Outside Lands' SOMA Tent Closes Twice for Repairs, Reopens as "Open-Air House Party"

Outside Lands’ popular SOMA Tent was reportedly reopened as an “open-air house party” over the weekend after shutting down to address structural issues and safety. 

Attendees were forced to evacuate on two separate occasions on Friday and Saturday so team members could address “a necessary repair” after the festival sent out a notification via an app,” the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Outside Lands has not provided an official statement addressing the issue, but Los Angeles-based artist Justin Jay, who was set to perform at the SOMA Tent on August 11th, took to social media to claim that the “floor gave in.”

Rising DJ Disco Lines, the last artist to perform inside the venue, echoed Jay’s sentiments, saying “we literally broke the stage.”

View the original article to see embedded media.

The repairs were addressed and SOMA Tent was reopened the next day for a few hours, but then closed again “out of an abundance of caution.”

“The stage just absolutely folded,” an attendee told the Chronicle. “There were a few people, probably, with some sprained ankles, but we all just kind of funneled our way out.”

After the unexpected delays and reshuffling, SOMA was ultimately repurposed as an outdoor stage for Outside Lands’ final day.

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Greta Van Fleet’s Josh Kiszka says “huge weight was lifted” after coming out


Greta Van Fleet‘s frontman Josh Kiszka has shared that it felt like a “huge weight was lifted” after he came out as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

  • READ MORE: Five things we learned from our In Conversation video chat with Greta Van Fleet

The singer took to his Instagram back in June to write that he has been “in a loving, same-sex relationship with my partner for the past 8 years”. He also said that those close to him were aware but “it’s important to me to share publicly”.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Kiszka said he was concerned he would have a target on his back: “You really feel that way, which is unfortunate, but it’s true.”

@sweetpeasalena

A fan group passed out thousands of slips of paper last njght in Nashville to create the rainbow during Light My Love. It made me weep to see an arena full of people support Josh – and the entire queer community- with such love. I hope @Greta Van Fleet had as much fun as I did. It was amazing! #gretavanfleet #doitjakey #nashville #pride

♬ original sound – SweetPeaSaLena

He continued: “Everything had been met with love and acceptance and humility and respect, and that was a huge wave of reassurance that things are moving in the right direction. As a performer and as an entertainer, a huge weight was lifted. Because ultimately as an artist or just as a person, we all want to be understood to some degree.”

Elsewhere in the interview, he recalled how at the band’s show on July 24 in Nashville, Tennessee, fans held up coloured pieces of paper in front of their phone flashlights in order to create a rainbow-coloured effect around the venue.

Kiszka said he became emotional during the performance due to the support from their fans. “The fact that that many people could communicate and coordinate to make that happen was extraordinary,” he said.

“It was really difficult for me to keep it together, and this sounds very deep, but the song took on new meaning in that moment. I explained to the audience that I hope that maybe one day it’ll be irrelevant when [I’m singing] ‘Hate bound by fear will unwind.’ When you say words like that, you realize that you’re in the middle of a movement.”

Greta Van Fleet are currently on tour, with their next show taking place on September 3 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They are set to make stops in New York City, Boston, Cleveland, Amsterdam, London and more. Visit here for any remaining tickets.





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Skrillex to Headline 2024 FriendShip Festival With DJ Set on Private Island

The organizers of FriendShip have dropped anchor on a lineup of epic proportions for the 2024 return of their beloved floating festival.

After last year’s “surprise lineup,” which wasn’t revealed until the event’s start, Destructo and friends are all hands on deck. FriendShip 2024 will feature Chris Lake, Boys Noize, Bob Moses, Chris Lorenzo, Todd Edwards, Nina Las Vegas, Nitepunk and EDM.com Class of 2023 star A Hundred Drums, among many others.

The lineup’s unquestioned pièce de résistance, however, is Skrillex. We’re told the electronic music icon has been confirmed to perform an “exclusive” headlining set during a 24-hour party on Belize’s Harvest Caye, an idyllic private island owned by Norwegian Cruise Line. Destructo will also perform one of his signature “Sunrise Sermon” sets on the island.

This year’s lineup goes well beyond the music. Famed model and burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese will present “Shipteese,” a special cabaret show, while comedians Nick Thune and Martin Urbano will perform standup sets. A pro skate team will also be onboard to carry out exciting stunts.

Harvest Caye, a private island in Belize owned by Norwegian Cruise Line.

c/o Press

The team behind FriendShip is also entering uncharted waters this year by reeling in the leviathan Norwegian Joy ship, the largest vessel in the festival’s history. It’s the same cruise-liner Insomniac is using for the inaugural EDSea, the promoter’s brand-new floating festival, which is scheduled for November 2023.

The ship will embark from Miami on January 6th, 2024 and sail through the Caribbean, making a stop in Belize for the Harvest Caye party before returning on January 11th.

You can purchase passes to FriendShip 2024 here and check out the full lineup below.

The 2024 FriendShip lineup features Skrillex, Chris Lake, Boys Noize, Bob Moses, Dita Von Teese and more.

c/o Press

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Kat Nova: Captivating Audiences on Global Stages


Celebrated DJ and producer Kat Nova has spent years perfecting her craft, creating musical experiences that have thrilled audiences across the world. Known for her unique fusion of house music and various other genres, Nova’s performances have become a spectacle for fans and music lovers alike.

 

Her journey has seen her grace some of the most prestigious stages in the world. Notably, Nova’s residencies at Drai’s and Encore Beach Club/XS at Wynn Nightlife in Las Vegas left indelible marks on her career, helping her forge a distinctive musical identity. These residencies, along with performances at globally recognized music festivals like EDC, Ultra, and Life in Color, have helped Kat build a devoted fanbase who eagerly anticipate her dynamic live shows.

 

One of Nova’s most memorable moments came during a festival performance, where she was deeply immersed in the audience, embodying her mantra of being one with the music and her fans. It’s moments like these that highlight Nova’s dedication to her craft and her connection with her audience.

 

As Kat Nova continues her musical journey, she leaves no stone unturned in her quest to deliver unforgettable performances. With every show she plays, Nova continues to impress, making a lasting impact on the global music scene. Her career serves as a testament to her talent, passion, and unwavering dedication to her craft. Fans around the world eagerly await her next performance, ready to be captivated by her genre-blending artistry once again.





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Elliott Smith’s pre-solo band Heatmiser announce rarities compilation


Elliott Smith‘s pre-solo band Heatmiser has announced the forthcoming release of a new rarities compilation.

  • READ MORE: 50 years of Elliott Smith: the tender songwriter’s greatest tracks, as nominated by his close friends and fans

Teaming up with Third Man Records, ‘The Music of Heatmiser’ will feature 29 songs. Heatmiser originally distributed the new compilation as a 6-song cassette at local record stores and shows as a way to promote the band ahead of the release of their debut album, 1993’s ‘Dead Air’.

Co-founding singer-guitarist Neil Gust revealed that this compilation came together thanks to the band’s drummer Tony Lash. The LP will include 23 additional demos, live tracks, rare versions and previously unreleased songs. As a teaser, Third Man Records has shared the track ‘Lowlife’ along with a video of the band performing the song in Fort Collins, Colorado.

“Tony found a bunch of forgotten recordings and started mixing them and sending them to me. We were struck by the freewheeling energy of the band; you could hear how much fun we were having,” Gust said in a press release.

He continued: “In 1992, we could barely afford the studio, so it all had to be done really fast. When we put the cassette together, we wanted it to start like a punch in the face. That’s ‘Lowlife’.”

Heatmiser released three studio albums, 1993’s ‘Dead Air’, 1994’s ‘Cop And Speeder’ and 1996’s ‘Mic City Sons’, before disbanding in 1996. The band were inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in 2015, 12 years after Smith’s tragic death.

‘The Music of Heatmiser’ is set for release on October 6 via Third Man Records. Pre-order the album here.

Earlier this year, six albums recorded by Smith in high school between 1985 and 1989 surfaced online.

The six records were obtained and distributed by a fan of Smith’s from Texas called Cameron McCrary. The fan contacted local record stores in Portland, where Smith spent much of his life, and hunted on Discogs to find the albums. Finally, Lash, the drummer on several of the albums, sold his copies to McCrary, while other recordings were found over the span of two years.

Back in 2020, Smith’s self-titled second album was reissued to mark its 25th anniversary. It came backed with a new live album called ‘Live At Umbra Penumbra’, which was recorded at the titular Portland cafe in September 1994.

Last year, Bright Eyes covered Smith’s ‘St. Ides Heaven’ as part of a special reissue of their 1998 album ‘Letting Off The Happiness’. The cover appeared on the ‘Letting Off The Happiness: A Companion’ release that was part of the band’s project of reissuing all nine of their studio albums with a companion EP.





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Dirtybird Drops 10-Track House Compilation and Takes Flight for Fall U.S. Tour

Claude VonStroke’s Dirtybird is a melting pot of left-field tech house music, stellar sound design and playful culture, stirred together to create the ultimate oddball party atmosphere.

From Mike Kerrigan’s vivacious VIP mix of “I Caught A Vibe” with Claude VonStroke to n808’s dynamic track “The Cat’s Pajamas” and Two Tails’ quirky “Mind Game,” the 10-track Dirtybird Players Compilation highlights the label’s soaring capabilities. It embodies a fresh, forward-thinking and innovative spirit, shaking things up while staying true to Dirtybird’s signature style.

Elsewhere on the compilation, Bruno Furlan’s long-awaited VIP mix of “Another Planet” with DJ Glen is a show-stopper, putting an energetic and unique spin on the Brazilian duo’s 2019 house hit.

The compilation has dropped just in time for the “Dirtybird Players” tour, which will take VonStroke and friends across the country this fall. A decade ago, he launched the very first Dirtybird Players lineup to showcase the imprint’s house talents, and now the flock’s newer additions will demonstrate the label’s trajectory for the future.

Listen to the Dirtybird Players Compilation below and secure tickets to the fall tour here.

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Experiencing Tomorrowland in person surpasses any and all expectations [Review] – Dancing Astronaut


There’s still an incredibly vivid memory that I have of watching the Tomorrowland livestream on July 26, 2013 in my childhood home. Hardwell had just come on right as the sun in Belgium started to set. And during that hour and a half of golden age bigroom—and one of the festival’s single most iconic performances in its near two-decade history—I said that I eventually wanted to make the trip out to Boom.

Exactly a decade later—almost to the day—I was finally able to turn that bucket list dream into a fully-fledged reality. After taking some time to thoroughly process everything that had happened, I wanted to properly recap my first-ever Tomorrowland experience.

For full transparency, I was incredibly fortunate to attend as press through Dancing Astronaut. Obviously just the trip to Europe itself can be costly aside from the fact that it’d already taken me 10 years to actually make it happen. To shed some light on some of the details of the trip itself (since we didn’t travel through Global Journey), we flew into Paris before taking a Thalys train to Brussels. That was the cheaper option at the time versus flying directly into Brussels, but we ultimately felt that we didn’t save enough money to justify the length and time of the commute, which was about nine hours from New York to the hotel. And while we didn’t have the opportunity to spend the weekend living at Dreamville, we were fortunate enough to stay at a hotel near the Brussels Airport, which was available for media by the Tomorrowland team. And I had just wanted to share a quick moment of appreciation for LunchBox, considering I brought along a LunchBox Hydration Pack (after my original CamelBak of seven years finally gave out on me), which ended up as a saving grace throughout the weekend.

Leading up to July, I genuinely wasn’t sure if I’d ever have the chance to make it back to Boom considering it had taken me a decade to even attend once. I focused every second of the trip, not taking a millisecond of the weekend for granted. Not long into the first day of weekend two, I became convinced that if things worked out the way they did this year, Tomorrowland was something I wanted to do again.

From just trekking across the festival grounds, it immediately became clear that Tomorrowland isn’t even playing the same game as every other major festival. It felt miles and miles above anything I’d ever done before, which isn’t a knock in the slightest to festivals like Ultra or EDC Las Vegas. Tomorrowland is just a festival environment of a scale I hadn’t previously been a part of.

And just the sheer size of Tomorrowland’s layout wasn’t something I’d fully grasped before actually being there, although photos had given me somewhat of a rough idea. But despite how unfathomably massive the venue is (34 hectares of space, which is the equivalent of 63 football fields, via the Tomorrowland team) Tomorrowland still felt so wildly immersive. It admittedly takes a hot second to travel from stage to stage, but simply doing that—even in the pouring rain on Sunday—didn’t feel like a chore as it normally does elsewhere. Tomorrowland actually rents out a public park in Boom each year, and it fills the space between the stages with everything from art installations to a variety of drink stands to an untold number of food options—both of which were expectedly cheaper than options in the U.S.—to even a postcard booth where you can mail out a Tomorrowland-branded letter anywhere in the world free of charge.

A top priority of the weekend was simple: explore. And throughout the weekend—rather than sticking to a strict schedule of sets like I normally do at festivals—that’s what I was able to do. Every single stage felt so carefully designed, each had its own unique environment, feel, style of music and even crowd energy. The cherry on top had to be that last piece, with the crowd across the entire festival elevating the experience in a way that was different than almost anything I had been a part of elsewhere festival wise. It’s unbelievably cliche to say but everyone felt present and actually enjoying the moment rather than showing up to party or take some Instagram stories (something I’ve seen way too often at events specifically in New York). Those in attendance at Third Party’s set at The Rose Garden on Sunday can wholly attest to the above; the crowd delivered an electric reaction regardless of what was being played—even singing along to their unreleased ID with Martin Garrix—as the rain poured down in buckets. Even on a day where the weather wasn’t in our favor, Tomorrowland felt just as amazing as it had the previous two days.

There’s a million different things that could be said about the sets themselves so I’ll attempt to keep this part short and sweet. When comparing the sets at Tomorrowland to those at a festival like Ultra, it definitely felt like I was less focused on exactly was playing at that point in time and more geared towards just enjoying it. Opening my weekend with both Korolova at Crystal Garden into an hour of pure progressive bliss from Matisse & Sadko on the mainstage was about as perfect as it conceivably gets. And as the weekend continued, I checked off bucket list moment after bucket list moment, including finally witnessing Hardwell at the Tomorrowland mainstage exactly one decade after that 2013 set convinced me to go, witnessing Alesso play “Calling (Lose My Mind),” and—of course—experiencing Martin Garrix shut down the weekend, to highlight a few. But as mentioned before, a primary focus of the weekend was exploration beyond the jaw-dropping mainstage. And I was able to witness so many other memorable sets around the holy grounds that truly brought the entire weekend together. Some of those sets included Vintage Culture and Kevin de Vries at Crystal Garden, Matroda and Tony Romera at The Library, Honey Dijon at the CORE stage (a stage I made it a mission to visit at least once), Enrico Sangiuliano at Atmosphere, Gorgon City at Rise, Boris Brejcha at Freedom, AN21 at The Rose Garden, and still a handful of other stages like Youphoria, The Rave Cave, and Elixir. But while Tomorrowland may have one structure that’s explicitly labeled as its center point, the term “side stages” doesn’t remotely feel applicable considering the level of intricacy and production of each stage.

I knew going into my first Tomorrowland that the weekend would go by a lot quicker than I’d want—that’s usually how festival weekends go. But this one definitely felt more like a blur than normal. And even with more than a week having now passed, it’s still taking some time to fully process everything that happened considering it was almost sensory overload during those three days.

What I can confirm though—and I pretty much knew it by the time Hardwell had ended—was that Tomorrowland not only lives up to the excitement that everyone talks about, it blows lightyears past it. Countless people had shared past experiences and tips with me in the months leading up to my first-ever trip to Boom, but in the end, nothing could have realistically prepared me for actually being there in person. It was unbelievably surreal to physically stand in a place that I’d only seen photos and videos of for 10 years. And as I rewatch the hundreds upon hundreds of videos that now live on my camera roll, the goal to travel back to the holy grounds in the coming years only grows tenfold.

Featured image: Alive Coverage

Tags: tomorrowland

Categories: Features





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Behind the Scenes: Unveiling the Creative Process at What You Want Productions


In a world that thrives on spectacle and storytelling, the artistry behind event production can turn a simple gathering into an otherworldly experience. Behind each unforgettable moment, there’s a meticulous, multi-layered process that merges innovation, creativity, and strategic execution.

 

In the vast realm of event production, the Los Angeles-based What You Want Productions has recently emerged as a dynamic powerhouse. This company has mastered the art of curating extraordinary events that linger in the audience’s memories, a beautiful symphony of meticulous execution and unbridled imagination.

 

At the helm of this creative tour de force are the founders Kym Wollner and Brandon Wollner.  With years of diverse experience under their belts,  they weave together unique skill sets to elevate each project. 

 

“Every client has a story to tell, and our role is to help them articulate that story in the most engaging, visually stunning way possible,” Kym says.

 

The creative process at What You Want Productions begins with concept development—an immersive exploration of the client’s vision. Brainstorming sessions unfold, resembling creative battlegrounds where ideas are proposed, examined, and refined. 

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As Brandon explains, “The client’s voice is something like a guiding light. They inspire us, and we strive to breathe life into their unique vision.”

 

As the concept evolves into a concrete plan, the team’s expertise in content creation takes center stage. The transformation demands meticulous planning, expert logistics, and innovative technology. Their skill in content creation shines through each step, from drafting scripts and editing videos to designing eye-catching graphics and creating an immersive audiovisual journey. 

 

“The magic isn’t just about what you see on stage,” Kym says. “It’s about what’s behind it – the technology, the hard work, and our team’s dedication to each event.”

 

Integral to What You Want Productions’ methodology is ensuring the final event resonates with the client’s vision is crucial. This step involves rigorous refining—much like polishing a diamond until it gleams flawlessly.

 

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“Our job isn’t complete until the client sees their dream actualized,” Brandon reiterates, “Their satisfaction is what truly drives our success.”

 

Another key component of the company’s business model is the collaborative process. What You Want Productions often engages a network of professionals, from videographers and decorators to photographers, to ensure a harmonious fusion of creativity.

 

“Our collaborative approach amplifies our ability to make each event unique and unforgettable,” Kym shares. “We thrive on the blend of perspectives and talents, making sure to maintain an atmosphere of mutual respect and create a breathtaking spectacle in the process.”

 

Without a doubt, through every stage of the creative process, What You Want Productions embodies the essence of its name. They strive to deliver what people want, and the end product—be it a corporate event, a wedding, or a concert—is invariably an awe-inspiring masterpiece of careful planning, creative execution, and client satisfaction.

 

For those looking to translate dreams into reality, the message is clear: What You Want Productions doesn’t just create events—they create unforgettable experiences.

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So, when the stage lights dim and the applause begins, people rest assured that their vision is brought to life exactly as they imagined—perhaps, even better.





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Watch The Hives join band covering them in the street outside Liverpool signing session


The Hives have surprised a band covering them in Liverpool by joining them for a rendition of ‘Hate To Say I Told You So’. Check out footage of the moment below.

The moment took place outside one of the band’s signing sessions in Liverpool yesterday (August 15), in support of their latest album ‘The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons’.

During the signing session, Lancashire stoner rock band Sky Valley Mistress pulled up in a hearse on Slater Street where the event was taking place, and parked in front of the store to break out some of the band’s most famous tracks.

The hearse in which they arrived – fitting with the title of The Hives’ latest album – was styled out with their band name and sound system, and the female-led band set up their equipment on the street, drawing a crowd as they began playing.

As the members of the Swedish indie rock group arrived, Sky Valley Mistress began playing their 2000 hit, ‘Hate To Say I Told You So’ – leading to the original members singing along from the pavement.

As seen with clips shared online, frontman Pelle Almqvist also walked over and shared the mic with the band’s lead singer. Last night, The Hives shared footage of the moment to their social media channels, tagging the band in the caption. Check it out above.

Sky Valley Mistress also shared shots of the surprise collaboration on Instagram, showing both images of the performance and the two line-ups posing together after the set.

“Thank you to @thehives for coming out with their fans to see our gig outside Mr Kebab last night,” they wrote in the caption. Find the collection of images below.

In other Hives news, earlier today the band announced an intimate concert in Brighton, set to take place tonight (August 16).

The indie band will perform at Chalk and tickets are available from Resident Records here. Fans can purchase tickets directly or with a signed CD and ticket bundle or signed LP and ticket bundle.

In a four-star review of the band’s new album ‘The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons’, NME described the LP as “playful, juvenile and nails the brief”.

It added: “Having spent 11 years away from the studio, The Hives zapped straight back into the only mode they know: pure pandemonium. It’s about time new generations received this healthy dose of old school Hives, packed with the same intensity, goofiness – and of course, the matching black and white suits.”

Speaking to NME recently, lead singer Pelle Almqvist described the album as “fucking stupid and childish”. “The punk songs on this album are almost worse than our first record. ‘The Bomb’ and ‘Trapdoor Solution’ are almost like us reaching the ceiling of it,” he added.

Elsewhere in the discussion, the band also spoke about the indie sleaze era and reflected on supporting Arctic Monkeys on their UK and Ireland stadium tour this summer.





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Diplo's Upcoming Musical Cruise Will Take Fans on Weeklong Expedition to Antarctica

You might want to pack a jacket for this one.

While Diplo has certainly performed in some interesting places throughout his decades-long career, his latest announcement is going to be difficult to top. In December 2023, he’ll team up with Secular Sabbath and Insider Expeditions for a seven-day musical cruise to the frigid waters of Antarctica.

Diplo is hosting the once-in-a-lifetime event in support of Ocean Conservancy, an organization dedicated to protecting the ocean and the wildlife who call it home.

Tickets are incredibly expensive due to the extravagant nature of the event, but the list of activities is truly something to behold.

Prospective attendees will have the opportunity to see three live performances from Diplo, sit down with him for a dinner and Q&A session, and even go on a boat ride with him depending on their ticketing tier. Pass-holders will also be able to enjoy yoga and breathwork workshops, excursions in Antarctica and more.

Diplo and Secular Sabbath will cruise through Antarctica from December 13-20. Due to the lavish nature of the experience, tickets begin at $15,999 and only a limited number are available. You can learn more about the event here.

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