As we now reach the final week before Okeechobee, attendees from across the country are making final adjustments to their schedules and to their outfits. As an “OkeeHomie,” I will be making my return to the festival after an amazing run last year. Although many changes have been made to the festival itself, this year is looking bright.
Beginning in 2016 with their inaugural festival, Okeechobee is located in Sunshine Grove in the heart of Okeechobee, Florida. With a lineup including the biggest names in EDM, Classic Rock and Rap, it caught the attention of many, causing it rapidly to increase its numbers within the next year. Due to this, however, ticket prices have increased as well as the introduction to car camping passes being required for everyone planning to camp with their vehicle. Also beginning this year, the front row must be cleared after every set. To those who like camping at the rail, plan wisely if you want to be up front for your favorite artist.
For their 2018 year, Okeechobee pulled out new headlining acts as well as the return of their resident performer, Bassnectar for not one but two sets this year. Many will be excited to see Arcade Fire, Halsey, Travis Scott, Snoop Dogg, Khalid and Foster the People to take the Be and Now stages this year with a top notch, diverse headlining lineup.
Also returning to the festival are the Incendia and Jungle51 stages, as well as a newly improved Aquachobee Beach stage. Those seeking underrated electronic artists should definitely make their way to these stages in between sets or during early morning set times. Being biased for bass music, Blunts and Blondes, Nitti Gritti, and Part Native will be playing after the Bassnectar Full Moon Set Thursday night, so I highly recommend you catch these great acts from my home state.
Friday, fans can expect to see many of the smaller names in Alternative Rock and Hip Hop with Hippo Campus, Ski Mask The Slump God, and Pouya. Starting that afternoon names like Sylvan Esso, Judah and the Lion, and Slightly Stoopid take their turns at the newly improved Be stage. With a stacked night lineup, Khalid, Foster the People, Bassnectar, and Halsey will draw the big crowds towards the two main stages at The Grove.
After a nice morning of provided yoga classes, fans can make their way back to The Grove to catch acts like Magic!, MisterWives and SuperDuperKyle kicking off the mid-afternoon. After the sun sets, attendees will be excited to vibe with Blackbear, jump with Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Chaka Khana, Joey Bada$$ and more at the 3rd Annual PoWow event, turn up to Travis Scott, and get moved by the powerful live performance from Illenium. One set not to miss would be Big Gigantic, the live electronic duo bringing the funky melodies to fans.
Sunday. The final stretch. Your legs hurt, you can barely move and you just want to lay down. I promise you as much as you want to, you cannot miss the Sunday lineup. The Aquachobee Beach stage is keeping it wonky all day with sounds from the grimiest names in dubstep. Catch Dirt Monkey b2b Subtronics, Boogie T b2b Squnto, Ganja White Night b2b Boogie T b2b Dirt Monkey and Liquid Stranger all throughout the afternoon keeping the party alive with the improved sound system at Aquachobee. If EDM is not your favorite, Denzel Curry, Lil Dicky, and Gramatik will be going hard in The Grove around the same times. As the day comes to an end, fans will have to decide between bass duo Zeds Dead and internationally known Indie Alt-Rock band Arcade Fire.
With just around a week to go, fans from around the country are finally getting ready for the weekend of a lifetime. If you want to follow my experience around the festival, keep your eyes on the Columbia Live webpage as well as my social media (in between the retweeted memes.)