Written by: Abigail Eaton
The babes had an amazing time last weekend at The Homie Collective Campout, which took place in Charlton, MA at 508 INTL. This independent festival was the perfect way to wrap up summer as festival season winds down. Hosted by The Homie Collective– a passionate group of ravers who are creating space for the east coast community-this event has grown from a humble backyard jam into a full fledged four-day festival featuring three stages of music, art, workshops, glassblowing, and of course, the homies.
It’s no secret that music festivals have faced some serious hardships this year, and The Homie Collective Campout (THCC) was no exception. Just two weeks before the event, organizers had to make a major pivot and switch venues. Thankfully, they were able to return back to the venue where the festival took place last year and actually improved the set-up! It was inspiring to see staff, volunteers, and even homies who weren’t even planning on volunteering lend a helping hand to make sure the festival went off without a hitch!
The lineup this year did not disappoint. With a wide range of genres—from jam bands to heavy bass—there was something for everyone. We had legends OTT and Lespecial headlining the jam stage, and Yheti bringing us the bass for not one, but three sets (that bonus sunrise set was everything). We also got to experience a Liminoid set, where Lespecial and Yheti joined forces to create one of the most genre-defying sets we’ve ever seen! There were also some killer late night sets from Riot Ten, Late Night Radio, Bawldy, and more.
One of the most unique aspects of this festival is how cannabis friendly it was! They had a variety of vendors offering home-grown cannabis products. From flower to baked goods, there was something for every kind of consumer; some booths even had free samples! For the true cannabis connoisseurs, THCC hosted the annual “Homie Grown Cup”. Local growers enter their finest product into a friendly competition, with judges sampling and voting on their favorites. Think Top Chef, but for cannabis!
Beyond the music, there was no shortage of places to eat and shop. Touch of Green had tons of yummy vegan and vegetarian options and Uncle Mitch’s Munchies had us covered with all the late night cravings. Electric Braids helped bring rave fairy hair dreams to life, and other small businesses like Earth and Skye, Grassroots California, and Jellidream brought their magic to the vendor area. For a smaller fest, we were impressed by the number and quality of vendors!
If you are looking to attend smaller, independent festivals with a focus on community, homie vibes, and creativity, be sure to add this one to your list. We had an amazing time with our babes at The Homie Collective Campout and can’t wait for next year!