Northern Nights Music Festival Returns to the Emerald Triangle This Weekend!

CHECK OUT OUR 2015 REVIEW | 2014 REVIEW

*Please see the end of the post for lineup, set times, and more NNMF assets!*

There’s a reason… well, many reasons… why Northern Nights has elevated itself as one of my favorite festivals of all time. And, despite the fact that I’ve already attended four major festivals in 2016, there’s just no way I could skip Northern Nights 2016. As you can see from the links above, this will be my third time attending Northern Nights, which will have only existed for four years as of this weekend. In 2016 the festival organizers have managed to book some huge names while still keeping its low boutique profile. Maybe I’ll go on record as saying Northern Nights is one of the best-kept festival secrets of all time. I don’t think I’ve been to a festival in recent years where I’ve been completely amped on every single headliner, but surprise surprise, Northern Nights has managed to do that. I’m talking about Gorgon City and GRiZ – both of whom I just saw at Electric Forest – and Claptone (performing his “Immortal” show). If that’s not enough we’ll be treated to the sounds of artists like SNBRN, TroyBoi, Prince Fox, Fort Knox Five, The Knocks, Amon Tobin, and so many more that you both have and haven’t heard of.

nnmf 2016 lineup

Northern Nights is great for discovery of all kinds. Personally I like the festival because there are so many artists I either haven’t heard of or who I haven’t seen live. There’s a unique West Coast Bass music feel, all the while camping under the Redwoods and spending days floating on the Eel River. In terms of size, Northern Nights is relatively small when compared to the super festivals that are in our faces these days – and even when looking at larger transformational festivals like its cousin Lightning in a Bottle. But the small size is refreshing – it allows for further discovery and not just in regard to music. I’m talking art, food, yoga, nature, friends, and a tight-knit community of people who are immersing themselves in one of the best parts of America to bond over amazing times.

And you can’t forget about the silent disco. My good friends at Hush Concerts know how to produce an amazing silent disco no matter where they are in the country, but there’s just something about silently discoing under the stars among the Redwoods that really gets me going. Once the main stage shuts down each night, head to the Silent Disco to party with two channels of music til the sun comes up. On a personal level I’m excited to see that Gorgon City will be spinning a DJ set at the silent disco because a.) their DJ sets are fucking awesome (I’m talking some real UK House and Garage) and b.) you don’t often see huge names like Gorgon City taking over the decks of a silent disco.

nnmf day shot

I could go on and on about Northern Nights, and if you want to see what my experiences were like the previous two years check out the articles above. What I’m told this year is the festival has some new stages, some new camping grounds, many new features, and as usual tickets WILL SELL OUT. So grab your tents, grab your floaties, grab your buds, and see you up in Humboldt County this weekend!