Suwannee Hulaween is right around the corner and festivalgoers around the country are packing their bags, prepping their costumes, and getting ready for the trip to The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Big Wild is set to play the tenth-anniversary event October 26th–29th, and he’s helping fans on their journey to Live Oak with an official Road to Hulaween playlist.
Shared exclusively through Live For Live Music, Road to Hulaween 2023 with Big Wild includes a wide-ranging list of tracks curated by the producer and composer. The eclectic mix of songs highlights the stylistic diversity that informs Big Wild’s unique arrangements, ranging all the way from a collab between Skrillex and Fred again.. to tracks by The White Stripes and The Beatles.
On The Road to Hulaween, a sample-friendly vintage instrumental jingle from composer Raymond Scott rubs shoulders with a cut from MGMT, while Yusuf/Cat Stevens keeps the vibe chill before Paramore pumps things up. Big Wild, born Jackson Stell, also makes sure to shine a light on contemporaries like London triple-threat Miso Extra, Guernsey-born electronic artist Mura Mass, DJ Seinfeld, and more.
“We’re super excited to be playing a new set at Hulaween that has a lot of energy and is really fun,” Big Wild, who performs with a live band, told Live For Live Music. “It’s a good blend of old and new music. I put together this playlist with songs I’ve been into recently—I can’t put a specific meaning to them, but they’re speaking to me and those are the best songs to share.”
Since emerging onto the electronic scene in the mid-2010s with a seal of approval from ODESZA, Big Wild has continued to expand the possibilities of electronic music. On his sophomore album, 2022’s The Efferusphere, the multi-hyphenate steps back in front of the mic to deliver live vocals that inhabit his atmospheric sonic landscapes. Minimalist percussion leaves intrigue in all the empty spaces, while synthesizers and washed-out effects encourage exploration into the unknown. Big Wild revised the album last year on The Effusphere With Friends, featuring reimaginings with help from Cory Wong, Bay Ledges, Rationale, and more.
Big Wild joins a loaded lineup of talent set to celebrate Hulaween’s tenth anniversary. Topped by hosts The String Cheese Incident, Hula will welcome Pretty Lights (two nights), Goose, Trey Anastasio Band, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (two sets), Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, Mt. Joy, Channel Tres, and many more to the sold-out gathering.
Check out Big Willd’s “Road to Hulaween 2023” playlist below and catch his set Saturday, October 28th at 11 p.m. at The Amphitheater. Click here for the full schedule.
Road to Hulaween 2023 with Big Wild