A month ago, Oregon’s What the Festival dropped their first wave lineup to massive fanfare. Bringing notable live artist Zhu, Claude Von Stroke’s new alias Barclay Crenshaw, legendary electro-funk artist Gramatik, and many more, the first wave was enough to whip everyone into a frenzy. People are now cementing their travel plans to come to the PNW from all over, and discover what we all find so special about it.
Now, just a month later they’ve dropped the second and final wave of artists, and, we gotta tell you, it’s one of the most impressive PNW festival lineups of 2017. The initial lineup had so much content, it was hard to imagine it getting more impressive. With new editions like glitch hop prodigy and Glitch Mob alum edIT, who if you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing before, we highly recommend. His sunset set at Shambhala Music Festival in 2008 is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful moments of that year. Blending glitch hop and melodic rhythms, edIT’s music is honestly impossible not to move you.
Not to mention keyboard virtuoso Haywyre, who is making a name for himself, with his wild stage presence and tight live sets. Plus, All Good Records star Manic Focus, who’s risen to the top of his game with his incredible style of genre-bending bass music. Other artists include hip hop prodigy Lafa Taylor, the inimitable talent of NastyNasty, and the melodic sounds of Big Wild. When you add in the various lineup of talented locals and up and comers, you’ve got yourself a festival lineup for everyone.
The festival’s mission is simple, “[they] want to move your bodies, senses, and souls. We want you to leave feeling connected and to be inspired from your full immersion into art, music, and community.”, the website boasts. The festival itself started from the organizers years of involvement with Burning Man, and soon became a full fledged festival in 2012. Hosted at White River Canyon first, before moving to it’s home to Wolf Run Ranch, where it has stayed ever since.
Five years later, What The Festival has grown but the boutique experience has not disappeared. As our pack grows larger, so do our hearts, and we invite you to participate to the fullest.” – What the Festival Website
Beyond the music, the festival also features art installations from all over the PNW, vendors selling food, jewelry, clothing, and everything in between. Plus, an amazing family of conscious festival-goers that really seal in the What the Festival experience. This is one event to watch this year. As it continues to grow, it’s going to find itself at the top of the heap, a true innovator. Check out the 2016 after-movie below!
Tickets are available here. Plus, you can apply to become involved as a visual artist, staff member, media presence, performing artist, and more. You can even apply to lead a workshop, and you can find that page right here.
So who’s gonna find themselves on the ranch this year? Let us know in the comments!
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