2023 Four Winds Music Festival Day 1
2023 Four Winds Music Festival Day 1
My Adventures at Four Winds
The Sioux Falls, SD, Four Winds Music Festival had come around again, and if the opening night was anything to go by, it promised to be an event to remember. This year expanding beyond just the Icon and adding 2 more stages one at Full Circle Book Co-op and one at Club David. The elusive Corey Church was in attendance and could be seen running around before the festival got kicked off making sure everyone had what they needed.
If you want all the nitty gritty details it took us a couple hours to set up in the brutal heat. While we setup we got to see some of our favorite people before the night started to get crazy. Most importantly was DJ Strawstone! The other Cornerstone of Nice Enough ENT. These guys really mean the world to us from day one of Rogues Gallery introducing us they have returned every bit of energy we have put into their shows and have continuously invited us out their events! We will be forever grateful to all these guys! Plus his wife makes some pretty cool art. The Ed, Edd, & Eddy piece in my living room is an absolute masterpiece. Anyways back to setup, first off we got to setup right next to Common Sense which is great because my Dad use to work up at the airport with one of their business partners who happened to be at the Festival today. I told him who my dad was and he told me that he tells people about my dad because my dad is so rad that he goes to music festivals with his kid. For context I should probably let you know that my dad got a work ticket and flipped burgers for 12 hours a day at Electric Forest so he could make it to my Wedding. So then I got him a VIP Lost Lands Ticket and let him do it up right. Alright back to the current festival…
The festival started off with Fatal Fall. The opening band took to the stage with an unapologetic vigor that set the tone for the rest of the evening. The music was sharp, their performance intense, and it was clear that they had come to do more than just play music – they were here to deliver an unforgettable experience. As they ripped through their set, a captivating blend of grinding guitar riffs and pulsating drums, they fueled the audience's excitement for what was yet to come.
My excitement however at this time was fueled by Deathly Designs showing up to hang out, work on some art, and add a few new items to the inventory!
The Four Winds Festival is not just about music; it’s about community, about shared experiences, and often, about hilariously unforgettable personal anecdotes. One such moment occurred when my daughter, caught up in the excitement of the festivals next band - March In Arms, decided that her brother would look better doused in Sprite. As the epic music from the stage drowned my attempts to intervene, I saw it coming - the mischievous glint in her eye, her brother’s blissful unawareness, and the inevitable, fizzy explosion that landed all over the crowd to my dismay. But such are the memories made at music festivals – unexpected, joyously ridiculous, and delightfully unforgettable. Needless to say grandpa came and got the kids not long after.
But as any seasoned festival goer knows, attending a music festival is as much about the heart-racing dashes between stages as it is about the music. As Pray For Villains took over the mainstage with their hard-hitting anthems, I was already on the move, bouncing over to Club David. It was no coincidence, as three bands that we run merch for were all playing back-to-back tonight at the Club David stage. Luckily our friend Kenzie and her family stopped by to help my wife just before I left.
Just as I arrived, my good friend C10 was taking the stage. His performance was a spellbinding performance that captivated the audience. His set was followed by a series of incredible performances from GunnerB, Enlightened Ones, and finally Rogues Gallery’s final performance, each adding their unique flavor to the night's line-up. My mood probably elevated by the fact that my good homie Jeremy Mercier showed up to help me out around this time.
Finally, with a weary but satisfied smile, I said goodbye to Sad Planet, who I look forward to hearing on Day 2 and at Shorefest in 2 weeks, I packed up our merchandise, heading back to the Icon Mainstage just in time to catch the tail-end of Denham's set. Their music reverberated through the night, closing off the night in a crescendo of powerful sound. As their last notes rang out into the night, we chatted with customers, packed up our gear and watched as the audience gradually filtered out, their faces alight with the echoes of an epic first night at the Four Winds Music Festival.
Tonight was a testament to the spirit of the Four Wind Music Festival – the spirit of community, of shared experiences, of unforgettable music. Here’s to the rest of the festival, and to all the unforgettable memories that will undoubtedly be made. The night was over, but the music would live on, and we couldn’t wait to see what the next day had in store.
My only regret is I just wish it was possible to see all the acts and do a write up on them all for you!