Phish Festival: Save The Date
Phish.com has just been updated with a graphic advising fans to save the dates of October 30, 31 and November 1 for what will be the first Phish-thrown festival since Coventry in August 2004. As of now, three states in the graphic representing the United States that appears when you visit Phish.com have been blacked out. Those states are Idaho, Oklahoma and West Virgina. Some fans have speculated that as time passes more states will be blacked out leaving only the state where the festival will be held.
Rumors are swirling that the quartet will perform at the Polo Fields in Indio, California where the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals are held each year near Palm Springs, but nothing is confirmed at this point except for the date and the fact that the band will indeed be hosting a festival. Starting on October 31, 1994, Phish concerts on Halloween were three set affairs in which the band would don a “musical costume” in the second set by performing a classic album by another artist. The group played The Beatles’ White Album in 1994, Quadrophenia by The Who in 1995, Remain In Light by the Talking Heads in 1996 and Loaded by the Velvet Underground in 1998.
This announcement leaves fans with a number of questions, so we want to hear from you. Where do you think they’ll play and what album do you think they’ll cover? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
UPDATE: All sorts of theories abound in our comments section. Be sure to read all of the insightful comments from our readers.
UPDATE [7/13 11:30AM]: The latest change to the animation on Phish’s Save The Date map shows California being lifted from the map by three hot air balloons. Is this some sort of trick or are all the people who swore it will be held at Indio wrong? Gotta love this band’s trickster hearts.
Where do you think Save The Date will take place? READ ON to place your vote and to leave a comment telling us where you think it will be…
Scott Bernstein
Scott Bernstein co-founded Hidden Track in October 2006 and was managing editor until taking over as EiC in January 2008. Scotty also writes for Relix Magazine and curates YEMblog.com.
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nice. fall tour should start when? u thinkin early october zig zag?
The phish website said capacity will be limited for festival 8. Does anyone know an exact number?
JCouv— I bet fall tour is mid-late October. I have seen rumors of it starting before the new festival and having it end out west. I have heard Albany, NY, Boston, MSG, Philly, Wash. DC, some mid west dates, into Denver, then ending in L.A and Fest.8. However, I dont know for sure. SOmewhere I saw a posting with those. But be sure fall tour will happen. So dont go broke at the festival people….
hey zig zag, have u heard bout the rumors that NYE will be in florida?
Hey beautiful people i just got my tickets. It was the easiest ticket experience ever for a phish show. I was done in 6 minutes. I am flying from Burlington VT to Vegas then driving the 4 plus hours to indio through the desert. I can’t wait to see you all there. Honestly i have been to over 60 shows and this one excites me just as much as big cypress. We should all set a day and meet and chill out if you know what I mean. Its been fun following this with all of you. I didnt post often but you are all great. SEE YOU ON THE 29TH I WILL BE THERE A DAY EARLY! You should too because as we al know traffic sucks no matter where the location is!
JCouv— I keep hearing Miami, but I see them in NYC or Boston if you ask me. The warm weather means nothing to them since it isn’t a festival like Big Cypress was on NYE 2000. I think they could do Miami, dont know anything offical, except MSG is vacant on those days
I have never been to a Phish Festival and would consider myself a “casual” fan. My question is I have the opportunity to go to Indio and I wanted to be sure it would be worth the money…I live on the East Coast so there are also traveling expenses…So what do you all think??
hey Never been— Any Phish show will be amazing, festivals are awesome as well. I am not a big fan of where the festival is taking place, so many awesome places in the great state of CA, but Indio sucks. A very wealthy area, and I domnt see them taking a liking to us after day one. My guess is the police will be having check points after the show for those not camping, and the also I bet they will be all over the surrounding towns.However, keep to yourself and stay out of trouble and it will be a time to remember. Every festival I have been to was awesome except Conventry, that just suck ass!!!! And not just because it was their last show. If you ask me save your cash since you are an east coaster and wait for fall tour to be announced. If money is not an issue then you should fly out. Rck on brother or sister and what ever you do, take care of your shoes!!!
Never been- First, I gotta say that rain and all, Coventry was a STELLAR time for all those who know how to take on festivals in stride. The indio experience might be an interesting one, but the possibility of check-points and a negative local response is NO reason to skip out on a festival, unless maybe you’re hellbent on unloading multiple nitrous tanks. Obviously if money is an issue, then that’s understandable, but there is physically no better way to see phish than at a festival- and you really get your money’s worth. i say GO! save money and camp out. you will most likely regret not going, but you DEFINIELTY will not regret going. and my guess is after the weekend you will be a “casual” fan no more.
ZIG ZAG – Youre an idiot. Festival 8 will be a better time for us all if negative people like you stay home so please sit this one out. Have you ever been to Indio? Im guessing not, so then where does any of that drivel in your last post come from? Let me guess, you know an “insider” who lives in the Coachella Valley and he/she told you all that garbage.
Indio is a quaint little town in the middle of the desert where thousands of heads will easily blend in and feel welcome. Its California people…one of the most liberal states in this country! If youre not acting like an a$$hole you will have absolutely nothing to worry about. Treat the locals with dignity and respect and that is what you will get in return. Act like its your house and hopefully you will be thrown in jail.
Dont forget that this is Phish’s party. Theyve done this before folks! If you cant trust that they would only pick the best location to have it at then why even follow them? All the b!tching and moaning from supposed “phans” makes me sick. Have these guys ever picked a bad spot for one of their festivals?? Enough with comparing Festival 8 to the Coachella festival. The rules, atmosphere and experience wont be anything alike. This is Phish not Cold Play! This is going to be an epic weekend in a magical location and I truly feel sorry for those of you who cant afford to make it (Ive been there) or are too snobby and negative about Indio to go. We’ll represent for you and make sure the boys know theyre loved! THIS LOCATION IS GONNA BE INCREDIBLE!!
THANK YOU PHISH, THE PEOPLE OF INDIO AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS HELPING PUTTING THIS TOGETHER!! WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!
[...] have put together a fantastic post giving a behind the scenes look into the work that went into the Phish – Save The Date animation. Chopping Block, a graphic design firm that has been working with the band since the [...]
Hey Geasy freak, what are you 18, got mommy to buy your ticket, pay your hotel I have been to all the festivals and if you have you would see all locations are nothing like Indio. My guess is you are just a rookie at this and happy it is in your home town so you dont have to ask mommy to take you to the airport and buy you a plane ticket. Chill out, it is the hostile people like you who always seem to destroy the fun of a phish fest. You and I both know it huh!!!!
Any idea for a female costume? I got my costume picked out but my girlfriend needs one… All I can think of is Millie Grace with pocks on her face or Tela… but who the hell would want to be Tela yuck!
Poster is back after a short hiatus freak out session tring to figure out where the hell he will come up for the funds for this one….. SEE YOU IN CALI! I GOT MY CAMPING TICKET! Step One Done! Now to get save some more money. & QUICK!
EAST COASTERS…. BETTER REPRESENT AT THIS PHIESTIVAL!!!! I KNOW THE WEST HAS COME OUR WAY MORE THAN ONCE!
NeverBeen – Going the Phestie from CT. Gonna cost around $950.00 out the door total cost. (who likes paying bills anyway?!?!?!)My Last Hura! Worth every penny!
I worry a bit about the reputation of the security at this venue as well as some of you seem to be, but mostly because I must fly to this gig, and can’t really bring anything along… if you know what I mean. The locals should have plenty of goods to go around though. So far the guidlines are the same as every other festival Phish has put on, with the exception that camping is limited. It is deff. a MUCH more populated spot BY FAR, than any other Phish Festivals. It’s not the people of Cali that I worry about, or weather or not they accept me/us. Who gives a shit, we will be gone in four days… I am worried about the possobility of Johnny Law spoiling all of our fun, do the close proximity to exclusive resorts, and big money.
Best way around all of that CAMP… Once your in… Your in… There will be FAR LESS Police Presents, and Trouble for folks who opt to camp. They will not care about what you are doing so much if the general public doesn’t know you are doing it. Puffing Fatties in a Hotel Parking Lot, and cruising down Main St with a bong between you lap will end your trip right quick. Once you are in the camp grounds… If you have any trouble what so ever…. well….. You’re an idiot.
I Promise It Will Be Fun!
Whoa.. Poster is Tired and not typing very well tonight!
Kyle – I had mentioned that we should all meet up Friday night by the message board or ferris wheel before the first set with T-shirts with our screen names on them to puff on a fat one together. We could all donate and toss a big ass salad! Peeps were down.
I am gonna carve me up some Jack-O-Lanterns the first night for my camping spot. That will be sweet!
Zig Zag… Mail Orders???? Still NOTHING on my end!
Poster, I still have no mail order or email either. WTF!!!!
ZIG ZAG as thoughtful as your response was the last I will say is that I have been to every festival they have put on and many other shows as well. I actually enjoyed Coventry even with the trek in and out. Im from the Northeast. I will be camping at this fest because thats the only way to do this in my humble opinion and I am chill. Im not hostile, just tired of spoiled children complaining. Ive been around too long to let that get me down though. I trust the boys that they know more about this location than you or me and that just because its in the middle of a town doesnt make it a bad thing. It just may be a pretty cool thing. If its good enough for them its good enough for me. So go back to b!tching and moaning about Indio and just make sure you throw a post up here on Nov 2nd and tell everyone how wrong you were! Have some faith!
GreasyFizeak I am just going to say lets 4:20!! I am just too old to be arguing over a stupid reply you made. Its all about having fun, listening to music and chillin with friends and strangers. You cant call me an idiot because of my opinion. If so that only shows a person being closed minded. Yes Cali is awesome, I am a west coaster and have been there plenty of times. So to clear the air lets 4:20 at the fest, and let all of this be water under the bridge. I know the Polo grounds are awesome, I saw Cochella a fews back, but I also know places like Limestone, Oswego, Big Cyprus, etc are a much better place than the Polo Grounds. I am not knocking CA, just the location of the fest. So can we now get along and start wishing for our vote on which album they will play?? Come on brother, life is too short for stress, and I just bought my ticket and camping pass so I am excited.
Hey Poster, I just got an email from Fed Ex. Mail orders are in Virgina somewhere, should arrive tomorrow to Seattle for me.. I am sure you’ll get your email today too. :)
As for an album to cover, my guess is either Thriller by MJ, or Born in the USA by Bruce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rock on everyone…
mY TWO
Thanks everyone for your replies. I purchased my tickets and camping pass so I guess I will see you all in California!! I will be NeverBeen no more!
Finally some clearheadded posts on this board i LOVE it. Never been- I am truly giddy for you, you’re gonna have a sick time. And let’s all drop the stress huh? We’re talking about a phish festival here, life is gonna be good. Period. Last halloween I went to a shitty costume party at a local dancehall and had a BLAST. So I’m really not worried about it. Also, is anyone shocked that camping passes are still available?? I bought my tic right at 1 b/c I thought I was gonna have an issue. Are people actually opting to stay in luxury resorts instead of campng? Bizarre to me, but I guess to each his own. See you all there. I’m the one with a giant jar of fluff on her head(:
Hey Zig zag, i hope they will still have tix available by friday… had to pay some bills last week, but now i will have the mula by friday…
JCouv— I am more than sure they will have tickets for you. If they run out of camping, I will put you in my car. I am driving in from Seattle so I will meet up with you outside if needed. I too am broke, I put the whole thing on a credit card, I will be kicking myself in the butt for that one on Nov 2 when its all over for doing that.. But for now, Oh yea!!!! Rock on brother, you’ll get a ticket I just know it!!!!
cool cool.. i’ll be drinvin in from san antonio, tx.. I’ll see ya there..
Yo Yo Ziggy Zaggy!!! I’ve GOT THEM IN HAND!!!! Woooo HOOO!! I’m hoping you do too!
Are you going to Hartford, or Spac???
If not we MUST get up in Cali!