Dirtybird Campout 2016: A playground with a killer soundtrack

0
Dancer at Dirtybird Campout (Photo by Glen Ayrton Silva)
Dancer at Dirtybird Campout (Photo by Glen Ayrton Silva)

The second annual Dirtybird Campout returned to the lush Oak Canyon Park in Orange County in Silverado last weekend. The festival/adult playground proved it has staying power, doubling down on all that went right last year and making a real effort to fix what needed improvement. While nearly all other SoCal festivals are billing themselves as “conscious” or “transformative,” filling their schedules with Ted talks, meditation and workshops, the Dirtybird Campout is simply about having a damn good time.

Co-founded by Detroit native and now L.A. resident Barclay Crenshaw, aka Claude VonStroke, the Campout is a labor of love 10 years in the making. Walking around the highly detailed campground, replete with log cabin stages, a treehouse bar and countless camp “activities,” the efforts of the Dirtybird tribe are not unnoticed. Maybe VonStroke was the real-life version of Tom Hanks in “Big.” While the DJ Times-voted “America’s Best DJ” may be having his best year to date, he has not appeared to let the fame go to his head. The unique aspect of the Campout is that all of the DJs, VonStroke included, are down in the dirt playing the games with the fans. Whether it’s kickball or capture the flag, archery or karaoke, the talent show or a late-night hike, one of the DJs were sure to be in on the fun.

Absent this year was the rain, and unfortunately that was felt more than ever. While this still remains a fan-favorite festival location, the nearly empty lake was an eyesore and constant reminder of the omnipresent drought. The campground, repositioned to what was formerly the parking lot, was a dusty, dry nightmare. Thankfully campers participating in any of the activities were given bandanas (read: dust masks) in any of four colors used to designate camp “teams.” These souvenirs proved to come in very handy. Also absent, probably due to the drought, was the beloved slip n’ slide from last year. With temperatures in the 90s, a midday run through the water would have been salvation. Campers looking for a quick soak had to settle for signing up for the dunk tank. Not a complete loss.

While the Dirtybird tribe dealt with unpredictable variables on the fly like the weather and the sad absence of J. Phlip (rumored to have been bitten by a rattlesnake), thankfully they addressed the issues over which they had control — the major complaint from their inaugural year being the BBQ. Campers who were willing to drop the $22 for a plate cooked up by the famed Grillson team were treated to legit BBQ and fixins. A high price? Last year it cost nearly the same amount for a weak hamburger and baby side dish. Since the burgeoning festival still costs less than $200, campers seemed to gladly drop $22 to fill their bellies.

Musical highlights

Shiba San (Friday eveing)
The funky G-House tunes of French producer Shiba San were the perfect welcoming to the campground. Tents were erected in record time – and with style – just to get inside for this fan favorite.

Claude VonStroke (Friday closing set)
Not a single person missed Claude VonStroke’s Friday night closing set, evidenced by the crowd spilling out on all sides. The Boss himself was in his element, eventually dropping his 2016 banger “Make a Cake,” causing the crowd to lose its collective mind.

Justin Martin b2b Christian Martin (at a renegade stage)
Stumbling back to the campground long after the main stage was over, I was reminded of the beauty of renegade stages. Lost and disoriented in a sea of tents and cars, I was greeted by probably the greatest collaborative renegade set of the weekend. The Dirtybird Brothers Justin and Christian were throwing down their signature sounds — Justin with strange and Christian with the heavy.

Reggie Watts (Saturday closing set)
No other artist equally belonged on the lineup and stood out as odd than Reggie Watts. The looping mastermind and beatboxing giant expertly crafted a uniquely improvised set on the fly while the crowd stood in awe of his disorienting style. The Campout truly outdid themselves by adding him to the lineup. For anyone who still questions this man’s remarkable skills, check out the YouTube videos of him doing an impromptu renegade set from a golf cart. Yeah, that really happened.

Will Clarke (Sunday afternoon)
Exhausted from two days of nonstop dancing and activities, the chunky beats of Bristol-born DJ and producer Will Clarke were exactly what the crowd needed on Sunday afternoon. His high-energy set drew me from the campground, hypnotizing fans like a snake charmer. Any former apprehension of a third night was stomped into the dirt

Green Velvet b2b Dirtybird Family
After touring continuously with Claude VonStroke, it only made sense that Green Velvet would be on the bill. And we were not disappointed. His Chicago house set perfectly teed up the Dirtybird Family set to follow, the entire crew on stage like a band of merry pranksters still just happy to be partying with their friends. Talk about a b2b2b2b2b.

Photos by Glen Ayrton Silva; more at CuetheDanger.com