Festival Preview: Mamby on the Beach Returns to Chicago

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Last year, Chicago welcomed Mamby on the Beach, the only festival in the city that gave concertgoers the ability to swim in the refreshing waters of Lake Michigan while having a front row seat to some of the best music of the summer. This year, the festival is back, with tons of new and exciting things to ensure you have the best 4th of July weekend ever. I will be covering the festival here in my hometown, but before I do, I’d love to provide you all with just a taster of what to expect if you’re headed to Mamby.

The Place

Everyone knows Chicago is home to some of the world’s greatest music festivals, but we’re also home to beautiful beaches, renowned restaurants and bars, and some of the best people you will ever meet. Setting up shop on Oakwood Beach near historic Bronzeville and Hyde Park, Mamby has cemented its place as one of the top up-and-coming festivals in the Midwest.

Concertgoers will get to experience something that no other festival in the city can boast: access to the beach while listening to amazing music. While all ticketholders will get to feel the soft, warm sand between their toes, VIP members will get to dive headfirst into Lake Michigan, snorkel and all, just feet away from the Beach Stage. In addition, the VIP crew gets access to elevated stage views, a custom-built tiki lounge, and express entry into the festival.

The Tunes

Mamby on the Beach brings some of the biggest acts across the globe onto the sands of Oakwood Beach. With two lakefront stages and a huge DJ tent, indie rock crashes into electronica like waves onto the shore and gives concertgoers the opportunity to dance to a wide variety of music. Santigold, Chet Faker, and Animal Collective will be just some of the amazing acts taking to the main stages, while Tale of Us, Audion, Hannah Wants, and more will be spinning records in the DJ tent.

Mamby is also bringing a plethora of Chicago artists to the festival, ranging from Grammy Award winner Lupe Fiasco to local acts Wild Belle, Monte Booker & Ravyn Lenae, and more.

If you want to experience a truly unique social experiment, head over to the Silent Disco, where people dance to synchronized music through wireless headphones.

After shows will be announced later this week! Check out www.mambybeach.com for additional information, or download the Mamby on the Beach app to create your own custom schedule.

The Food

The 4th of July is synonymous with two things: grilled fare and chilled brews. Lucky for me, Mamby is bringing some of the best local food to the party. If you’re looking for classic barbecue, Porkchop is the food truck to get behind, while Cheesie’s provides some of the best grilled cheeses in the Windy City, and Da Lobsta Roll will make you feel right at home on the beach. There will be tons of vegan and vegetarian options as well, courtesy of Fresh + Jive and other vendors.

If you need a pick-me-up in between dancing and doing yoga, hit up Bearclaw Coffee for their signature Black Bear Mocha or a refreshing fruit smoothie. To top it all off, Puffs of Doom will be serving dessert, including vegan and gluten-free options. For more amazing vendors, be sure to check out the food truck area!

The Vibe

I love festivals, but I often find myself searching for a moment of silence and quiet energy to recharge for the rest of the day. Enter Mamby yoga! There will be a dedicated yoga area in the park, giving you time to find your center and get balanced for more music. To further your health and well-being, nutrition guru Melissa Moon will be hosting a number of workshops on the beauty and real-life benefits of an all-natural, organic diet. Check out the Mamby website for the full schedule.

When you need a break from raving in the DJ tent, feel free to take part in any of the beach-friendly games and events that will be lining the shore (open to all concertgoers!). Live art installations, tarot card readings, and henna tattoo booths will give you plenty to do while eating and rehydrating. Finally, as the sun goes down on a beautiful day, enjoy live fire performances and fire dancing from Pyrotechniq and Chicago Moon Fire Jams.

This will be my first year at Mamby, but I’m already anticipating that it won’t be my last. I’m really looking forward to the eclectic, positive array of events and musicians and, I’m so ready to dive headfirst into this unique festival experience.

By Kate Scott Daly

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