2010 Reviews
LostInSound.org’s 3-part Series on The Big Up 2010
Ranchin’ around the Big Up pt.1
“There aren’t too many first year festival success stories. Lets be real- music festival production is no walk in the lot. It usually takes years in the hole, and serious time spent learning from mistakes, to create a sustainable, reciprocal environment for festival goers. It seems to be becoming more and more difficult to find a safe and welcoming venue for these important gatherings of artists, musicians and the creative counterculture. I guess having thousands of folks getting rowdy, raging around the clock and bumping beats into the stratosphere isn’t for everybody. Luckily, for East Coast natives and heads from all over, The Big Up Festival held it down…” click image for more
Ranchin’ around the Big Up pt.2
“… First off, I was impressed by how much of a blast the band had playing. They couldn’t help but smile constantly and laugh often- but who wouldn’t with that circus of a crowd?! Todd Stoops’ feathered hair blew in the wind as his keys dictated the set’s mood. Between being the keyboardist for RAQ and the band Kung Fu, I am a believer in Stoops. There were points in the set when it would sound serene, bubbly, tronced and straight Rock n Roll. They were scheduled to take a break between sets, but the Big Up was all about keeping it moving and so RAQ moved directly into their second set. “A little more music and a little less break, so if you were planning on a break, too bad!” one of the members said, as Michetti’s guitar wailed off into an absurd version of “Space.” …” click image for more
Colossal Rising – The Big Up 2010
“… Reaching Ghent, NY and immediately being welcomed with helping hands, power drills, and cheery vibes on a beautiful summer day was one of my top experiences of Summer 2010 (a summer that one hippie proclaimed “was bringing it back to The Summer of Love”). The LostinSound crew was up there early to set up our Dome, so the Lost Tribe could resume it’s shenanigans once again. Shireworks Productions had already been hard at work on the festival grounds for many months and it showed. The forest was cleared for camping, a barn & horse stable were in the process of being decorated to psychedelic proportions, and woodwork (fencing, fire pits, and installments) filled the estate. Clearly, keeping intimacy and the pure homegrown feel was their top priority…” click image for more
Big Ups to the Big Up from Treeshurts
“… Another feature that I liked about this venue was the woods camping had really cool trails that were lit by generators at night time and offered plenty of space for people to set up camp. Woods camping at any festival all ways provides an interesting blend of chaos mixed with chillness. Rothbury had their stages setup throughout the woods but you couldn’t camp in there and anyone who attended Berkfest in the early 2000′s knows how crazy it can get when you pack them into the woods of a venue. Luckily for us and the Big Up, it was just the right mix of headiness and chillness and even in the woods you could catch some afternoon shade peacefully. click image for more
MusicMarauder’s Friday Review
“… The Breakfast broke from their last song and yelled to the crowd, “This place has some great energy and we’re picking up the vibes! It’s going to be a great weekend!” Emancipator followed which helped The Breakfast’s statement about a great weekend as it seemed all the more true. The true party people of the festival rocked Emancipators hour long set of spacey jams and mixes which seemed to take on a much more personal level as he mixed them live on stage… When I came to the festival I truly thought that nonstop music might have been a little much for three days of coverage, but after the first night, it might not be enough. Along with boasting and an incredibly nice group of people working their butts off, the Big Up clearly thought of those in attendance as the first night of music left many wanting more. After the first day of music, I couldn’t have agreed more with The Breakfast when they said, “It’s going to be a great weekend!” click image for more
MusicMarauder’s Saturday Review
“… With the sun set, and the long-sleeve-breeze rolling in from the mountains, the first band to truly benefit from the incredible light show took to the stage. Higher Organix provided an all improv set featuring a mix of horns, bass, guitar, and drums. The band’s bassist, Brian Ross, really stood out during most of the jams in the set. He seemed to have a funky line for piece of fusion/trance the band came up with and continued to keep a groove throughout the set. The crowd certainly took advantage of Ross’ bass as it melted into a mix of customs and glow sticks in front of the stage. As Higher Organix rocked the night in from the stage, campers and staff worked to resurrect the giant bonfire which was located a 100 yards from the Big Up Stage. It provided the perfect sanctuary from those in the crowd looking for a break. Despite the growing bonfire, the energy from the stage seemed to grow with every song. Higher Organix blew things up with the last portion of their show and left most of the bonfire crowd returning to the stage…” click image for more
Live Music News and Review’s Big Up 2010 write-up:
“… So my wife and I left New England in the late afternoon and had a leisurely drive down the Mass Pike and into NY State, then wound through back roads to get to Sunnyside Farm. After checking in at the gate, we parked really easily and sauntered up to the concert field. I was a little bummed because I wanted to be there an hour earlier to catch Roots of Creation, but we didn’t move as quickly as I had hoped we would. But as luck would have it, as soon as we hit the field, Roots of Creation started. They were in fine form, enjoying a stage and production level that was far above what you would expect from this first year festival. It was a stage and system appropriate for a show twenty times the size of the Big Up, and you can tell that the promoters made every single effort that they could to super size this show from a production standpoint. A crowd of probably six hundred people were stageside, and Roots of Creation fired through a great set… The Big Up was very impressive. A great staff, a perfect festival site, and amazing production all came together to feature amazing talent performing at their highest levels. I would not hesitate for a second to go to any event that Shire Works was putting on, knowing that next year’s Big Up is going to be Bigger and Upper…” click image for more