BELLA TERRA FESTIVAL REVIEW

This past weekend, August 16^th through August 19^th, was the 4^th annual Bella Terra Festival held at Gardner’s Field in Stephentown, NY.  There were over 70 performers bringing you the latest and greatest music on four stages, a HUGE community bonfire, art installations, live painting, an awesome kid’s tent, contests with prizes and just all sorts of cool stuff to make every single penny of the ticket price well worth the investment.  Check out the pictures at the end of the review

 +++CLICK HERE FOR FULL REVIEW+++

 FCK YES! I’m gonna have to give Bella Terra a 9.9 out of 10.  The line up alone was worth the drive and ticket price.  Then if you add in the professional crew, awesome lay out, and KILLER sound – you have an experience you’ll soon not forget.  As soon as I got to the gate I was welcomed by a bright and cheerful crew that had their act together like all front gate crews should.  The search crew was quick and professional and had me on my way in minutes.  At which point I came across the parking crew who made sure the lot was tight parked but accessible. 

The festival was held in Stephentown, NY – which was just about a two hour drive for me.  I was in a bit of disbelief as I drove up to the festival because the venue was literally right off of Route 22.  I thought for sure that this was going to have a negative impact on the vibe of the festival, but thankfully I could not have been more wrong.  The road seemed to have minimal traffic during the wee hours of the morning and when the music was playing you could not make out a single car or truck driving by.    

There was some car camping available, but even if you had to park and carry the walk was next to nothing.  I was stoked as I was able to grab a camping spot right next to my car.  Car camping is where it’s at when it comes to festies.  The couple next to me had the illest set up I’ve seen at a festival.  (short of going in an RV)  They had a utility van that had been fitted with a sleeping area on top of drawers for both their festie gear and work gear.  Plus they were making a killing with the bloody mary’s they were selling.  I got lucky ‘cause these two had their act together as far as festie life is concerned.

The first act of the weekend that I caught was Zach Deputy on the main stage.  This man has the one man band down to a science.  Zach had the whole crowd grooving and hooting and hollering during his whole set.  I had to duck away from his set a little early to make it over to the Mystika Stage in time to catch DESIGNER DRUGS.  These two brought it to a whole new level with each and every track they dropped.  The humidity was at like 150% so the stage lighting had the whole tent lit up with an awesome glow perfect for getting down.  Speaking of getting down there was like 5 girls getting fa-ree-kay towards center stage.  I ain’t made tho.  DD rocked out right up to the very end of their set.  Thankfully there was a 30 minute break between Designer Drugs and DJ Theory, so I was able to rest my bones for a hot minute before DJ Theory tore shit up.

On day 2 I was up and at ‘em just in time for some Unexplained Bacon.  I’m not talking breakfast, I’m talking jam band extraordinaire.  I cruised over to the main stage just as the band had 2 guest singers come on stage and take the mic (I don’t have their names, so if anyone can tell me who they were I’ll love ya’ forever).  The band and 2 guests did a doper than dope rendition of Cypress Hill’s ‘Hits from the Bong’.  The weather during the day on Friday was pretty chill as I made my way around the grounds spreading the FCK YES! love and passing out stickers and high fives.  Then shit got gnarly as the sky opened up something fierce with torrential rains and thunder and lightning.  I bunkered down in my tent to make sure it didn’t blow away, but I wasn’t in there too long as the storm passed fairly quickly.

Friday night I caught La Coka Nostra spitting some fire lyrics on the main stage then I was onto the Mystika stage with Tokimonsta bringing a different level of awesome.  I was able to catch a short break before Terravita destroyed the stage.  These guys had that tent busting at the seams with energy.  Every single drop of every single track was pure fire.  I thought for sure the mic was gonna burst into flames from verbal assault it was getting. 

I was a hurting unit by Saturday night (being a one man crew is tough!).  But, I was able to catch Dirtyphonics who dropped the nasty.  Then onto… SUCKERPUNCH!  If you ever have opportunity to see this band then you must.  They are jam central.  They are peanut butter and jam.  They are jam on jam action.  There was not a single ounce of boogey left after at these dudes got done rocking the main stage.  By the time I got over to the Mystika stage to catch DJ Dara I was moving at a crawl.  Needless to say I was able to rage at a medium level for a bit of his set.  I mean… I’ve been listening to this dude for yeeeears.  There was no way I was just gonna stand side stage and take pictures… I had to rage it.

The weather come Sunday was beautiful.  Not too hot, with a slight breeze.  It was perfect weather to pack up your gear, so I did.  I was up and packed by 10a.m. and after one last trip around the grounds I had to get out of dodge.  I wish I could have stayed for all the great acts listed for Sunday night, but real life calls sometimes and you can’t let that shit go to voicemail all the time. 

The Bella Terra Festival is awesome.  No, it’s better than that.  This festival is everything you look for when heading to an all weekend rager – awesome line up, professional crew, excellent sound (not ear deafening, but a perfect level of rage-able) and grounds filled with some of the most friendly people you could meet.  The pictures I got with some of the acts are cooler than cool, but the memories I have of Jared, Amanda, Mandy and Jame-o will never be topped.  FCK YES! would like to thank the Bella Terra crew for doing what you do and letting me be a part of it.  We can’t wait ‘til next year to rage with you again!