Summer Music Festival Preview: Camp Euforia

The weekend of July 12-13 will mark the 10th anniversary of eastern Iowa's most enduring music festival, Camp Euforia. Camp will once again be in full swing on Jerry Hotz's farm in Lone Tree, bringing with it the diverse culture, the fun, the flippancy, and the music that makes it one of Iowa's premier summer weekend getaways.

Camp Euforia takes place the weekend of July 12
in Lone Tree, Iowa. (Click to enlarge)

This years' lineup will showcase many of the talented acts that call Iowa home, as well as several national acts who will be making their first appearance at the euphoric campground. Of course the party's host band, Euforquestra will play both nights on the main stage, as they have in the past.

"It's hard to believe that we are coming up on our 10 year anniversary as a band, and for our festival, said Mike Tallman, guitarist for Euforquestra during an email exchange. "It's been a crazy ride, full of lots of ups and downs, but it's been a learning experience the whole way and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Eric Quiner, of Cornfed Productions, organizer of the festival agrees. “Ten years is an incredible milestone. Maintaining great relationships with our community is the key to our success.  The constant collaboration of ideas and input from the community inspired the culture of Camp Euforia’s music and made it into what it is today.”

Eufprquestra at the Aggie Theater in Fort Collins last year
Photo by Tobin Voggesser of NoCoast TV.
(Click to enlarge)

Camp Euforia will offer a little something for everyone from a Saturday morning yoga session to late night campfire singalongs. Tent and RV camping is available. A carnival-like atmosphere will greet music lovers as they enjoy the (hopefully) beautiful Iowa weather and bask in the glow of one of the most diverse festival lineups anywhere. The weekend promises to be a kaleidoscope of Psychedelia, Funk, Bluegrass, Rock, Dub, Jazz, Afrobeat and Reggae.

Mike Tallman adds, "Camp Euforia was born as "Euforquestra's Fan Appreciation Party" but grew in to full-blown music festival before our eyes. Over the years we have built an amazing crew and family that help make it all possible. At this point it's a well-oiled machine and we couldn't pull it off without the help of our director, stage and production crews, volunteer coordinators, volunteers, ticketing agency, vendor coordinators, and of course, Jerry Hotz." 

Bands from Michigan, New York, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Colorado, New Orleans and Chicago will be featured along with several representations from Iowa's own unique music scene.

Pimps of Joytime

One band that will be featured is The Pimps of Joytime, from Brooklyn. This will be the Pimps second time playing in Iowa as they headlined a show in Iowa City once before. Brian J., the front man of the band says that they are anticipating coming back to Iowa for the good people and the good times that they had enjoyed previously. "You know, there wasn't a lot of people there," he said of the Iowa City gig. "But the people who were there were very enthusiastic, and we were invited to an after-party and it was a fun night all around." 

The Pimps are looking forward to another Iowa party, as their sound is perfect for the Camp Euforia setting. Brian J. describes the band's sound as, "... a combo of Funk, with elements of Soul, there's elements of Pop, there's some Rock and Roll, Blues thrown in, and then this kind of Afro-beat, Latin vibe here and there." 

It should be the perfect soundtrack to a blazing hot summer in the midwest.  

"Camp Euforia gets better every year, and 2013 will be no exception." Tallman explains. "We've put together our best lineup yet and Euforquestra will have lots of great music in store to celebrate our last decade. We can't say "thank you" enough to those that have supported us along the way. We love our family, friends and fans and we can't wait to sweat it out in the Iowa cornfields with you this Summer!"

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Tickets are available at www.midwestix.com. Please visit www.campeuforia.com for more information. For volunteer information, please email campeuforiavolunteer@gmail.com.

You can check out Euforquestra and Camp Euforia on Twitter and Facebook also. See the links below. 

Pertinent Links:

Euforquestra on Facebook

Camp Euforia on Facebook

Pimps of Joytime on Facebook

Euforquestra on Twitter

Camp Euforia on Twitter