DESERT DAZE FESTIVAL at Sunset Ranch Oasis in Mecca, CA May 2
Year four of the desert festival imagined up by the same crew of Southern Californian musicians turned promoters that bring Moon Block Party to Pomona’s streets commences on Sat, May 2 at Sunset Ranch Oasis in Mecca, CA. Desert Daze is a one-day camping and multi-music event showcasing some of the best Indie acts, both just starting out and groups that have been bringing hipsters a new sound since the mid-90s, and set deep in the middle of the California desert.
Don’t miss musical favorites like Minus the Bear, Failure, Warpaint, RJD2, Chelsea Wolfe, Dan Deacon, Mystic Braves, Gap Dream, plus many more taking the stages surrounded by majestic mountain ranges, lakes and miles of palm trees. Moon Block Event organizers’ hail from a growing collective of artists and musicians from bands like JJUUJJUU, Deap Vally, Fever the Ghost and other local California musicians and artists.
Concert Guide Live was able to chat with Moon Block organizer Phil Pirrone about what goes into putting together a festival in the desert. Pirrone also plays in a local experimental progressive-rock band called Casket Salesmen that he formed in 2005 with bandmate Nathan Lindeman after they both left the band, A Static Lullaby.
CGL: How did you get involved with the Moon Block Party events? What inspired you to start your own festival?
PP: After touring and playing in bands for many years, we threw the first Moon Block Party in Pomona. We wanted to do it because it sounded like a fun thing to do. We had an urge and a desire to organize this huge project for some reason. We were definitely pulled towards doing it.
CGL: Why did you decide to do a festival in the California Desert?
PP: Someone asked us to throw some Coachella parties in 2012 and we said yes because we wanted to throw shows out there and we absolutely love the desert. I think most people that grew up in southern California feel the same.
CGL: How do your own experiences as a musician playing festivals contribute to what you are doing as a promoter and festival organizer?
PP: In all kinds of little subtle ways… We just make every decision a little differently having the knowledge we have from playing festivals and touring.
CGL: Do you always want to stay in a specific genre or styles of music with each event or do you like to bring in different styles from year to year?
PP: We have really wide musical interest so that shit is going to keep changing. We’re going to keep you all on your toes.
CGL: What is unique or new about this year’s festival that has not happened in the past?
PP: The new camping village will be awesome with afterhours entertainment, more live bands, food, shade, and more. Camping and parking is laid out a little differently this year. There are some improvements throughout the festival. We’re getting excited. More food, more bars and more restrooms. It’ll be sweet.
CGL: What have been the craziest or most unexpected experiences or bands so far and why?
PP: I don’t know, it’s all a blur of constant damage control. It’s all crazy… all the time.
CGL: If you could join any of the bands and play a song or two with them at this year’s festival, which band would it be and what song(s) would you want to play?
PP: That’s a fun question. Probably Budos Band but I’d be sweating. Fever the Ghost… because I love jamming with those guys. I do it a lot actually. Mason from Fever plays in JJUUJJUU as well.
Tickets are on sale now and all ages are welcome. Various camping packages are available but there is a limited capacity. Visit desertdaze.org for tickets and more information.