Insomniac And Soundslinger Partner To Revive Okeechobee Music & Arts Fest

– Okeechobee aerial
Aerial shot of Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival’s inaugural edition.

After taking a year off, Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival is to return home to the Florida city’s Sunshine Grove March 5-8 thanks to a partnership between Insomniac and festival founder Soundslinger, the companies announced Monday. Tickets, including camping and VIP packages, go on sale Friday, Aug. 23 at 10 EDT at the fest’s website.

The announcement marks the latest move by Insomniac into the Sunshine State. The festival producer recently announced the acquisition of the Miami club Space, while the Insomniac-produced Electric Daisy Carnival  stages its first three-day event in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 8-10 at Tinker Field. 

It also confirms rumors that have been swirling locally for months since it was announced in November that Okeechobee would not take place in 2019. 

“It’s official! I’m happy to announce that Insomniac will bring the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival back to Sunshine Grove,” Insomniac founder and CEO Pasquale Rotella said in the announcement. “I’m a big fan of what [Soundslinger founder and DJ] Rechulski and the Okeechobee team have built, and honored to be able to lead such a unique event and continue the journey. This is one of the most beautiful locations I’ve ever set foot in. As someone who tries to always put culture first, I recognize how passionate this extraordinary community is, and I’m excited to bring this festival back and make it better than ever.”

The newly announced partnership between Insomniac Events and Soundslinger “was cultivated from the values that each bestows, particularly, the commitment of creating fun, transformative and out-of-this-world experiences through music, immersive art and interactive experiences in the Florida community,” according to the joint statement..

“It is an exceptional honor to have had the opportunity, luck, and responsibility of creating and caring for OMF,” says Rechulski. “I would like to thank my partners and the rest of the Soundslinger staff, the County and people of Okeechobee for welcoming us with open arms, all of our vendors and contractors, and most importantly all of the incredibly dedicated and colorful Okeechobeeings, our loyal fans.”

With three commercially successful editions taking place from 2016-18, OMF had become an important creative and cultural event for Southern Florida.

“I am so excited once again to enter the portal alongside Pasquale Rotella and the Insomniac team. The best years are ahead of us, and I am certain that together we will continue our beautiful story for many more years to come with the same love, hard work, commitment, community engagement, and respect that have been the foundation of OMF,” Rechulski added. 

The festival’s eclectic lineups in past years have included world-renowned artists like Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Skrillex, Kings of Leon, Travis Scott, ODESZA, Usher & the Roots, Wiz Khalifa, Arcade Fire, Future, Bassnectar, the Flaming Lips, Khalid, and Robert Plant, among many others. Further setting itself apart from other multi-genre festivals, OMF’s signature PoWoW will be brought back for OMF 2020, showcasing once-in-a-lifetime artist collaborations. In previous years, OMF’s PoWoW has featured pairings like Miguel, Arcade Fire’s Win Butler, John Oates, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Mumford and Sons, as well as the Roots, Snoop Dogg, Chaka Khan and Big Gigantic’s Dominic Lalli, Trombone Shorty, and Cole Henry.

In addition to OMF’s three main stage — Be, Here and Now — dance music lovers will gravitate once again towards Jungle 51, a dusk throughl dawn dance party nestled in the heart of the jungle that has hosted some of the biggest names in house and techno in recent years. OMF attendees will again be able to experience Aquachobee Beach, situated in the scenic background where Sunshine Grove’s jungle meets the white sand beach, that will give “Okeechobeeings” the chance to catch daytime live music sets while swimming and sunbathing.

OMF 2020 will kick-off an immersive lineup of interactive offerings on Thursday, March 5 during a nighttime pre-party.  Each day, Chobeewobee Village will feature an eclectic mix of immersive art, food & beverage offerings, performances, yoga classes, life enhancing workshops, speakers, as well as its signature artisan vendors in a bazaar-style experience. Also on site, a 24-hour general store, 24-hour food options, showers, free portalets, and local and craft food and beverage options complete the all-inclusive experience.

Featuring an array of comfortable accommodations varying from tent camping to deluxe preset RV and glamping, all Okeechobee 2020 ticket and camping options can be explored at th festival website Okeechobeefest.com, with the most affordable layaway plans beginning at just $19.99.