Okeechobee Fest: World Class Music In Our Backyard
This weekend, take a little road trip south to check out Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival, Florida's newest and greatest cultural mega event taking place at Sunshine Grove on over 800 acres of pristine grasslands, clear lakes, and exotic tropical woodlands. Check out all the details after the jump!
Florida’s been waiting for this!
On March 3rd of 2016 at 12 noon, gates opened to Sunshine Grove, the home of the first annual Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival. Located in Central Florida (12517 NE 91st Avenue, Okeechobee, FL 34972), this pristine slice of picturesque Florida landscape has been carefully chosen for its natural beauty, giving the festival a natural, intimate feel. Assembling a team of promoters and professionals whose resumes include some of the biggest music festivals in the country, Okeechobee has been primed to join the ranks of Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Coachella.
Okeechobee, however, has been designed to be a more personalized experience than those other megafests. Signature new venues like Aquachobee provide the perfect place to relax and hangout by the lakeside swimming beach and bar. The Lost Jungle offers an immersive dusk-til-dawn dance music experience, and an assortment of spectacular multi-media art installations will dot the landscape surrounding the wooded VIP camping areas.
Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival will also feature a wide array of locally sourced treats from some of Florida’s most popular food trucks, craft beer makers, and artisanal purveyors. Environmental and other socially conscious campaigns will be presented, as well as yoga, meditation, and holistic workshops.
Don’t miss the PoWow!, a rare alignment of music stars, joined together for a once-in-a-lifetime show. For after-hours entertainment, wander down to ChobeeWobee, where the late-night performances, talks, and shenanigans are sure to intrigue you till the early hours of the morning.
At dawn don’t forget to grab a smoothie or a massage in Yogachobee on your way to a relaxing siesta by the beach. This will keep you charged so that you can explore Jungle 51. Step through the portal, we’ll see you on the other side.
The multi-genre lineup of bands and DJs from the world spread out over five separate stages will provide festival goers with 24-hour entertainment and unique performances of music that may never be heard again. In addition to international touring artists, Florida based musicians will also be featured prominently on multiple stages during the three-day event.
“We want to present a more intimate experience in our first year so we are limiting the capacity to about half the size of other major American festivals,” says Soundslinger Founder & Chief Creative Officer Paul Peck. “We have an incredibly special property and the opportunity to do something really extraordinary here, and we want to make sure we do it right.”
The independently produced Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival artist lineup includes headliners Mumford & Sons, Kendrick Lamar and Skrillex, among a total of 80 bands within the hip-hop, indie rock, electronic, folk, modern and classic rock genres.
Mumford & Sons
This Grammy Award-winning band will play Florida for just the second time in their history. Their last performance here sold out on September 14, 2013 in downtown St. Augustine as part of the “Gentleman of the Road” concert series. Okeechobee will be the only Florida stop on their tour.
Kendrick Lamar
Two-time Grammy Award winner and winner of BET’s “Best Male Hip Hop Artist.” good kid, m.A.A.d city was named Pitchfork’s #1 Album of 2012 and #2 Album of the Decade. His latest album To Pimp a Butterfly debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200.
Skrillex
The eight-time Grammy nominee and two-time Grammy winner will be performing one of the only Skrillex performances of 2016.
Robert Plant
This English musician, singer, and songwriter is best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin. With a powerful and wide vocal range (particularly evident in his high-pitched vocals), he has forged a successful solo career spanning over 40 years. Plant is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock and roll.
Future
His surprise new collaborative album with Drake, What a Time to Be Alive, debuted at #1 & #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100. His earlier 2015 release DS2 reached #1 on the Top 200, R&B Albums, Top Digital Albums, and Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums.
Miguel
The Grammy Award-winning artist, singer, songwriter and producer’s recently released Wildheart debuted in the Top 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Hall & Oates
Hall and Oates have sold an estimated 40 million records making them the second best-selling duo of all time. With 34 chart hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 (including six No. 1 hits), seven RIAA platinum albums, and six RIAA gold albums, this duo have been embodying rock and soul for the better part of five decades.
Fetty Wap
His mega-hits “Trap Queen,” “679,” and “My Way” have been a constant staple on the radio. His debut album My Way is anticipated to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Big Grams (Big Boi + Phantogram)
Big Grams is a unique collaboration between Big Boi (One Half of the multi-platinum recording artist Outkast), and indie electronic artist Phantogram. Okeechobee will be the only Florida play for this iconic supergroup, and sure to be a can’t-miss performance.
The Avett Brothers
These North Carolina-born chart toppers combine bluegrass, country, punk, pop melodies, folk, rock and roll, indie rock, honky tonk, and ragtime to produce a novel sound described by the San Francisco Chronicle as having the "heavy sadness of Townes Van Zandt, the light pop concision of Buddy Holly, the tuneful jangle of the Beatles, the raw energy of the Ramones."
Ween
Known for their widely eclectic catalog of songs, Dean and Gene Ween have amassed a cult following that spans the decades. The duo recently reunited for three Colorado shows, and will now grace the Okeechobee Fest stage with their wildly experimental live show.
ABOUT SOUNDSLINGER, LLC
Soundslinger LLC was established for the primary purpose of producing the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival at Sunshine Grove in Okeechobee County, Florida. Company principals include Steve Sybesma (CEO), Clifford Rosen (Co-CEO), Paul Peck (COO) and Jim Tobin (Project Manager). Steve Sybesma, a 42- year concert industry veteran, is the Former co-owner of Sunshine Promotions, co-owner/founder of Deer Creek Music Center, Polaris Amphitheater, the Murat Theater, The Louisville Palace, and TourDesign, CEO of China West Entertainment, and co-owner/creator of A2LiVE and Storm Electronic Music Festival, Shanghai. Clifford Rosen is a successful real estate developer and was the primary developer of the Sunshine Grove property. Paul Peck was part of the team that helped launch the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester TN, Outside Lands in San Francisco, CA and the legendary Superjam series. Jim Tobin, a leading festival planner and operations expert who has helped to produce more than 68 major festivals worldwide, will oversee and manage site planning and operations.
On March 3rd of 2016 at 12 noon, gates opened to Sunshine Grove, the home of the first annual Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival. Located in Central Florida (12517 NE 91st Avenue, Okeechobee, FL 34972), this pristine slice of picturesque Florida landscape has been carefully chosen for its natural beauty, giving the festival a natural, intimate feel. Assembling a team of promoters and professionals whose resumes include some of the biggest music festivals in the country, Okeechobee has been primed to join the ranks of Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Coachella.
Okeechobee, however, has been designed to be a more personalized experience than those other megafests. Signature new venues like Aquachobee provide the perfect place to relax and hangout by the lakeside swimming beach and bar. The Lost Jungle offers an immersive dusk-til-dawn dance music experience, and an assortment of spectacular multi-media art installations will dot the landscape surrounding the wooded VIP camping areas.
Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival will also feature a wide array of locally sourced treats from some of Florida’s most popular food trucks, craft beer makers, and artisanal purveyors. Environmental and other socially conscious campaigns will be presented, as well as yoga, meditation, and holistic workshops.
Don’t miss the PoWow!, a rare alignment of music stars, joined together for a once-in-a-lifetime show. For after-hours entertainment, wander down to ChobeeWobee, where the late-night performances, talks, and shenanigans are sure to intrigue you till the early hours of the morning.
At dawn don’t forget to grab a smoothie or a massage in Yogachobee on your way to a relaxing siesta by the beach. This will keep you charged so that you can explore Jungle 51. Step through the portal, we’ll see you on the other side.
The multi-genre lineup of bands and DJs from the world spread out over five separate stages will provide festival goers with 24-hour entertainment and unique performances of music that may never be heard again. In addition to international touring artists, Florida based musicians will also be featured prominently on multiple stages during the three-day event.
“We want to present a more intimate experience in our first year so we are limiting the capacity to about half the size of other major American festivals,” says Soundslinger Founder & Chief Creative Officer Paul Peck. “We have an incredibly special property and the opportunity to do something really extraordinary here, and we want to make sure we do it right.”
The independently produced Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival artist lineup includes headliners Mumford & Sons, Kendrick Lamar and Skrillex, among a total of 80 bands within the hip-hop, indie rock, electronic, folk, modern and classic rock genres.
Mumford & Sons
This Grammy Award-winning band will play Florida for just the second time in their history. Their last performance here sold out on September 14, 2013 in downtown St. Augustine as part of the “Gentleman of the Road” concert series. Okeechobee will be the only Florida stop on their tour.
Kendrick Lamar
Two-time Grammy Award winner and winner of BET’s “Best Male Hip Hop Artist.” good kid, m.A.A.d city was named Pitchfork’s #1 Album of 2012 and #2 Album of the Decade. His latest album To Pimp a Butterfly debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200.
Skrillex
The eight-time Grammy nominee and two-time Grammy winner will be performing one of the only Skrillex performances of 2016.
Robert Plant
This English musician, singer, and songwriter is best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin. With a powerful and wide vocal range (particularly evident in his high-pitched vocals), he has forged a successful solo career spanning over 40 years. Plant is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock and roll.
Future
His surprise new collaborative album with Drake, What a Time to Be Alive, debuted at #1 & #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100. His earlier 2015 release DS2 reached #1 on the Top 200, R&B Albums, Top Digital Albums, and Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums.
Miguel
The Grammy Award-winning artist, singer, songwriter and producer’s recently released Wildheart debuted in the Top 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Hall & Oates
Hall and Oates have sold an estimated 40 million records making them the second best-selling duo of all time. With 34 chart hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 (including six No. 1 hits), seven RIAA platinum albums, and six RIAA gold albums, this duo have been embodying rock and soul for the better part of five decades.
Fetty Wap
His mega-hits “Trap Queen,” “679,” and “My Way” have been a constant staple on the radio. His debut album My Way is anticipated to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Big Grams (Big Boi + Phantogram)
Big Grams is a unique collaboration between Big Boi (One Half of the multi-platinum recording artist Outkast), and indie electronic artist Phantogram. Okeechobee will be the only Florida play for this iconic supergroup, and sure to be a can’t-miss performance.
The Avett Brothers
These North Carolina-born chart toppers combine bluegrass, country, punk, pop melodies, folk, rock and roll, indie rock, honky tonk, and ragtime to produce a novel sound described by the San Francisco Chronicle as having the "heavy sadness of Townes Van Zandt, the light pop concision of Buddy Holly, the tuneful jangle of the Beatles, the raw energy of the Ramones."
Ween
Known for their widely eclectic catalog of songs, Dean and Gene Ween have amassed a cult following that spans the decades. The duo recently reunited for three Colorado shows, and will now grace the Okeechobee Fest stage with their wildly experimental live show.
ABOUT SOUNDSLINGER, LLC
Soundslinger LLC was established for the primary purpose of producing the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival at Sunshine Grove in Okeechobee County, Florida. Company principals include Steve Sybesma (CEO), Clifford Rosen (Co-CEO), Paul Peck (COO) and Jim Tobin (Project Manager). Steve Sybesma, a 42- year concert industry veteran, is the Former co-owner of Sunshine Promotions, co-owner/founder of Deer Creek Music Center, Polaris Amphitheater, the Murat Theater, The Louisville Palace, and TourDesign, CEO of China West Entertainment, and co-owner/creator of A2LiVE and Storm Electronic Music Festival, Shanghai. Clifford Rosen is a successful real estate developer and was the primary developer of the Sunshine Grove property. Paul Peck was part of the team that helped launch the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester TN, Outside Lands in San Francisco, CA and the legendary Superjam series. Jim Tobin, a leading festival planner and operations expert who has helped to produce more than 68 major festivals worldwide, will oversee and manage site planning and operations.