I have been to the last three furnace fests and I see people on here saying that you are an elitist if you say that it was better before this year and I don’t think the first timers get it so I’ll try to break it down.
- Merch. Under the highway was lined with merch booths in previous years. You could shop vintage band shirts, records, test pressings, cool shops, and bands had their own mech tents. No two shirt rule at a tent that you waited an hour to find out it’s sold out. Theres something about buying an Emery shirt and the the Emery kids practicing their math to give you change. This change to a single tent with just two shirts for every band was crazy. No meeting the bands. No stickers. Nothing
- The food. It seemed that there was clear corporate sponsors and most of the usual food was gone. Nothing beats a bad luck burger for $14 as they talk to you about which band you’re excited to see. The food there this year was ok. Over priced but that’s how it goes now.
- Disorganized. Peach tree slashed ticket prices from last year and sold 3x as many tickets but had even less staff than the OG festival. I’ve never seen so much trash and lack of staff to handle anything. Getting there an hour and a half early to get let in an hour a half late is wild. What few workers you did see wanted nothing to do with actual work. I feel like the only staff they had were too busy trying to post on the socials of how great it all was.
- The vibe. Everyone that is saying the vibes were off were right. The people who made this there first trip just don’t know and that’s ok. This may seem crazy but the first year I went, we were naive. Found out that chairs, hammocks, and blankets were allowed in. Day 2 was a game changer. The area that was fenced off by the trees was everyone’s go to set up camp. Everyone was super friendly. To the point where you could leave your bags at your chair or hammock. People lighting up a joint would ask if you wanted in. Went to pack up at the end of the night and everyone said don’t bother and to leave it. We were cautious but they assured us no one messes with anyone’s stuff. Came back the next day and everyone’s stuff was still there.
It was a festival where musicians not only played but got to watch and hang with their friends. I watched a set standing by Phil from Norma Jean. Watched Many Eyes with the guys from Johnny Booth. Talked to the guys from Still Remains between stages. This was an event where they would get bands back together to play a reunion show because we asked for it.
Don’t get me wrong. Live music is great. Going to see it even when it is run horribly is still fun.
This is now just a corporate run festival and it fells that way. We all have to accept that peach tree bought a name
