Camp Bisco is Approaching Fast: The Disco Biscuits and Their Fans are Going Home Again

• Yet again, that oh-so special weekend is approaching, and it’s approaching fast.  The mid-July weekend that holds a legendary music festival, which stands out from all the other east coast festivals: Camp Bisco. It’s here once again, and fans couldn’t be more excited for its return. From July 16th to July 18th, the notorious festival will be taking place at Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pennsylvania. After taking last year off and having some trouble with the original permits for this year, the Camp Bisco team put their heads together and found the perfect new home for their beloved festival. Some fans were originally upset that it wouldn’t be taking place at the infamous Indian Lookout Country Club, while other fans were ecstatic about the move. The fact of the matter is that Montage Mountain provides amenities that ILCC never could – a world-class concert venue and water-park, a zip-line, full service restrooms, a lodge, showers, full restaurants and more.

The Disco Biscuits have always dreamed of being able to provide such a high quality venue to their fans, and now they’re actually doing it. With a line-up that boasts the talent of artists like Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, STS9, Big Gigantic, Atmosphere, and Tipper; the festival is guaranteed to bring one of the highest attendance records that Montage Mountain has ever seen. That’s not all the music though - there are over fifty more acts that will be spread out across three stages, over the course of three days and nights. When I say that there is something for everyone, I’m not lying. There will be all types of music, covering a multitude of various genres - from house  to bluegrass, and everything in between. This will be my fifth Camp Bisco, it’s crazy to think back on the first Camp Bisco I ever attended (which was my first music festival ever). Not to sound cliché but it has definitely been a long, strange trip. A lot has changed in my life, a lot of things have actually gotten better since I initially embarked on my journey to follow the Disco Biscuits. Since then, I’ve learned an extensive amount about the music that makes up this scene. Honestly, seeing live music has become one of my biggest passions in life. Camp Bisco is the festival that opened my eyes to an entirely new world of magical experience. Whether this is your first time at Camp Bisco or your tenth, buckle up because it may very well end up being one of the craziest weekends of your life.

Personally, I’ve seen some deeper Camp Bisco lineups but this year definitely has some gems. I made a list of five artists from different genres that everyone in attendance should see. First off, if you’re going to Camp Bisco and not seeing the Disco Biscuits – you’re doing it completely wrong. If you’re into EDM and you’re attending Camp Bisco for artists other than the Disco Biscuits, go experience their music and get your mind blown. If you’ve never seen the Disco Biscuits at Camp Bisco then you need to attend at least four (if not all six) sets – educate yourself, it’s a must. There is no band that can do what the Disco Biscuits do.

Next up, Tipper is an absolute must-see, the man is in a league of his own. David Tipper is a master of his craft - he is immensely unique. From intricate down-tempo and trip-hop to expert turntablism, Tipper is ridiculously skilled. Do not miss him throw down his first Camp Bisco set in five years; the last time he played Camp Bisco was in the dance tent during the day. After selling out Red Rocks in May, I have a feeling that won’t be the case this year.

On Thursday, make damn sure that you do not miss STS9. After the band replaced founding bassist David Murphy with Alana Rocklin, many fans thought the band they knew and loved was done. Not exactly the case, they’ve been shocking crowds across the country with an utterly refreshed sound. Over the past few months, they’ve been bringing older songs back into the mix, delivering some blissful electronic grooves and tasteful improvisation.

The fourth act on my list would have to be Ott - the UK psy-trance producer always delivers mind-boggling performances. I haven’t seen him in three years, and I am really looking forward to traveling somewhere deep during his set. He is a master at what he does and has been collaborating with Shpongle and Twisted Records for years. Tipper and Ott are undoubtedly two of my favorite producers to see live, it's awesome that they'll both be at Camp Bisco this year.

The fifth and final act on my list would have to be The Magic Beans from Boulder, CO. After seeing them a few times while visiting Colorado, I think they’ll throw down an awesome set at Camp Bisco and gain some east coast fans. For the most part, a lot of east coast music fans are a little bit more critical than CO music fans, so we’ll see. If they throw down a set that covers their whole space-funk spectrum, they could get a solid reception. I think most jamtronica fans will definitely enjoy themselves at The Magic Beans.

*Honorable mentions go to Atmosphere, Emancipator, American Babies, Tauk, and Horizon Wireless.

Although some things have changed at Camp Bisco over the years, the biggest has stayed the same; the Disco Biscuits will be throwing down six enormous sets over the course of three nights. Biscuits’ fans everywhere are fired up to see their favorite band back where they belong, at the top of their prized festival. There isn’t any place in the world where you can see six sets of outdoors Biscuits besides Camp Bisco.  A lot has occurred for the band since their last Camp Bisco in 2013. They have gotten tighter and tighter since then; some of their best shows in recent years have taken place during 2015. The four of them have found a balance and are definitely operating on the same wavelength. After a stellar New Years run in Chicago and New York; the Disco Biscuits delivered shows in Philadelphia, Florida, Colorado, Maine, and Vermont. The shows in Colorado, Maine and Vermont proved the month of April to be one of the bands best since 2009. Everything has been going extremely smooth for them, they all seem to be inspired and ready to deliver for their fans. After spending 4th of July weekend in Chicago seeing the Grateful Dead with Trey Anastasio, they're definitely ready to go  - I think they're seriously going to bottle up that inspiration and crush Camp Bisco. I know for a fact that they’re itching to experience those timeless supersonic vibrations, from the stage instead of the crowd. They’ll cater their unmatched soundscapes to the crowd with elegant precision, building up and breaking down immaculate improvisation with ease. This is the most excited I’ve been to see this band in a long, long time – don’t miss out on this experience of a lifetime, buy your tickets now and experience the digital magic of the Disco Biscuits and Camp Bisco!