This week’s guest is my friend Mike Chadinha, Festival Director and co-founder of Northlands Music & Arts Festival which takes place June 19-21 in Swanzey, New Hampshire. I’m a big fan of Northlands and I’m super psyched to welcome Mike to the show!!
Mike co-founded Northlands with his partner Seth McNally after enjoying success with the Drive-In Live shows in Swanzey during Covid. Mike and Seth ultimately joined up with co-owner and co-producer Jen Meyerhardt to form the key group that guides this uniquely independent, grass-roots and community-focused Festival. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Northlands features headliners Dirty Heads, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, and The Disco Biscuits along with a slew of other amazing acts.
Mike and I of course break down last year’s edition with plenty of amazing stories, and he talks to me about his background in music, including how he eventually partnered with Seth to book shows, mostly in the New England area. We discuss the hows and whys of festival organizing from the ground up — everything from booking, ticketing, food, camping, to porta-potties (so important!!), and to just what is behind the awesome vibe that makes this festival so special.
I learned a ton from this conversation, and I know you will too!!
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Chapters:
00:00 Episode intro with Host Josh Rosenberg
04:29 Festival Reflections and Growth
11:29 Community and Vibe of the Festival
16:45 Camping Logistics and Regulations
19:43 Unique Festival Experiences and Challenges
27:12 Unexpected Events and Team Resilience
28:05 Unexpected Helicopter Landing at the Fair
30:52 Festival Success and Community Impact
31:49 Mike's Journey from Musician to Festival Organizer
34:45 Pivoting to Drive-In Shows During COVID
37:41 Transitioning to a Full-Fledged Festival
41:41 Planning and Logistics for the Upcoming Festival
44:33 Booking the Perfect Lineup
48:38 Creating a Unique Festival Experience
55:35 Appreciating the Hard Work Behind the Scenes
57:30 Festival Planning and Band Selection
59:04 The Journey of a Promoter
01:00:17 Teamwork and Community in Music Festivals
01:02:00 Navigating Competition in the Festival Scene
01:05:27 The Rewarding Experience of Live Music
01:06:14 Ticket Pricing and Economic Challenges
01:09:27 Financing Bands and Festival Operations
01:11:57 Concessions and Community Engagement
01:14:23 Sustainability Practices at Festivals
01:16:27 Wellness and Balance in Festival Life
01:21:22 Music Recommendations and Personal Favorites
01:26:00 Episode wrap-up with Host Josh Rosenberg
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For more infomation on Northlands Music & Arts Festival, click here
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Roadcase theme music: "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer