MIAMI – Sunlight seems to fill a room with extra-blinding brightness when a long closed shade is finally open. Such was the feeling at Hard Rock Stadium in late July, when, after an 18-month COVID-caused hiatus, many of hip-hop’s biggest stars appeared at Rolling Loud, their first live festival since the lockdown began. Channeling a […]
MURPHYSBORO, IL – Gerry Dintelman likes creating gobo patterns. He’s quite adept at it too, working magic with swirling forms on the walls, floors and ceilings at an array of venues indoor and out. But never before in his career as a lighting designer has he had a gobo experience like the one he enjoyed […]
WHITTINGTON, UK – Scotch may still hold sway in Scotland, but in England, gin has recently overtaken its rivals to become the distilled spirit of choice. A big reason behind the juniper berry infused beverage’s rise in popularity is the boom in craft gin distilleries. There are currently about 250 craft gins on the market […]
FORT LAUDERDALE – As someone who “grew up in reggae,” Nesta Garrick takes special pride and pleasure in lighting the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise, an annual December excursion that showcases many of the genre’s leading stars. But every year, the Jamaican-born LD disembarked from the floating festival’s ship with the same unfulfilled wish: he […]
PILTON, UK – When the genre-hoping Grammy Award winning band, The Mavericks stopped at the Glastonbury Festival during their 30th Anniversary World Tour, their LD Landon Bloss did what he always does on fly dates: he walked over to look at the lighting rig that he would be running later that day. Approaching the festival’s […]
DRAYTON, UK – The Rock and Bowl festival started out in 2009 as a small community-driven live music event round the back of a local pub. Today, it attracts fans from throughout the UK with its mix of music, food and good times. To reflect the festival’s coming of age on its 10th anniversary, its […]
MARTINSVILLE, VA – The Rooster Walk Festival isn’t named after the iconic bird that crows every morning when the sun comes up. However, it does represent the dawn of a new day for both a hard-pressed region, and a lot of young people with aspirations in music. Now in its 10th year, the four-day event […]
GULF SHORES, AL – The Hangout Music Festival is very aptly named. Located on a beautiful sandy beach on the Gulf of Mexico with plenty of friendly people and colorful local scenery, the three-day event exudes the kind of laid-back atmosphere that invites anyone to just hang out and have fun. Relaxing is just the […]
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Carving out a name for itself in northern Europe’s bustling festival scene, the Crave Festival has been making waves in electronic and techno music circles with its searing musical performances and edgy industrial vibe. The 2017 edition of this red hot festival more than lived up to expectations, thanks in part […]
OOSTEND, Belgium – The largest summer beach festival in Belgium and one of the most popular in Northern Europe, “2 Meisjes op het Strand,” is known for more than just music. Also drawing thousands of fans and attracting a large national TV audience on Flemish network VTM are the breathtaking harbour vistas at the festival […]
SANTA FE, NM – He’s big (over 50’ tall), rather grotesque looking with a devilishly menacing expression, and completely lacking in substance. Yet he’s the source of civic pride and the object of affection for the people of New Mexico’s capital. His name is Zozobra (“Old Man Gloom”), and every year he serves as the […]
LAS VEGAS – Ordinarily, a travel plaza is a place where weary people go to recharge their batteries (both internal and in their mobile phones), grab a cup of coffee and have some forgettable food — but few things about Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza are ordinary. Located on Moapa Paiute tribal land less than an […]