Summer solstice is nearly upon us and with the sun cometh a weekend of cosmic proportions, so dust off your camping gear and gas up the car because there’s no better way to welcome the summer’s return than getting down with the third-annual Camp Coldbrook Music & Arts Festival! What began in 2010 as a secluded rock n’ roll jamathon alongside an abandoned bus in Barre, MA has blossomed into three days and two nights to celebrate New England’s grooviest artistic expressions, made possible thanks to the impossibly hard-working folks at Gigafunk Live and Electrogenic. With over 100 musical acts lined up across four stages, running the gamut from Hot Day At The Zoo’s breakneck bluegrass shred to the histrionic electronic gurgles of Kloptoscope, woozy dub-inflected breakbeat grooves from Break Science and face-blistering jangle-funk jams courtesy of The Jauntee all the way to Hassle faves Streight Angular and their B-52’s style garage-pop nirvana, there will be no shortage of absolutely mind-blowing psycho-funky ear treats. There’s even a nightly silent disco!
But musical mayhem is far from the only flavor of Camp Coldbrook – when it’s time for a water break, take a dip in the wading pool or stretch out in the Olympic-size lap pool graciously provided on-site, or stroll through the lush 140-acre wooded campground and make your own adventure. Also in store for the weekend are numerous forward-thinking art installations, a campground all-medium art gallery, delicious food vendors plus dozens of workshops ranging from yoga to drawing techniques to music equipment tutorials and lunchtime tea ceremonies.
Of course, everyone knows it ain’t no fun if the homies can’t have none, and luckily there will be plenty of homies to see here. Nick Malkasian, the man with the master plan behind Gigafunk Live, spoke briefly to the Hassle and testified, “the resounding feedback I get from Camp Coldbrook is that every single person here is a friend of mine and a friend of each other, even if we haven’t met before.” So ditch the bar scene for one weekend and get your dose of eclectic expression. The past two years at Coldbrook have also included a massive double-rainbow sighting each event, in case you need any more reasons to get involved. What are you waiting for?! Check the Camp Coldbrook FB page for up-to-the-minute info and additions, and gear up for greatness!
$130 // All Ages