Photos via: Snowta Festival
Written by: Melissa Faulkner
In my humble opinion, Minnesota is an underrated cultural hub, especially when you consider the weight it pulls with bigger national tours. The opening of the historic Armory gave us an additional leg up. With one year of diverse shows under its belt, I was excited to hear who would “get the people going” inside the two-acre (yes, you read that right) venue this year. As snow began to fall in Minnesota three weeks earlier than the rest of the country, it appeared as if the Armory would remain vacant for the holiday. I turned my attention to the returning Snowta. An empty Armory on NYE seemed like a serious disservice, but leave it to us Minnesotans to avoid any type of confrontation or competition. Be it intentional or not, it seemed appropriate to keep the spotlight focused on Snowta. For the past two years, Snowta has filled the Minneapolis Convention Center, luring global names and national festival-goers that are curious what -13 degrees actually feels like. Despite being a relatively new festival, it has garnered national attention. It was refreshing to be the envy of other festival attendees for once, as new friends met across the country, also pursuing various forms of escapism, would exclaim “Oh, you’re from Minnesota?! Are you going to Snowta?!”
Shortly after Thanksgiving, Snowta announced that it would join forces with The Armory, moving locations to the historic giant. Anxiety immediately subsided, and all felt right in the world again. A poetic return to the Armory for New Year’s Eve, ringing the new year with Marshmello, Skrillex, NGHTMRE, Chief Keef, Rich the Kid, Ganja White Night, EPROM, Dirt Monkey and more over the course of two nights. As the festival promises, there will be more than music. Attractions include Alien Laser Tag, an arcade, Human Bowling (best to leave your heels at home, ladies; but eh, all my Minnesota girls already know better), and an indoor skate/snowboard park, utilizing The Armory’s massive underground parking lot.
Skrillex already holds the title as the DJ that reinvented the dubstep sound, challenging previously held beliefs about what “dance music” is. Skrillex’s performance at The Armory will no doubt challenge the popular opinion that New Year’s Eve is often overrated. Avoid a case of inevitable FOMO, leaving Skrillex and Marshmello wondering “Where R U Now.” The only acceptable answer is at Snowta Fest.
For those of you new to arctic tundra, The Armory will have sufficient indoor lines while waiting for admittance, as well as a thorough and affordable coat check, so you don’t risk becoming a Kanye West tweet.
Check up the lineup below! Tickets are still available for double-night and VIP packages, as well as single night passes beginning at $100.
