“I worried that my hopes for the fest were simply too high. I’d come to imagine BMF as a transcendent odyssey, complete with incredible music, an awe-inspiring natural setting, and a vibrant community of kindred spirits. That’s a lot to expect from a second-year festival. Hell, I’d gone to Bonnaroo with equally lofty hopes only to end up dehydrated, underwhelmed, and many dollars in the hole. What if Bear Music Fest ended up being a bust, too?
Spoiler alert: It wasn’t.”
Read MoreWe decided we couldn't wait until next summer to unleash some great music! Bear Music Fest has partnered with the annual Lair Tailgate Party to present two of our favorite BMF Artists— Zack Orion and Caleb Hawley— in a FREE concert on the UC Berkeley Campus Saturday November 4th!
Read MoreTrombonist for Afrolicious discusses the Bear Music Fest on Bay Area Focus.
Read More“There’s always been a push and pull between the rigidity of electronic music and the fluid nature of playing live. It’s been a learning process.”
Read More"I didn't start singing in front of people seriously until i was 24 years old. As a youngster it was my dream to be a singer and musician but I was always too afraid to try, fearing criticism and rejection. I'm now 29, and in the last 5 years i've put together a band and an album i can say i'm pretty proud of!" — Ellisa Sun
Read More"If Afrolicious could live how we wanted, who’s to say we wouldn’t have a dope piece of land where we grow our own food and other things and have a big community that’s more outdoor-oriented. That’d be a beautiful future. We are of the earth, and that’s part of who we as musicians are. "
Read More"Someone once described my vocal sound as Laura Nyro meets Aretha Franklin." — Mari Mack
Read More“The banjo is always refreshing. Every time I pick it up, it just feels like something new and dangerous could happen.”
Read More“I don’t think our setting is ‘Arghh Art! We will conquer art! We’re very serious!’ We’ve definitely got a goofiness to the sound, a lightheartedness.”
Read More“The Make A Band Famous show gave us all these creative challenges; we were driving all over New York playing weird shows, and it pushed me out of my comfort zone in a way that felt creative. Like they gave us a box of toy instruments and we had to play a cover with those, so my bassist had a little Casio keyboard and I had maracas tied to my ankles and we were playing an Alanis Morrisette song at 2 in the morning.” - Chris Ayer
Read More"Because songwriting is such an intimate expression, it was awkward when we were just friends and hadn’t really opened up in that way that’s necessary for writing good songs. Having a romantic involvement allowed us the intimacy to really open up in the songwriting process without fear of judgment…and our songs got much better”
Read More"This festival is an elevated spiritual experience that’s based in a lot of love and relationship. That connects everyone from audience member to volunteer staffer to artist. Everyone there feels that web of compassion; to me that’s the special aspect of Bear Music Festival that I don’t think exists in a lot of environments."
Read More"I know that for a fact music is going to be a part of my life forever, definitely. There’s nothing else that really compares to it, so why would you try to do anything else?”
Read More“It’s a testament to your music if you’re playing in a really loud room and the place just shuts up 30 seconds into a song. And it’s like, ‘Ohhh. I’m doing something right.’”
Read More"It’s one part celebration of guy groups from the '50s and '60s that used to dance behind the lead singer and wear the same outfits, and one part golden era 90s DJ Premier and Guru-type classic hip-hop show. When you combine all this with the sensibilities of The Simpsons and Monty Python, you get the Retar Crew”
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