After Midnight: Phish's Big Cypress Festival

Latest Episodes:

Episode 5: Aftermath (re-release) Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

What was it like for the band to walk off stage after playing for 7 hours? Would fans go back to a world destroyed by Y2K? What was next for Phish after this monumental achievement? How did Big Cypress influence festivals and the music industry? In our final episode of After Midnight, we explore these questions and more.

Episode 4: The All-Nighter (re-release) Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

What's it like to pull an all-nighter with 80,000 of your closest friends? What happens when you try to drive a hot dog through that same crowd? Can you say "Cheesecake!" like you're pissed? Will the band play an encore?

In episode 4, we answer these questions and more. We also explore the lasting impressions of the legendary midnight-to-sunrise experience.

Episode 3: City on a Swamp (re-release) Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

In episode 3, we emerge from the traffic jam, and we are officially on Big Cypress. We hear Trey and Tom reflect on cruising Big Cypress, and talk to Jon Fishman, Brad Sands, John Paluska and lots of fans about their experiences on site. And we start to get to the music. There's music!

Episode 2: A Long Day on Alligator Alley (re-release) Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

What's it like to build a city for 75,000 fans from scratch? Why did people sit in traffic for 18 hours waiting to get into Big Cypress? And were there actually alligators?

In episode two, we explore how Phish built a city, threw the biggest ticketed event anywhere in the world on New Year’s 1999 and still remained almost completely off the mainstream’s radar.
We’ll hear from Phish band members Trey Anastasio and Jon Fishman, manager John Paluska, festival designer Russ Bennett, and many others—including survivors of the traffic jam on Alligator Alley.

Episode 1: The Plan (re-release) Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

Why did 75,000 Phish fans endure an 18-hour traffic jam to see Phish? Why did Phish make 75,000 fans endure a massive traffic jam to see them? What were Phish doing in Florida in the first place?
In episode one, we explore answers to these questions and more. We talk to Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio drummer Jon Fishman, former manager John Paluska, Seminole liaison Pete Gallagher, and many others involved in making Big Cypress happen.

Episode 5: Aftermath Dec 19, 2019

Show notes

In our final episode of After Midnight, we explore these questions and more. We sincerely appreciate all of the support for this series from fans everywhere. Please share with your friends, and give us a review on Apple Podcasts.

After Midnight is sponsored by Ben & Jerry's and Fiddlehead Brewing Company.

Produced by Osiris Media. Executive Producers are RJ Bee and Tom Marshall. After Midnight was Produced, Edited and Mixed by Matt Dwyer. Written and narrated by Jesse Jarnow. Produced by Jefferson Waful. Music by Amar Sastry. Production assistance from Christina Collins. Art by Mark Dowd. Thanks to Phish, Red Light Management, and to all interviewees. And a special thanks to all the fans who sent us your stories, photos, and memories.

We'll see you out there.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 4: The All-Nighter Dec 12, 2019

Show notes

In episode 4, we answer these questions and more. We also explore the lasting impressions of the legendary midnight-to-sunrise experience.

After Midnight is sponsored by Ben & Jerry's and Fiddlehead Brewing Company.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 3: City on a Swamp Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

After Midnight is sponsored by Ben & Jerry's and Fiddlehead Brewing Company.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 2: A Long Day on Alligator Alley Nov 21, 2019

Show notes

What's it like to build a city for 75,000 fans from scratch? Why did people sit in traffic for 18 hours waiting to get into Big Cypress? And were there actually alligators?

In episode two, we explore how Phish built a city, threw the biggest ticketed event anywhere in the world on New Year’s 1999 and still remained almost completely off the mainstream’s radar.

We’ll hear from Phish band members Trey Anastasio and Jon Fishman, manager John Paluska, festival designer Russ Bennett, and many others—including survivors of the traffic jam on Alligator Alley.

After Midnight is sponsored by Ben & Jerry's and Fiddlehead Brewing Company.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 1: The Plan Nov 14, 2019

Show notes

Why did 75,000 Phish fans endure an 18-hour traffic jam to see Phish? Why did Phish make 75,000 fans endure a massive traffic jam to see them? What were Phish doing in Florida in the first place?

In episode one, we explore answers to these questions and more. We talk to Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio drummer Jon Fishman, former manager John Paluska, Seminole liaison Pete Gallagher, and many others involved in making Big Cypress happen.

After Midnight is sponsored by Ben & Jerry's and Fiddlehead Brewing Company.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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