Over 20,000 jamband fans flock to Seaport Park in Bridgeport, CT each yearto see their favorite bands at The Gathering of the Vibes.
Anticipating the start of the Gathering of the Vibes’ 18thyear, fans can expect to see a number of bands returning to the stage thanks to the efforts of the festival’s production crew as they try to create an atmosphere that fits the festival’s jamband vibe.
“It’s not just about production,” said Chris Hubbard, the production manager for the Gathering of the Vibes Festival. “Creating a great artist and fan experience is absolutely a team effort and we’re one piece of the equation. I like to think artists love to return to Vibes year after year because the Vibes Production Team has this culture at its core.”
The Gathering of the Vibes is an annual Jamband summer music festival, held in Bridgeport, CT, and is returning for its 18th year this year, welcoming over 40 bands including Blues Traveler, the Jason Crosby Band, The Black Crowes and The Roots. The festival is scheduled for July 25 to 28 and will be held at the Seaside Park.
To help provide a strong production team, Hubbard said he hires sound engineers from all over the U.S.
“The Stage Managers (Derek Iorfida and Roger Tharp) and I have spent years cultivating the Vibes Production Crew. We bring in a team from all over the U.S. that have not only the best skills, but the best attitudes. I’m a stickler for detail when it comes to being show-ready and having the right team in place is where it starts.”
Hubbard said the crew is encouraged to treat each act the same, providing them with all the necessary equipment and services to give the fans a great show.
The production crew for The Gathering of the Vibes festival.
“We treat each artist on every stage as if they were the headlining act,” he said. “This festival is truly about the fan experience and allowing the artist to fully connect with them is everything. I take great pride in providing the best atmosphere for every artist’s production.”
And as the lineup for the festival starts trickling in, crew members are eagerly anticipating this year’s event, including making use of the new Meyer LEO loudspeaker system.
“We’re constantly upgrading our audio, lighting and video packaging to provide the best systems year after year,” Hubbard said. “I’m personally very excited to have the Meyer LEO system utilized this year.”
New artists will be added to the roster up through early June, including one fan favorite selected through an online voting poll. Each year, the festival asks its fans to go online and vote for a new, up-and-coming band to perform at the festival. Fans can vote for a band up until June 1 through the Road to the Vibes Contest App. Winners will be announced in early June.
Ticket for the whole festival and individual day tickets are now available and can be purchased at www.GOVIBES.com.
