The Big What? Preview
July 21-23rd, 2016, Mebane, NC
written by Elise Olmstead
BIG Something’s annual shindig, The Big What? is coming up on its fifth year this July 21-23rd in Mebane, NC, and we couldn’t be more excited to attend. We attended a couple of years ago when it was in Possum Holler, and there’s a sort of charm to the festival that could not be forgotten. Besides getting to see my rowdy North Carolina family, I always meet an array of colorful personalities. Something about BIG Something just seems to get people all riled up, and the entire festival is like a crazy carnival of music and fun, always boasting an amazing lineup to make the crowds go wild. We spoke to founder and band member Nick MacDaniels about what’s in store for The Big What? in 2016.
We are so excited to be at The Big What? this year! One factor that made it hard for us to make it in past years was the date. Why the date change from the end of June to July 21-23 in 2016?
We are excited you guys can make it! Obviously as you know from experience there’s so many little details that go into planning a grassroots festival like this. We ended up moving the dates for a lot of different reasons, but it all basically came down to timing and making sure the festival is the best it can be for everyone involved. We (BIG Something) have been really focused on recording our new album this month. Usually this time of year we are planning the festival, writing more material and getting ready for June, but because the new album is our top priority right now, we wanted to push the festival back so we have more time to plan and be creative and focus on getting the festival right after the album is finished. Another big reason is that two of our main partners on The Big What? team are getting married at the beginning of June so we wanted to give them some extra time to enjoy their wedding and honeymoon and not have to stress about the festival during that time. And of course we wanted to put a little more space between our festival and The Mad Tea Party Jam so that everyone can comfortably attend both! 🙂
How long have you been throwing The Big What? and how has it evolved over the years?
This will be our 5th year throwing The Big What?. It’s been a wild ride. We learn a lot every year and we always try to improve and make the experience better for everyone. It has evolved in a lot of different ways since our first year where it literally rained the entire weekend and the event was lovingly dubbed “The Big Wet.” We’re hoping the date change may bring better fortune with the weather too.
The Big What? was originally located at a smaller venue in the backwoods of NC called Possum Holler. We love that venue and still play small parties there from time to time. It was a really special place with a cool wooden stage tucked away in the forest. I still feel like some of the best music I’ve ever heard in my life has been played on that stage. There’s just a magical aura and spirit there on the property so it was hard to leave. But after hitting capacity our first two years there, we decided to move it to a larger venue on a really nice farm in Mebane, NC where we wouldn’t have to turn anyone away. We really love this new spot too and it has given us a lot more room for our vision to grow.
Tell us about the venue in Mebane, NC.
The venue in Mebane is where we have held The Big What? for the past 2 years. This will be our third year there. It’s a large 300 acre farm with big open fields surrounded by lots of trees. There’s a gentle slope in the concert area that gives the stage a natural amphitheater feel. People can camp by their cars in the main field just outside of the concert area or they are welcome to set up camp in the woods that surround the stage. There are several cool trails and paths through the woods that are fun to explore. And there’s a small brook that runs through the trees too. I love camping back there. It’s really pretty. The venue also has a beautiful permanent wooden stage that we use as our main stage, outdoor showers, an 18 hole disc golf course and a giant mustache see-saw 🙂
What is it like being a band who organizes a festival and plays in their own festival? Do you ever get any sleep?
It’s like running a marathon but when you get to the end and can look back at all the pictures and everything, it’s incredibly rewarding. You really have to push yourself. Playing the sets is my favorite part. That’s when we get to really let loose and enjoy our time together because the rest of the weekend we are usually working. We spend a lot of time in advance trying to make each set special with lots of new originals and new covers and creative ideas. I love the vibe that our community has established at the event too. It’s all about southern hospitality. There’s so much positive energy and everyone seems to look out for each other, so it’s a great environment for debuting new music. Of course it gets stressful and overwhelming at times because of all the work that’s involved. I think there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes that people don’t always realize. Sometimes it’s hard for me to experience the event the way I would really like to because I’m always running around with the team making sure everything is just right. It’s a labor of love. That’s why one of the most gratifying parts for me is getting to live vicariously through others that had a good time. It’s always great to see the pics and videos and hear from people who had the time of their life after its all over.
What are some new, exciting things happening this year?
Well I’m glad you asked. In the spirit of making the experience more fun for both the band and our community we are changing up our format a little this year. Similar to the vibe of a Phish festival or Perpetual Groove’s Amberland, we plan to focus a little more on Big Something and our community this year. In the past, we’ve had around 30 bands on 2 stages and constant music. This year we will have about 15 of our favorite bands joining us with only 1 main stage and there will be breaks in the music. This will allow for longer sets, a more laid back vibe, and more communal activities throughout the day. We’ve got some fun interactive stuff planned to get everyone hanging out together in strange and creative ways during the day. The production and the venue will still look better than ever and the music will still go all night with theme parties and lots of crazy surprises. There will also be two headliners performing late night secret sets at secret locations on the property – which is something we’ve never done before. Just when you think the night has come to an end, we want people to be able to take an adventure and wander off to where they hear the music coming from. It’s going to be really fun 🙂
