Dirtybird Campout to Return in Partnership With Northern Nights: ‘This Isn’t a Takeover; It’s a Collaboration’
After two years off, Dirtybird Campout will return this summer in partnership with NorCal’s longstanding Northern Nights festival.
The two indie festivals will unite for the new hybrid event, officially titled Dirtybird Campout x Northern Nights, on July 18-20 at Cook’s Valley Campground, roughly 200 miles north of San Francisco. Launched in 2015, Dirtybird Campout is an offshoot of the Dirtybird label, the influential electronic imprint founded by producer Claude VonStroke in 2005 and acquired by indie label, distributor and publisher EMPIRE in 2022.
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“As the label was undergoing a leadership change under EMPIRE, it was important for us to take a step back and plan for the next evolution of the brand and the fan experience,” Moody Jones, general manager at EMPIRE and Dirtybird tells Billboard of the festival’s off years. “We knew we had to bring it back, and we know how much the fans have missed it, so it was a matter of timing it right.”
Tickets for Dirtybird Campout x Northern Nights are on sale now, with the lineup to be announced in the coming months.
Northern Nights co-founder Andrew Borgelt says the collaboration “came together naturally” after the teams were introduced by a mutual colleague this past November. “From our very first conversation,” Borgelt continues, “it was clear that we shared a deep connection within the same music community. Throughout the process, both teams remained aligned on a shared vision — ensuring that each brand’s voice was authentically represented while seamlessly merging the essence of both festivals.”
As such, Dirtybird Campout x Northern Nights will feature signature Campout programming including camp games and activities along with Northern Nights’ standard offerings including its integration of cannabis culture. The event happens in the middle of Northern California’s so-called Emerald Triangle (the United States’ largest cannabis producing region made up of Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity Counties) and has been a forerunner in offering legal cannabis retail and consumption areas.
Both events have historically booked indie, underground and left of center electronic music, with that vibe expected to continue in 2025.
Happening since 2013, Northern Nights takes place at Cook’s Valley Campground, which provides attendees access to the Eel River and an opportunity to party amid the redwoods. Northern Nights’ director of marketing and sales Matthew Whitlock says the new event will still provide “the signature Northern Nights experience, with the magic of the redwoods, our commitment to music, art and cannabis culture, and that intimate festival energy.
“But with Dirtybird in the mix,” he continues, “expect a whole new level of immersive fun — campout vibes, themed stages and the iconic Dirtybird Campout color games. This isn’t a takeover; it’s a collaboration of two beloved festival cultures, creating something fresh, bold, and unforgettable.”
“It’s no secret that the festival business is going through a challenging time right now, with higher tickets, rising costs and the recycled lineups contributing to subpar experiences,” Jones continues. “We only wanted to bring back Campout if we could provide the same experience in a sustainable way, without compromising on the core values we’re known for. With our Northern Nights partnership we found a way to accomplish all of that and couldn’t be happier with the synergy. Northern Nights has booked Dirtybird artists as headliners almost every year, and with our partnership, they have been one of our biggest supporters.”
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