Voodoo 2015: Worship The Music
This preview is brought to Festival Survival Guide by a special guest journalist! Thanks, Sloane Brakeville for the insights on this sure to be awesome event!
The ritual is upon us again. As Halloween 2015 approaches, music fans all over get excited for another chance to celebrate in New Orleans. As a city know for its festivals and parades, their excitement is justified; Voodoo offers a chance to experience the Big Easy in a unique way. City Park, where the festival is held, isn’t located in the heart of the city. It’s a short drive, a long walk, or a cheap shuttle ride (which picks you up right on the edge of the park). However, distance is worth it. Finding a location in NOLA that can handle 4 large stages and enough space to harbor the multitudes of fans visiting for a stacked artist list is challenging. The park is beautiful this time of year and the weather in New Orleans has finally been released from the heat of summer. If you still have energy after the night’s activities, be sure to visit the French Quarter for one of the best costume parties of the year. Musically, Voodoo packs a punch this year. With an eclectic mix of names like Deadmau5, Third Eye Blind, Zac Brown Band, and Joey Bada$$ headlining everyone is sure to find something daily for their musical taste. So without further ado here’s my list of top act to see each day.
Friday is a tough pick. As a hip-hop fan, my first opportunity to see Joey Bada$$ has me longing for a schedule release so I can weigh the conflicts. However, I have to yield to the force that is Florence. With the band’s 2015 release of their third studio album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, Florence + the Machine has seen the band steamrolling through festivals all around the country. Headlining huge festivals like Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and now Voodoo, expect a performance from a group that is absolutely on top of their game. From the new album, check out “Ship To Wreck,” or “What Kind of Man.”
Saturday is an easy choice. Ozzy Osbourne is bringing Geezer Butler of the original Black Sabbath on stage. The pair alone would sell out any arena across the country. But with the added bonus of Tom Morello of none other than Rage Against the Machine and guitarist Slash, most known for his appearance on the popular cartoon South Park, the opportunity to see these musicians play together is worth the price of admission. Expect some hits to emerge; “War Pigs”, “Ironman”, and “Paranoid” are absolute classics. The Tom Morello addition means some Rage tracks might be sprinkled in as well.
Alas, Sunday yields itself to my hip-hop fandom. 22-year-old Chance the Rapper out of Chicago has exploded into the musical world without the help of a major label. His meager personal discography consists of 10 Day, Acid Rap, and most recently Free – a freestyle mixtape with rapper Lil B. Critically acclaimed, Acid Rap dropped in April 2013 and propelled him into a spotlight he has taken in stride. Welcoming his first child this September, Chance has a lot going for him. His sound is not boxed in to any genre. A fan can catch his voice on songs with Madonna, Justin Bieber, Skrillex, and established hip-hop artists like Lil Wayne and Childish Gambino. Highlights of his discography include “Cocoa Butter Kisses,” the poppy “Sunday Candy,” and the mellow/spacey “Lost.”
Parking: Parking lots from 5-15 minute walk from the festival range from $60-$100. Shuttles look to be the most cost-effective option.
Food: LOTS OF NEW ORLEANS FOOD YASSSS worshipthemusic.com/no-food/
FAQ: worshipthemusic.com/faq/ things to take note of… totems are allowed but only with PLASTIC POLES, single day ticket holders do NOT have re-entry,
Gate Times: 10:30 AM – 11:00 PM (9:00 PM on Sunday)
Artist Schedule: worshipthemusic.com/cubes/
Tickets & more info: worshipthemusic.com/
