Festival Files Camp Bisco Camp Bisco 2012 Playlist and Testimonials
Camp Bisco 2012 Playlist and Testimonials
- By Nick Rhodes
- Published on July 04, 2012
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| Camp Bisco 2011 - Photo Credit: Holly O'Connor |
What started as a gathering of East Coast Disco Biscuits fans in 1999 has grown to become one of the biggest and most talked about electronic music festivals in the country.
This year’s Camp Bisco - it's 11th - takes place July 12 to 14 at the Indian Lookout Country Club in Mariaville, NY and has a stacked bill fetauring Bassnectar, Skrillex, Crystal Castles, Lotus, Big Gigantic, Big Boi, Atmosphere, Amon Tobin, A-Trak and of course, festival hosts The Disco Biscuits.
[BUY tickets and find more information on Camp Bisco 2012 on the festival's website.]
We're just a few weeks away from the event, so read our interview with a festival organizer to get excited about the event.
Check out some stories from attendees of past Camp Biscos and listen to a playlist featuring many of the artists on the bill.
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“Let The Rain ‘Floe’” – Holly O’Connor
Since I first attended Camp Bisco 7 in 2007, I have had so many great memories at Indian Lookout Country Club. Not only have I seen The Disco Biscuits play 30 sets, each having their own flair and each year developing more intense and unique lighting displays, but I’ve seen so much other great music it’s ridiculous.
One moment that stands out to me is from Camp Bisco VIII, the year appropriately deemed by myself as “Camp Jumanji.” The amount of rain that year (2009) left your average camper complaining most of the weekend about how much mud was in their tent or how all their clothes got wet and they forgot to bring rain boots, etc.
After rushing down to the music we were treated to a light show that could only be made so epic by the power of nature.
There was a point where my friends and I considered not even going down for The Biscuits’ set on Friday because it was raining so hard and we could hear the music just fine from our tent.
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That all came to an abrupt halt when we heard Allen slamming away at the drums and Barber’s guitar starting to pick up ever so slightly. We knew we had to man up and get our asses down to the party because they had just started playing “Floes.”
After rushing down to the music we were treated to a light show that could only be made so epic by the power of nature. Little did we know that in the years to come we’d be treated to “Glitter Rain” thanks to the addition of lasers to their rig.
Even awful weather can’t dampen the spirits of attendees. It just goes to show that Camp Bisco is all about the vibes, music and community that it creates for fans and musicians alike.
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| Camp Bisco 2011 - Photo Credit: Holly O'Connor |
“Making Me A Believer” – Min Kim
I don’t believe in the supernatural. But much like Hall of Fame NBA coach Phil Jackson said after Michael Jordan’s legendary “Flu Game,” Shpongle’s live performance at Camp Bisco X “made me a believer.”
As if having previously been witness to the “Shpongletron Experience” wasn’t enough to get me excited for Simon Posford’s first full ensemble performance in the U.S., the sky also began to signal that something extraordinary was in the works. Concerns of a thunderstorm putting a damper on the festivities had been brewing all day, but when the sky opened up during Shpongle’s set, there wasn’t the slightest bit of alarm as the crowd was sent into a complete cosmic trance.
The rain poured down throughout psychedelic performances of “Star Shpongled Banner” and “DMT,” as Shpongle continued to snare the audience into a unique vision with an eclectic live display.
Having featured, among many other perfectly in place oddities, a contortionist, a blue-haired goddess with a voice to match, Raja Ram on flute and Posford dressed in what I can only describe as a trippy wizard robe, they will be sorely missed this year. The storm faded away seemingly on cue following the group’s exit from the Main Stage, and one thing remained evidently clear: Camp Bisco had been utterly Shpongled.
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“Basis For A Camp” – Dan H.
Camp can be summed up in one word: basis. Basis for a day, basis for a weekend, basis for a year, Basis for our friends. It’s a time that comes once a year when we all can get together in one spot for not only a no-holds barred rage-off, but also commencement in the sacred dance we call Bisco.
I've been to the last seven Camp Bisco events, starting with Sammy's last shows. I will never forget my first Camp Bisco. I was relatively new to The Disco Biscuits, but knew this was quite possibly their end. I had to be there. I went with one other friend and we had the time of our lives.
Allen's first camp was a very exciting moment in the festival’s history. It brought a kind of a “make it or break it” type vibe. They had played about one year’s worth of shows with the new guy already, but still seemed unsure if this thing was going to work.
[FIND complete lineups, ticketing information and analysis of all your favorite festivals via our 2012 Festival Guide.]
Fast-forward to first night, set two “Spraypaint” bust-out . . . from that point on I knew that this band was back.
Another exciting moment was the following year in 2007 – the first year at ILCC. Rumors of crazy bikers and freakish tornados didn’t scare us . . . until they actually happened! A mammoth thunderstorm and a tornado touched down not even a mile from the venue. Winds were so strong that the poles to our tent snapped right in half.
Because of the rain, many missed music throughout the weekend. So The Biscuits decided to have a stealth day set. The band was feeling it and clearly on fire. We got a fuckin’ psychedelic, insane “Basis,” as well as the first “Rockafella.”
You never know what’s going to happen at Camp Bisco – spontaneity is a constant. We really start planning for next year right when we leave the front gate and head for the highway home.
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"All That Matters" – Thad Max
The reason I love Camp Bisco is because of the random populous of people and eclectic lineup. The people-watching is superb and the group vibe is in full-force. All of the heads I’ve met through top-shelf experiences like Jam in the ‘Dam and various Holidaze installments all congregate for these three-days to pay their respects to the kings of late-night, The Disco Biscuits.
For us, it’s all about the music. I always see some smaller, regional acts on the showcase stage that I would never get to see otherwise. That is my favorite part of Camp. Larger bands like Cut/Copy, Ratatat, Black Moth Super Rainbow and LCD Soundsystem are some big-time acts I’ve enjoyed that I probably wouldn’t bother seeing if they were down the street. I love that aspect.
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Another awesome aspect to Camp is the bathroom situation. They have real flushing toilets and a biker on duty 24/7 to ensure they remain clean. The VIP amenities are also pretty nice. Plush couches and VIP bar, food and music playing until the wee hours of the morning. You never know who you’ll see or what collaborations you’ll catch hanging in there during the late-nights.
The people behind-the-scenes at Camp are amazing professionals and know how to throw a rowdy party. Come with your party dress on and help emanate positivity that will make The Biscuits crush their sets. Because, in reality, that is all that matters . . .
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Camp Bisco takes place July 12 to 14 at the Indian Lookout Country Club in Mariaville, NY and features The Disco Biscuits, Skrillex, Bassnectar, Lotus, Big Gigantic, Amon Tobin, Big Boi, Crystal Castles, Atmosphere and many more. For more information about the festival, check out the event's official website or head over to our 2012 Festival Guide.
