We had the privilege of sitting down with the lovely Maddy O’Neal to dive deep into the magic behind her set at ULTRA Music Festival and her latest track, “Matcha.” With her infectious energy and undeniable talent, Maddy captivated audiences and left an indelible mark on the festival stage. 

As the beats from her performance continued to echo through the festival grounds, Maddy shared insights into the creative process behind her set, which seamlessly blended electronic, hip-hop, and soulful sounds. With infectious energy and a genuine passion for her craft, Maddy illuminated the inspiration behind her newest track with COFRESI titled “Matcha,” which is a vibrant and dynamic track that captivates listeners with its pulsating rhythm and innovative production. As the sun set on another unforgettable day at ULTRA, it was clear that Maddy O’Neal’s starpower is only continuing to rise, and I can’t wait to see where her talent takes her next.

As a special treat for Headbang Society x Maddy O’Neal fans, Maddy was kind enough to whip up a super special guest mix to give her fans a taste of what she prepared for her Ultra set. If you like funky beats and want an hour of booming bass music, then you’ve come to the right place. 

Listen to the guest mix & watch the full interview from ULTRA Music Festival below:

Photo by Aaron Bradley

Every year, Suwannee’s Hulaween exceeds our expectations, creating a whimsical weekend full of great music, laughter and lasting memories. With this year being the tenth anniversary of the festival, there were surprises around every corner that shaped the event into the incredible time it was. We’ve put together a list of our top five favorite experiences at Hulaween to reflect on it. There is a reason why so many festival attendees from around the world have Hulaween as their must to go to festival every year. It’s safe to say that we might be joining this crew of special individuals as well.

1. Spirit Lake – This one was a no brainer for us. Spirit Lake is always an iconic part of the festival, but this year was different. Instead of half of the lake being open, festival goers were able to walk around the entire lake and see the designs from every angle. There were plenty of installations as well as hands-on activations that people were able to immerse themselves in. One of my favorites was the grounding station where you were able to relax and really connect with the earth and music around you.

2. Impeccable Camping Weather – Festivals in Florida are always questionable when it comes to the weather, but this weekend’s weather was one for the books. With highs in the low 80’s and lows in the 50’s, it created the perfect fall vibe. It was comfortable enough to where you needed a hoodie at night, but could still wear your favorite Halloween costume during the day without dripping in sweat. 

3. Unique Costumes – The attendees this year were creative to say the least when it came to their costumes. Hulaween is the perfect place to express your creativity, and what better way to do that than with a Halloween costume! We saw costumes of all different shapes and sizes, ranging from Disney characters, to 70’s themed, to Sirens and Cleopatra we saw it all!

4. Music – What would Hulaween be without the music? We were truly spoiled this weekend with the lineup we were given. Personally, Lab Group and Pretty Lights might have taken the cake for best sets of the weekend, but that’s not to say artists like Elderbrook, Eprom and Mt. Joy weren’t following very closely after. The diversity of the Hulaween lineup every year is something so special that makes the festival truly remarkable. 

5. Food – Last, but most definitely not least, the food at Hulaween was easily one of our favorite parts. Vendors like the Grilled Cheese Incident, Space Fruit, Island noodles and more kept our bellies full all weekend so we were able to continue dancing! Hulaween wouldn’t be the same without the unique food and drinks! 

“Our 10th anniversary was nothing short of magical. Thank you to the fans, the artists, and the teams behind the scenes who all contributed to this unforgettable celebration. We’re forever grateful for the last 10 years of your support, and can’t wait to see what the next 10 years bring.

Stay tuned for announcements for 2024, but until then, carry the love and light you experienced at Hulaween 2023 into the world around you. We’ll see you soon, HulaFam.

With eternal love and appreciation,”

-Hula HQ

    Most festival attendees will argue that the afters and pre-party are just as important as the festival itself, bringing everyone together for one final party and another reason to rally for some of the most exclusive and intimate late-night sets. Of these afters, Homebass Orlando truly allows you to get the most out of your festival experience. Located only 15 minutes from the Downtown Orlando area, Homebass Orlando 2023 will take place at the Wyndham Orlando Resort on international drive from November 9th–13th, and some of the best artists in the game, including Canabliss, Marauda, and Rusko, will be throwing down on the decks to satisfy all of your afters and pre-party needs.

       To make your afters experience a little easier, we’ve selected our top 10 can’t-miss sets for the weekends Homebass shenanigans.

Along with the event’s extremely well-curated lineup, Homebass Orlando brings some of the best experiences in terms of production and comfortability, allowing guests to stay onsite by purchasing a room package within the hotel itself that includes tickets to each night’s onsite events as well as a shuttle service to and from Tinker Field. The venue also boasts consistently evolving lighting and stage production, aside from their stellar lineup, and leaves nothing to be desired in terms of vibes.

      We’ll see you guys this weekend in Orlando, but until then, make sure to take a deep dive into our Top 10 list so you can manage your festival weekend efficiently and create the best experience possible.

With Hulaween creeping up fast, it is best to be completely prepared in order to have a fun and calming weekend. 4 days full of music and living in the woods calls for a decent amount of prep, so we put together a list of six ultimate camping essentials that you should bring with you next weekend.

1.Portable Charger- With artists like Pretty Lights, John Summit, and Goose, fans are about to witness and incredible lineup of music. Because Hulaween is a camping festival, electricity isn’t always readily available. In order to stay in touch with your group, or if you love recording clips of your favorite sets, a portable charger is the best thing to have on you during the festival. 

2.Hammock or Inflatable Couch- Hulaween is all about being comfortable and enjoying the calming nature of Suwannee while listening to your favorite music. The best way to kick back and relax during a set is to either bring a hammock or an inflatable couch. Can’t go wrong with popping a squat after a long day of standing and dancing. 

3.Hydration pack- One of the most important parts of the weekend is making sure that you stay hydrated! A hydration pack is the best way to ensure that you can have water accessible to you throughout the weekend. Hulaween will have water stations set up all around the festival, making it easy to keep your hydration pack full at all times. 

4.Trinkets- If you have ever been to Hulaween, odds are you have come home with some type of small trinket in your pocket. Whether it be a tiny plastic baby or googley eyes to wear around your finger, small trinkets can make someone’s day at a festival, so it is always a great idea to bring something entertaining to give out.

5.Canned Foods- This year, Hulaween is partnering with Conscious Alliance to have a canned food drive to donate to a local food bank. Patrons that bring at least 20 nonperishable food ideas or a monetary donation will be able to receive a Hulaween 2023 poster to show their appreciation for helping the local community. 

6.Appropriate clothing- Florida’s weather has a mind of its own, especially during this time of the year. It is important to make sure you pack appropriate clothing because you never know if it will be 40 degrees one night, and 85 the next night. Packing the right clothes will keep you comfy all weekend so you can focus on dancing with your friends!

Creating a list the week before the festival is a great way to stay organized and make sure you have all of the essentials packed and ready to go. Get your bags ready, see you all next weekend!

Photo by @ Tara Gracer

Music fans of every genre are about to embark on the incredible journey that is Suwannee’s Hulaween. The festival takes place at the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, October 26-29 with an eclectic lineup featuring artists like Pretty Lights, Mt. Joy, Goose, John Summit and more. This four day immersive festival is the perfect way to kick off the fall season, from seeing everyones Halloween costumes, to exploring the misty grounds of Spirit Lake, festival goers are in for a spooky treat. 

To celebrate the tenth year of the festival, Hulaween has a couple of surprises up their sleeves, as well as special activations that attendees will be able to enjoy all weekend.

2 Night of Pretty Lights

After taking a five year hiatus, musical luminary Pretty Lights is slated to play not just one, but two sets at the festival. Following his comeback tour, Soundship Spacesystem, Pretty Lights has made his way alongside his live band all over the country, giving fans an unforgettable night of music. Headliners, Rainbow Kitten Surprise were set to have a closing set, but unfortunately had to pull from the festival due to a band member’s health issues. So, the festival decided, what better way to fill the spot, than to give another set to Pretty Lights!

10 Special Art Installations

At Hulaween this year, fans will be able to enjoy an incredible array of art throughout the festival. One of the most beautiful parts about Suwannee is adventuring through the grounds and discovering hidden gems everywhere you look. This year, there will be ten separate art installations around the festival, with each of them representing a year of the festival. So, let the art take you through a time portal that will transport you throughout the many years of Hulaween, reminiscing on the amazing memories from each one.

Photo by @ Mark Walsh

Frick Frack Black Jack: A Tradition

Frick Frack Black Jack is a game that people dream of playing all year round. In a traditional game of Black Jack, gambling and betting money is involved, but at Hulaween, Frick Frack Black Jack is a game full of trades! You can trade anything from a paper clip, to a chair, to a hat, and even something as crazy as a car! (Yes, someone has really traded their car before…) Frick Frack adds the ultimate level of fun and quirkiness to the festival, while giving fans something exciting to get involved in.

360 Spirit Lake Visuals

Spirit Lake is a sacred treasure to everyone at Hulaween. As the sun begins to set and the grounds become dark, mist is sprayed from both sides of the lake, and visuals are projected onto the mist. Throughout the night, these unique visuals dance their way upon the water, providing a calming environment for attendees to relax and escape from the craziness of the weekend. This year specifically, instead of just half of the lake being used, the entire lake will be available to frolic around, so be sure to keep your eyes out for visuals and installations!

With the sold out festival creeping up right around the corner, get ready to experience one of the most magical weekends of your life, see you at Suwannee!

Sacred Acre, an Alaskan environmentally-focused 3-day bass festival, is back to make its second annual edition this weekend! Unlike other festivals whose main focus is just a money grab and exploitation of the electronic music scene, Sacred Acre has made it its mission to raise awareness around trawling: the practice of factory ships dragging massive nets along the ocean floor. This often leads to the destruction and catching of everything in its path including sea animals and precious marine habitats. Its end goal is to utilize the currently built platform to connect, inform, and teach festival patrons how to stop active ocean destruction. This year’s line up is stacked to say the least, featuring artists such as Of The Trees, Boogie-T, Daily bread and so much more! For the full-on immersive festival experience, activities such as native plant foraging, underwater spearfishing, glacier helicopter tours, and fly fishing will also be offered! If you’re looking to take part upon an experience like no one has offered before and that’s unique to Alaska, this is the place for you.

“We want to offer attendees a spellbinding Alaskan experience. The opportunity to experience, to listen, to dance. An opportunity to recenter yourself and become one with nature. An opportunity to seize the phenomenon that is Sacred Acre.” – Hannah Stearns, Assistant Director