Relive These 6 Memorable Moments From Hulaween 2021 – [Read]

For its beloved eighth edition, Suwannee Hulaween hosted an unforgettable weekend of music, art, and friendship in Live Oak, Florida. 

Suwannee Hulaween is a place that embraces the Halloween spirit every year by hosting the most sought-after musicians and inviting some of the finest visual artists to adorn Spirit Lake with their creations. This year, the four-day festival spanned from October 28-31 and hosted a variety of DJs, bands, rappers, singers, and other talents to help bring the magic to the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park. 

After Hulaween took a year off in 2020 due to the pandemic, the stakes for its 2021 edition couldn’t have been higher. It’s difficult to pinpoint the “best” moments—the entire weekend surpassed our expectations on every level. It was clear that every performer worked hard to give the crowd a one-of-a-kind show and that the festival’s organizers bent over backward to make it all possible. Over the course of the weekend, these few moments were some of the most memorable takeaways!

When Skrillex, Bonobo, and Chris Lake Went b2b at Incendia

After Skrillex, Bonobo, and Chris Lake put on fantastic solo shows Friday night, they joined forces for a surprise b2b2b on the Incendia stage. Incendia isn’t an official stage at Hulaween but an immersive art installation that delivers fire and sound to its awestruck patrons. For this reason, the stage follows no schedule, allowing it to host secret renegade sets all through the night. This legendary b2b2b was the best-kept secret of the weekend, and anyone who had the opportunity to witness it will testify that it left them speechless.

When Loaves of Bread Floated Around During Daily Bread

Atlanta-based musician Daily Bread had no trouble packing out The Ampetheater stage at 3:15 PM on that Friday of the festival. The artist set the bar high for the remainder of the weekend after transforming the stage into a literal party. The entire stage was bumping, and curious passerbys were drawn quickly into its fervor. The highlight of Daily Bread’s set was definitely when loaves of bread were being tossed around and surfed across the crowd. 

When Claude Vonstroke Did a Surprise Barclay Crenshaw Set

Whenever Claude Vonstroke is in town, chatter of a surprise Barclay Crenshaw sets is always in the air. The Saturday night Hulaween crowd got lucky as Claude wrapped up his hour-and-a-half-long set at the Spirit Lake stage and wasted no time to move the party right next door to Incendia. The Dirtybird label boss pumped out a myriad of tech house, hip-hop, and acid-trip bass sounds as the crowd was blasted with heat by Incendia’s enchanting fire charade. Barclay summoned attendees into the early hours of Halloween, showing us that he was just getting the holiday party started.

When The String Cheese Incident Played Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” During Their Dance-Themed Covers Set

Although The String Cheese Incident put on a number of memorable appearances throughout the festival (as they historically do), the band’s Saturday night show arguably outshined every performance of the weekend. For their third and final set of the night, String Cheese did an all-covers show. Ask anyone who was in attendance, and they’ll rave about the magic that captivated the crowd as the band played “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John. There was confetti, fireworks, massive blow-up dragons, and dinosaurs–under all the glory of the Halloween Eve sky.

When Khruangbin Closed Out The Main Stage

For those who closed out each stage on Sunday night—Dr. Bacon, Lane 8, Roosevelt Collier Band, Khruangbin–there was a lot of pressure after such an unforgettable weekend. Khruangbin’s show at The Meadow stage exceeded expectations. The band delivered an hour and a half of what felt like a total culmination of the weekend’s inspiring energy. One of the most notable moments of the performance was when the trio played “Halloween,” into “Ghostbusters,” into “Thriller” in honor of the spooky holiday. And of course, their sense of fashion is almost as good as their music.

When Manic Focus Lit Up The Amphitheater

There’s a reason Suwannee Hulaween books Manic Focus every year. The Amphitheater is the perfect stage to host the live band and give every angle of the crowd the most incredible views. The Amp was packed, and it felt like every attendee at the festival made their way to see Manic Focus’ live band play. And although we’ve come to expect to see Manic Focus on the lineup every year, JmaC and his band are incredibly innovative and always bring something fresh and exciting to the festival. It wouldn’t be a proper Hulaween without Manic Focus. 

Cover Photo Courtesy Collin Taylor