It’s natural for music festivals to put music at the center of their priorities, but at Northern Nights it’s not that simple.

This is primarily because many come to the event straddling the Humboldt-Mendocino Counties for the cannabis as they do for the music, so attention is split between the stage productions and the many varied cannabis offerings. at the festival. The 2022 iteration was no exception either. In fact, this past weekend, the kaleidoscopic forest rave used the same two-pronged approach to stage its most evolved and integrated event yet.

Making more than a few major leaps from previous editions of the now paradigmatic music festival, 2022 was not just a triumphant post-pandemic return. For the ragtag group of dance-music-loving misfits-turned-world-class event producers behind Northern Nights, it’s a homecoming that made them all such good friends in the first place. Perhaps most importantly, the event hosted the first cannabis dispensary to be placed near a stage in music festival history, marking this year as a victory for cannabis advocates and their allies everywhere. California.

Balancing cannabis with good music

Among the many unique experiences at Northern Nights this year, customers could purchase cannabis-infused food and drink to enjoy during the sho, or browse merchandise from a variety of local cannabis brands for an upscale smoking experience. range. For those in the know, it was a collection of the who’s who of the cannabis industry.

The music also brought together a cavalcade of genre-transcending artists like Claude VonStroke, TroyBoi, CloZee, Two Feet, Balkan Bump and Of The Trees delivered more wallops than Domino’s does pepperonis. Perhaps the hottest of these was the Sunday River plateau of EDM.com The Class of 2022 artist Wreckno, which broke out less like a conventional, bass-driven dance party and more like a scrum of thrown donkeys with more vigor than dodgeballs.

Small scenes with big love

When the stars came out, the trees were bathed in a warm, incandescent glow and the Bunker stage became a hub of nightly shenanigans. The evenings were made even more special by the increased presence of sanctioned renegades in the campgrounds. Where main stages can put pressure on DJs to unleash a top notch performance, these teams have encouraged entertainment fans to be themselves and the end result is always easy to hear.

In the end, some of the best sets of Northern Nights 2022 were the product of these local dancefloors. Submerged Sessions, EPIC, Octopus Garden and Good Vibe Collective are just a few of the hard-hitting underground crews that provided a full complement to the weekend’s sublime vibe.

“What really made this year special was the support of small sound camps and immersive spaces from the Northern Nights organization, which added new dimensions to the festival and helped the event continue to grow in a organic and exciting,” said Submerged Sessions Co-Founder Bailey Woolsey. “Each year our scene and camp has grown immensely, and next year we only plan to go bigger and better.”

cool captions

Highlights included more than a few of Northern California’s local legends. Just as the name suggests, Chocolate Sushi was a multi-course bite full of the unexpected, filled with savory morsels and seasoned with spicy dance moves. Out of the Insomniac Discovery project, he dropped his new collaboration with A-Rival, “Same Shit, Different Night” in addition to bangers like Chris Lorenzo’s “Mami”.

Between DJ Cootdog’s role as the host of radio station Chico Power1021 and his signature showmanship with live reggaeton band, Mystic Roots, his name is household name across much of Northern California. What many may not know is that the guy has impeccable bravado behind the decks and a selection of sweet bits that pack more flavor than a fresh face cake.

Another act with a high-octane flare was Temple Denver light and laser magician Anthny.jacobs. During his River staging, this prince of pyrophoric changes managed to glide effortlessly from island bass to drum & bass to soul. He even hit some beefy transitions that would normally trip other music production maestros like a launching pad to the stars.

Even a first-time DJ and iconoclast known among audiophiles, Lyja became an overnight legend with her encyclopedic knowledge of electronic music and a medley of incendiary tracks, like Medlar’s space remix of Crazy’s “The Witness.” P and Catz ‘n Dogz bouncing anthem “Chucky73 – Bzrp 43.”

Obviously, these are just a few of the many new artists and crew that showed up at Northern Nights this weekend, but as more and more side-stages appear in the campgrounds in the years to come , the music festival’s tradition of cultivating family in friendships continues. growing up.

For more information on Northern Nights Music Festival, visit the links below.

FOLLOW NORTHERN NIGHTS:

Website: Northernnights.org
Facebook: facebook.com/NorthernNightsMusicFestival
Instagram: instagram.com/nnmfestival
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NNMFestival