Claude VonStroke is throwing a party this fall to close out festival season, and you do not want to miss it. His award-winning record label, Dirtybird Records, is convening on the west coast for the 4th year in a row to take you back to their one-of-a-kind summer camp. This year’s lineup came out ready to play with heavy-hitters like Grammy-winning funk-infused producer Mark Ronson, festival kings Gorgon City, and German hypotic-house curator Roman Flügel. With a lineup that brings all the Dirtybird favorites and some serious global stars along for the ride, the Campout 2018 is getting better every year.
Read on to check out what else we’re most excited for.
Stages: Keep It Simple
With only two stages, Claude & Co are sticking to the tried and true: two stages and an either/or option for guests. Expect the OG Birdhouse stage to showcase sets from often-featured DB collaborators like Walker & Royce and Fisher, who both ruled last summer with their massive releases. Desert Hearts’ Mikey Lion will be present to bring the house-techno-love, as well as Polish partiers Catz n Dogs. King of Chicago house music, Green Velvet will also be camping out this year. Here’s hoping we’ll be treated to a surprise set of Green Velvet and Claude Von Stroke’s duo, Get Real.
Of course major Dirtybird powers will be present and bumping. It wouldn’t be Dirtybird without J.Phlip, Worthy, Ardalan and both Christian and Justin Martin. The Martin Brothers also promise to join together on the decks to deliver a wild jungle set, but we would bet that’s going to take place on the Bass Lodge stage.
Speaking of the Bass Lodge..
Headlined by Von Stroke’s hip-hop alter-ego from another planet, Barclay Crenshaw, the Bass Lodge promises to showcase offerings for those seeking the darker, deeper, and low-down side of the campout. Drum n Bass will get its proper due with sets from Dub Phizix & Strategy and Bristol-based DJ Krust. Madame X will play the Dirtybird Campout for the first time, bringing her genre-melding unique blend of grime, techno, and bass. Last year the Bass Lodge was a welcome balance to the thick house beats of the mainstage and we can’t wait to bounce back and forth again this year.
A New Venue, A New Lake
Last year, the Campout tried out a new home. It was a good time, but discerning attendees could tell that there would be some changes made to year 4. Turns out the Dirtybird crew has a brand new offering for its tribe. This year’s campout will be held at Modesto, California’s Reservoir Campgrounds and – you heard it correct – there will be actual swimmable water this year. Any festival attendee knows that access to water makes all the difference and Modesto in early October promises to be HOT. Combine access to the reservoir with the camp vibes and this year promises to be a wet, wild and definitely a blast. Most importantly, it seems like the hosts really took into account the major complaint from year 3: that everything was just too spread out. This year promises a more intimate feel and easeful ingress.
Come to Camp
Last but most definitely not least, we’re most excited for that certain special something that only the Dirtybird Campout can bring. It’s not a festival, and it doesn’t pretend to be. Ladies and gents, you are going back to camp. So get ready for tons of activities curated by your favorite artists. Archery, kickball, arts & crafts, stand-up comedy – it’s everything the summer camp of your dreams always should have been, plus some of the hottest bass and house music around to soundtrack your end to summer.
It may be the heart of summer, but this lineup has us day dreaming of fall. Plus, with a few surprise guests still to be announced, Claude Von Stroke has a few more tricks up his sleeve. We can’t wait to see what else they’ll add!
For tickets and full lineup information check out their website.
For more details about last year’s Campout West, check out my review.