Thee Oh Sees at Northside Festival in 2014. (Photo by Scott Lynch)
Now in its seventh year, Brooklyn's Northside Festival has become synonymous with "what's next" in music, innovation, and film. From June 11 to 14, Northside will take over Brooklyn with 400+ bands, 150+ speakers, and 50+ films. Attendees from as close as Williamsburg and as far as Amsterdam will be able to say, "I saw it here first."
Despite the chilly climes and mountains of snow we've had the last few months, we're already gearing up for summer. The just-announced lineup for Northside 2015 includes Run the Jewels, Neko Case, Best Coast, Built to Spill, and many more must-see acts, as well as speakers from companies like Mashable, Fortune magazine, Yo, and FanDuel. Plus, 30 performance slots are being reserved for Sonicbids artists!
Want to play the fest, but have no idea what to expect or how to prepare? We've got you. Here are five tips for surviving Northside Festival this June.
1. Avoid driving to the festival
It's a jungle out there, but it's much easier to navigate on foot or by public transit than by car. Although come June the prospect of air conditioning might be enticing, don't succumb to its siren song! We suggest getting in touch with the venue or promoter about their backline ahead of time so you don’t end up hauling all your gear around town when you didn't even have to, and be sure to find out in advance where you're loading in. Northside's venues are on the beaten path, so we suggest strolling, biking, busing, or subway-ing to shows when you can. It's good for the earth and your gams.
2. Drink lots of water
And we mean lots. With all the shows, panels, and films you'll be checking out, you might forget about the heat of the Brooklyn sun, but your earthly vessel sure won't. In order to maximize your time soaking up everything Northside has to offer, be sure to stay hydrated to avoid heat-related illness (and a particularly bad hangover).
3. Eat something from the earth
We don't want to sound like your mom here, but drinking tons of water won't be as helpful if you're inhaling complimentary beers and bags of chips at every meal. Be sure your Northside diet includes plenty of produce and protein to keep you in tip-top shape as you trek around the best borough; it's easy enough with all the great and local eateries in the neighborhood.
4. Download the Northside app
Northside Festival is a huge event, and you don't want to miss a minute of it. The best way to make sense of it all? Download the Northside Festival app for artist, speaker, and film info, schedule updates, special announcements, and more. Stay tuned to northsidefestival.com for info on the app and its release date.
5. Bring your phone charger
This tip might seem a bit basic, but how are you going to 'gram all those shots of Best Coast or text that cutie from McCarren Park if your battery is dead? If you don't want to spring for an external battery, we suggest keeping your charger on hand at all times. If you can't find an outlet, we're sure you can charm a bartender or sound engineer into hooking you up.
Oh, and one more thing: it isn't too late to apply to play! Submit your application by April 7 for a chance to perform at Northside Festival 2015, taking place June 11-14 in Brooklyn, NY.
Rachel Hunnicutt is Northside Festival 2015’s social media and marketing manager. After booking shows in Hartford, CT, and stints at BOMB Fest, 4Knots, and CMJ Music Marathon, she’s excited to be working on Brooklyn’s biggest discovery festival and working towards what’s next, now.
