You Wanna Go to Super Summer Sleepover SO Bad
Performance by The Haunted Krystalz Band
DISCLAIMER: This recap may be coming from an “unreliable” narrator who is generally grossly over-sentimental and was definitely buzzed at the time this event took place. Emotions may have been heightened—but they were REAL.
SUPER SUMMER SLEEPOVER 4EVER!! <3
Who could’ve guessed sitting in a field near rural Oakville, Washington could feel like heaven? Exposed skin tingled under the heat of the late-July sun, and every once in a while the unmistakable scent of pot would flow in from. . . somewhere off camp grounds. Beneath the stage canopy, which had been pitched in the middle of the grassy plain, the Haunted Krystalz opened the festival with an expressive display of dopamine-inducing tunes. Animated vocals and the lively strumming of acoustic guitar perfectly set the tone for the day ahead.
For weeks leading up to Super Summer Sleepover, whimsically-decorated flyers had been plastered around the city of Olympia and on the Instagram pages of engaged townies, promoting an impressive lineup of nearly 20 local indie musicians playing over the span of three-days and two-nights, lasting from July 24th-26th. Presented by Eld Audio Arts, Tea of the Tarot and Hanson Forest Enterprises, the annual festival raises money for local charities, with 50% of this year’s proceeds going towards the Oakville Foodbank to support families struggling with food insecurity.
The enchanting space’s perimeter was lined by the tents of those spending the night, and round bales of hay garnished its interior. For Olympians, venturing out to the sylvan land located just outside of Oakville—at a certain point having to lurch down dirt backroads, finding reassurance in nothing else but the endearing “you’re almost there!” sign staked on the side of the earthy lane—hadn’t felt like a task at all. Especially when the 45-ish minute journey meant getting to show up for the city’s beloved homegrown creatives.
By the time Silas Sikorski and Kratom Horse took the stage, following the set of the gorgeously eccentric Chamomile Bliss, the atmosphere had blossomed into an almost ridiculously cartoonish serenity. Like out of some satirical utopia, heartfelt songs filled the open field as audience members (shout-out to the event’s co-founders and vibe-curators, Nevaeh and Maya) leapt and twirled to the incessant quirky melodies. Others stood off to the side, throwing frisbees and attempting to jump onto of the large hay bundles. Those who remained seated on picnic blankets or lawn chairs basked in the sun like content cats, keeping drinks from the Bula Bar stand close by to combat the heat of the summer afternoon.
(Tip: Do NOT neglect the ‘what to bring’ list provided on the event’s official social media page. As the poster states: bring clothes for hot days and cold nights. And as I now state: include extra coats for forgetful friends, or else they WILL be asking to take turns with yours.)
Performance by the Rainbow Quest Family Band
Although being quietly tucked away in the woods could easily imply a feeling of detachment from reality, Super Summer Sleepover attendees remained healthily aware of the issues existing beyond the beautiful bordering tree line. This was made clear by the Rainbow Quest Family Band, who had taken advantage of their limited time on stage to acknowledge the unavoidably gloomy state of the world. Once affectionately claiming everyone in attendance as their family, the colorfully-dressed four-piece’s ultimate message was vocalized: no matter our differences, hate no one, love everyone—even if you want to strangle some sense into them sometimes. “The enemy of my enemy is my family,” the band’s lead singer, Jay, declared in-between sweet love songs dedicated to their giggly lover and bandmate, Areya. Afterwards, they’d go on to pass pickles around for the audience to devour as they sang an equally-as-tender ode to the briny treat.
With sunset came the remarkable performances of bands like Crush and Space Whales, both of which having integrated electric guitars and hard-hitting drumming that hadn’t yet been featured during the multi-hour occasion. This drew in the most interactive crowds of the day, with LEDs highlighting festival-goers bobbing their heads and jutting their bodies intuitively—some throwing themselves down on the ground just to jolt back upward.
Performance by Crush
(Though I’d unfortunately missed out on Ella Rae and DJ Radgirl closing the night, we’re going to make up for it with their individual August events—stay tuned for recaps of Ella Rae’s DRESS LIKE A SEA CREATURE house show, and DJ Radgirl’s CUNT RAVE at The Mortuary!)
Overall, the 2nd annual Super Summer Sleepover was very clearly organized with an insurmountable amount of attentiveness and care. Favoring community and connection above all else, the fledgling event’s thoughtful production achieved an atmosphere with more charm than most festivals that charge quadruple the price. Perhaps restrained by a lower budget, as many small community ventures are in their early phases, there’s an affectionate warmth in its simplicity, and an endearing spirit in its unrefined purpose. Oftentimes, music and a supportive community are all that’s needed to create a safe space in the midst of a generally tumultuous world—including the beautiful moments that maybe feel a bit cult-ish, such as when you eat communal pickles from strangers.
Don’t miss next year’s Super Summer Sleepover!