2008 Woodie Awards
Langerado Music and Arts Festival
Justin Braun
Issue date: 3/21/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Miles from civilization, sanity was regained momentarily. On rare occasions encircled by the melding, cacophonous symphony of the pioneering groups of alternative culture, Florida's youth could be observed either gently bouncing their heads or spastically flailing their limbs in eternal jam. In an atmosphere of pure spiritual freedom, music connoisseurs, concert aficionados, and festival fanatics believed they had found heaven.
Now in its 6th year, the Langerado Music Festival has become the unofficial "kickoff" to festival season in the United States. The four day festival began when two jam band fanatics, who happened to be promoters, wanted a jam band festival. They got one, and it has grown into one of the U.S.'s largest and most eclectic music festivals.
Langerado brought every college student's spring break fantasy to life: binge drinking, illicit drugs, and sexual promiscuity were only minute details of the ultimate big spring break experience. Centering itself around friendship and universal acceptance, the festival's goal, which resonated in its attendees, was to get back to the most natural form of music appreciation.
The festival was of such gargantuan proportions that an article covering it in its entirety would be impossible. While attending, one must assume an air of spontaneity due to the haphazard nature of the event. Consequently, to capture Langerado'strue essence, I can only muse on my own peculiar experiences. The following ill attempt to give you a true sense of having been there.
After leaving at 1:30 pm on Thursday afternoon, driving for five hours through rain and rush hour, waiting in four hours of festival gate traffic, and not getting my tent set up until midnight, I began to wonder if rescheduling my exams was really worth it.
Upon arrival, the perhaps ultimate nugget of knowledge to hold was that you were to befriend your neighbors but they were not to be trusted.
No matter if it was daylight or pitch black, whether you used landmarks or familiar paths, or even if you pushed the panic button on your keys, you got lost looking for your tent. The vast labyrinth of the tent city created the illusion of simultaneous familiarity and misplacement, which felt like home by Sunday.
Now in its 6th year, the Langerado Music Festival has become the unofficial "kickoff" to festival season in the United States. The four day festival began when two jam band fanatics, who happened to be promoters, wanted a jam band festival. They got one, and it has grown into one of the U.S.'s largest and most eclectic music festivals.
Langerado brought every college student's spring break fantasy to life: binge drinking, illicit drugs, and sexual promiscuity were only minute details of the ultimate big spring break experience. Centering itself around friendship and universal acceptance, the festival's goal, which resonated in its attendees, was to get back to the most natural form of music appreciation.
The festival was of such gargantuan proportions that an article covering it in its entirety would be impossible. While attending, one must assume an air of spontaneity due to the haphazard nature of the event. Consequently, to capture Langerado'strue essence, I can only muse on my own peculiar experiences. The following ill attempt to give you a true sense of having been there.
After leaving at 1:30 pm on Thursday afternoon, driving for five hours through rain and rush hour, waiting in four hours of festival gate traffic, and not getting my tent set up until midnight, I began to wonder if rescheduling my exams was really worth it.
Upon arrival, the perhaps ultimate nugget of knowledge to hold was that you were to befriend your neighbors but they were not to be trusted.
No matter if it was daylight or pitch black, whether you used landmarks or familiar paths, or even if you pushed the panic button on your keys, you got lost looking for your tent. The vast labyrinth of the tent city created the illusion of simultaneous familiarity and misplacement, which felt like home by Sunday.
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