Preview : Pink Moon Festival 8
Sept. 15 – 19 2016
By B. A. Jones
September is here, and the weather is perfect for a festival, especially if that festival is in West Virginia. For many folks, September means Pink Moon is their last hurrah, their festival cherry atop their 2016 pie. With warm (not hot) days and slightly chilly nights, WV is the ideal place to have a music festival during hurricane season. September 15 through 19 you can experience live music 24 hours a day, for 4 days and nights straight, with No Overlapping Sets! This will be my first time attending, and I feel like I’ve been missing out on something very special! I have numerous friends who go each year, and I still don’t know why I’ve never been… Since I haven’t gotten to see The Mantras at a festival yet this year, I knew this is my year! It also looks like the weather the entire time this year will be glorious.
There are 100 bands playing this event, and with non- stop music, the gate price of $100 on Thursday Sept. 15th is a steal. That’s $1 a band!!! The Mantras are my favorite band, and a huge reason I wanted to go. Then I saw their extremely amazing line-up, and got really excited! I have only heard 12 of the 100 bands, but they are great, so I’m sure the rest of the bands are of the same caliber. This means I get to experience new- to- me music, and get turned on to some really fantastic bands I may not otherwise get to see; in every genre plausible. I love Galaxy Dynamite and Octopus, both from Norfolk, VA. and am thrilled I finally get to see them again at Pink Moon 8! I can’t wait to see Sol Roots again, and Dale & The Z Dubs- that Dale is a wild and talented guy, entertaining on and off stage. I got turned onto The Southern Belles earlier this year, and they are superb. I adore The Brokedown Hustlers, and wish they were booked at every music festival! Urban Soil, from Raleigh NC is another favorite of mine I’m happy to see on the line- up. As well as Deaf Scene, ThreeSound, Opposite Box, Mister F, and the always incredible The Manor & Friends!
Pink Moon is held at Flint Rock Hollow Farm, in Rock Camp, WV (Monroe Co.). The gates open up at 9 am Thursday Sept. 15 (unless you are VIP, then you can enter Wednesday evening). The gates stay open until 2 am each night, except Sat. when they close at 11pm. Another huge plus, is you can bring your pets for the small fee of $25 per pet. There is a family camping area so the little ones can sleep, and there’s also a plant swap! You can bring cuttings of houseplants to trade with other enthusiasts. I had a plant swap at The Big What this year, and it was a success. I still have a few succulents I’ve rooted and planted in tiny flower pots, so I plan on dropping them off at the swap. There will be artists painting live, performance art, and interactive art, as well as the Pink Moon Hoop Troupe to keep us entertained. There are workshops organized and hosted by Illumination Station, so stop by their dome at Pink Moon 8, and get workshop descriptions and schedule.
Gate prices are $100 Thursday Sept. 15, $90 Friday Sept. 16, & $75 on Sat. Sept. 17. I have a feeling Pink Moon has steadily grown in attendance each year, and their family is only going to get bigger. So car pool with a friend or two, and I hope to see you there. I plan on spending quality time with some good friends, and meeting more terrific people to call friends when it’s over. Here’s all their websites and social media information, as well as where to buy your tickets on-line, before the event.
B. A. Jones
For pre- party tickets, buy them at www.pinkmoonfestival.com/pm_tickets.php
On Facebook @ Pink Moon Festival 8
On Instagram : @pinkmoonfestival
Snap Chat : pinkmoonfest
Twitter : @pinkmoonfest
#CantWaitForPinkMoon8
