The Pacific Northwest is ready to welcome a brand new music festival, Cascade Equinox, that is set to bring an array of jam, electronic, funk, soul, and bluegrass acts to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond, Oregon. This exciting cross-genre camping festival is the brainchild of seasoned event organizers Gem & Jam and 4 Peaks Presents and is scheduled to take place from Friday, September 22 to Sunday, September 24, 2023. With a lineup boasting over 50 acts, including headliners Pretty Lights, Big Wild, Goose, Phantogram, Trevor Hall & The Great In Between, and more, the festival promises to offer an eclectic and dynamic roster of artists that reflect the beauty and diversity of the festival’s Central Oregon location.
In addition to its impressive lineup, Cascade Equinox will feature an expansive vendor marketplace, diverse food options, healing grounds, interactive art installations, off-site excursions, kids’ activities, and more. The festival grounds, Deschutes County Fairgrounds, are the premier event facility and venue in the Pacific Northwest, with panoramic views of snow-capped mountain peaks, trees, and a creek running through its 340-acre space. This vast, naturalistic setting sets the stage for a music festival unlike any other, providing a picturesque backdrop for the myriad of activities and performances planned for the weekend.
Ahead of the much-anticipated event, we had the opportunity to interview Josh and Stacy, two key figures behind Cascade Equinox.
They shared insights into their career journeys in the music industry, the unique challenges of bringing Cascade Equinox together, and the considerations involved in choosing a venue for a new festival. Additionally, they discussed how technology has changed the way music festivals are held, future trends of electronic music festivals in the Pacific Northwest, and their long-term festival plans after Cascade Equinox.
Can you provide a brief overview of your career in the music industry?
Josh: My first real gig in the music industry was an internship at SCI Fidelity Records while I was in College at CU-Boulder, which at the time was the record label for String Cheese Incident, Umphrey’s Mcgee, Keller Williams, and more. I went on to intern at a booking agency called Crescendo Artists which represented Yonder Mountain String Band and The Motet. There were so many opportunities to see a plethora of live music, I capitalized on every opportunity to inundate myself in the local music community and experience as many concerts as I could. I also got really into the band Sound Tribe Sector 9 as a freshman in 2002 and made it a habit to see them as often as possible.
When they headlined Red Rocks for the first time 4 years later, some of us got together and threw an all-night afterparty at a friend’s warehouse, and never looked back from there. After doing many more STS9 afterparties, I started putting together stand-alone events, moved to San Francisco in 2008, and started throwing events in the Bay Area. In 2012, I met Toby White at an event in San Francisco called Bicycle Day which both of our companies at the time collaborated on. We went on to bring back Gem and Jam Festival that following year from a multi-year hiatus, and have been partners on the event ever since.
Fast forward to 2022, and I moved from California to Portland, OR to take a job as a talent buyer at a new venue called The Get Down which opened in April 2022.
Stacy: I’m currently the owner and operator of 4 Peaks Presents and the 4 Peaks Music Festival founded in 2007. We will be celebrating our 16th year in June 2024. I am also a DJ on KPOV which has been Bend’s Community Radio since 2005. I’m on a show called Live Alive airing Thursdays 2-4 pm as well as another show called Jam In Your Ear on KRXF BEND on Sundays from 10-1pm. I’ve also volunteered in Telluride for T-ride Bluegrass Festival (1998-2002), Mtn Film (2000-2002), and Jazz Fest (Art Director from 1999-2002).
What sets the Pacific Northwest apart as a location for electronic music festivals?
Josh/Stacy: The sheer beauty and diverse landscape make it such an amazing region to bring people together in. There are endless outdoor activities and stunning natural elements, it’s an inspiring place to live and we know that will resonate into the festival experience we are curating. There aren’t a whole lot of festivals of this kind in the state of Oregon or the greater Pacific Northwest anymore, and we can feel the local anticipation really brewing.
Can you describe some unique challenges you faced bringing Cascade Equinox together?
Josh/Stacy: There are always inherent challenges with a first-year event. Even though the Cascade Equinox team includes a lot of the team and infrastructure from the Gem and Jam Festival that has worked together before, there will always be a learning curve that comes with bringing together an event of this magnitude.
What are some important considerations when choosing venues to start a fresh new festival such as Cascade Equinox?
Stacy: The most important are accommodations for the size of experience/activations and people on site, ease of in/out for patrons, and a town near for accommodating artists’ needs such as hotels and amenities. Other important considerations included a regional airport nearby and a picturesque area with mountain views. Deschutes County Fairgrounds offers a great layout – a circle-shaped venue helps Cascade Equinox idea with beautiful grounds, infrastructure, and the ability to grow to over 20K people on the property with RV sites, pristine grass …. and more!
Josh: We’re very fortunate enough to have amazing venue partners in the Deschutes County Fairgrounds, and finding people who understand the vision, intention, and aesthetic of what we’re going for is paramount.
How has technology changed the way music festivals are held?
Josh: I’m old enough to have experienced music festivals before the age of social media when everyone wasn’t so interconnected and you had to rely on word of mouth, and audience recordings to get a firsthand account of an event. The fact that we can now provide real-time updates and feedback that reaches so many people, so quickly, has definitely changed the landscape of festivals. I can think of both positive and negative elements that result from this evolution in technology, but we have no choice but to embrace it.
Stacy: Well, social media is the obvious one, especially with the ability to live broadcast at shows. Being able to provide timely check-ins for attendees and artists as well as being able to follow bands up until the on-site appearance is another benefit.
Can you share any insights into the future trends of electronic music festivals in the Pacific Northwest?
Josh/Stacy: We really put a lot of focus into showcasing everything the Pacific Northwest has to offer. From music, to art, to performances, craft vendors, food and beverage, the local elements are really disseminated through all levels of the event. Shedding light on the local community is super important to us, and we hope this trend will continue growing in the Pacific Northwest region and beyond.
What are your festival plans long term after Cascade Equinox proves to be a smashing success? Any ideas for other new festivals on the horizon?
Josh: We’re truly focused on staying true to our ethos of making Cascade Equinox “A Festival Reimagined” and for me, that also translates into ensuring that the event is sustainable and can exist for a long time. Our number one focus is taking small steps to improve and grow incrementally year after year while providing the best possible experience for our community. That being said, nothing is off the table…
Stacy: To build on what we have created and bolster other events. We’d like to have a few off-shoot events during the year leading up to Cascade Equinox. We will also be celebrating the 16th edition of the 4 Peaks Music Festival from June 20-23,2024 in Southeast Bend’s Stevenson Ranch.
