at Mount Snow ready to show off their 16 track album “A Moment Apart.” ODESZA’s rise has been well deserved as we continue to see them headlining a handful of our favorite summer festivals.
Marvel Years
Bringing an energetic combination of glitch, classic rock, soul, jazz, and retro-funk, Marvel Years is one to look forward to on the mountain. This will be his second year in a row at Minus Zero as he’s what we would describe as perfect boarding music. Be sure to bring your boogie boots to match his youthful energy alongside his impressive performance on the guitar.
Tips for Surviving the Mountain:
- Bundle up – Last year there was a blizzard during both nights, and while it made for a bunch of gram-able moments, you don’t want to be out in the cold without layers. Expect & embrace the snow.
- Head in early – Security takes a little longer than usual due to everyone having layers & large jackets.
- Spend some time inside – Spending 6-8 hours a day in the snow is no joke, take breaks to warm up at either the indoor stage or the ski lodge. Your toes will thank you later, and you might even find a new artist you like.
photo by James Coletta
Tickets:
Keep in mind that tier 1 for this fest is already sold out and tier 2 is more than 75% sold. Get the best pricing while you can. Tickets can be found on their site for a tier 2 price of $139 & a tier 3 price of $159 before fees. It’s also worth noting that a GA ticket includes entrance into all after parties, but does not include a lift ticket. While budgeting keep in mind that you will need a hotel room too as there is no camping on Mount Snow. Squad up to keep your costs low and have a weekend to remember at Minus Zero Festival!