Mamby On The Beach Delivers Fantastic First Year

In a city that is as music-spoiled as Chicago it is hard to make a splash as a new music festival. You already have to compete against big names such as Lollapalooza, Spring Awakening and Riot Fest…just to name a few.

React Presents seems to have found the formula…good music, good people, good weather, and good planning.

Oakwood Beach was taken over by React Presents and turned into Mamby On The Beach for its maiden voyage July 11th and 12th.

Getting There

For those unfamiliar with the Chicago Area – Oakwood Beach is a bit far from actual Downtown Chicago. About 15-30 minutes driving depending on the traffic. Festival go-ers were encouraged to take public transportation and the festival provided shuttles from the local train station straight to the festival. Attendees that drove to the festival were ushered to a large parking lot that was guarded – drivers were also offered free shuttles straight to the beach. Besides a couple of hiccups – the shuttles and the staff did a great job of making sure everyone was in the right line.

Photo Credit : Da Black Swan

The Venue

Who doesn’t love the beach? Who Doesn’t love music? Who doesn’t love music on the beach – that’s right…Nobody. Upon entering the venue you are immediately greeted by makeshift art installations that add to the natural beauty of the beach along with a yoga set up with yoga lessons every other hour complete with a silent disco set up. When you finally reach the sand it’s impossible to keep your shoes on and prance (frolicking is also acceptable) between the stages. Mamby had a modest three stage set up. The main stage which featured Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline as a backdrop, a tent which hosted DJs all weekend and a smaller stage which was reserved for more local talents. Sound bleeding was minimal – a task that is not easily achieved when working with a small area. Well done.

Photo Credit : Carpe Momentum Media

The Music

As I mentioned before – it’s hard to make yourself unique in a sea of music festivals and live events so instead of trying to book the same acts that are at every dance music festival they went towards a more indie-dance/techno / deep-ish house vibes for their talent. Indie dance superstarts with fantastic live shows such as Passion Pit and Empire of the Sun controlled the mainstage after the sun went down. Zhu and Art Department made an already dark tent even darker with their skillful DJ-ing. Other highlights included Phantogram’s Sarah Barthel talking to the crowd in an almost whisper before belting out the lyrics to Phantogram’s haunting songs. Or watching Cherub hop around on stage as they coordinated an extended sing along version of Doses and Mimosas after the duo brought out their new puppy on stage.

Photo Credit : Carpe Momentum Media

The Vibes

I think the beach had something to do with it – because everyone I talked to, ran into, shared a drink with were just in an electrically good mood. Sure that attitude comes with a music festival, but there’s something about dancing with the sand between your toes that multiplies the happiness tenfold and makes it near impossible to have a bad time.

Photo Credit : Da Black Swan

Mamby On The Beach filled a hole in our festy-loving hearts that we didn’t know was missing. Until next time Mamby. Love, Run The Trap

Mamby On The Beach Delivers Fantastic First Year