Dirt Fest 2014 was Bigger and Better Than Ever!

Last Saturday a crowd of people from all over Michigan took over the Expo Center at Birch Run for Dirt Fest 2014. This was by all accounts the best year yet.

Dirt Fest 2014 was bigger than ever before, literally. The festival was set up differently and we loved the new layout. There were more stages than ever, more merch booths, more food vendors, and a lot more fun things to do. There was even a dunk tank, a free photo booth with props. and a blow up sword fighting area. The weather was also perfect throughout the day, the sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

We spent the day interviewing bands and fans, we wanted to know what makes Dirt Fest special and why they decided to come out to the show. We ran into a lot of first timers and a lot of people who said that they come every year no matter what the lineup was. Everyone seemed to agree that Dirt Fest is a one of a kind experience because of the crowd that attends it. The people that come out to this fest are there to have fun. They show up and party before the doors are even open and hang out until the last note is played. Everyone is friendly and smiling. There were no fights, no crazy drunks, no crazy bathroom lines, and basically no issues.

We really enjoyed watching all of the bands, but especially the hometown heroes that were on the lineup. This included Aim Your Arrows, Battlecross, Ana, BraidedVeins and Beast In The Field. We think that it is wonderful that so many local Michigan acts play at Dirt Fest. It shows the commitment that the Dalton Brothers have to the music of Detroit and its surrounding areas. There was more than one band that said that they have worked with Matt Dalton or recorded at 37 Studios, it's like one big freaky family and we love it.

The fans also get a chance to get up close and personal with all the bands that are playing on the festival. Some of the musicians walk around and say hello and some of them visited the Ink Addict tent to do official signings and formally meet their fans before they took to the stage.

It was by far the best Dirt Fest yet, although I feel that we say the same thing every year after the show. Cheers to the Dalton Brothers, the bands, and all of the people that put this day together and make it run so smoothly. My only regret is that I didn't get to steal a golf cart and ride it around the place. I just couldn't find one that was unattended and had keys in the ignition. I'll have to plan my golf cart joy ride out a little better next year I guess.

~S