Superfly, Autograph.io, Velvet Sea Ventures Partner On ‘SUPERF3ST’

Superfly, co-founders of Bonnaroo, Outside Lands and, of course, the Grandoozy music festivals, along with partners that include Autograph.io and Velvet Sea Ventures, have announced a next-generation music festival, which, like so many things NextGen, involves NFTs, as well as a new community-planned festival concept called SUPERF3ST.

The fest launch comes with the announcement of “SuperNFT,” an entity which aims to do nothing less create “new types of communities through next-generation live experiences,” according to the release.  SuperNFT’s has put up 3,000 SUPERPASS NFTs, which will allow owners, a.k.a. “SUPERF3ST Founders,” the opportunity to plan the festival.

Said founders will have governance and voting powers and input into festival decision-making including the music and visual artists, art installations, creative activations, culinary experiences, merchandise, marketing, timing, location, and more. Each SUPERPASS NFT represents one vote in the creative decisions surrounding SUPERF3ST, along with access to festivals and live events.

Created by Superfly co-founders Rick Farman and Rich Goodstone and Michael Lazerow from VSV, SuperNFT’s just raised $7M in a Series A investment round co-led by Velvet Sea Ventures and Tom Brady’s Autograph.io and joined by JDS Sports and Art Blocks founder Erick Calderon, also known as Snowfro (who created the groundbreaking Chromie Squiggle generative art project).

“Our goal is to launch a truly iconic and historic celebration of music and culture powered by your ideas, creativity, passion, interests, and excitement,” Superfly’s Rick Farman said in a statement. “We expect the SUPERF3ST project to be much more than a single annual event. Like Veecon, it will serve as the annual summit for a community of like-minded epic human beings who are proud to call themselves SUPERF3ST Founders.” 

Pixel Vault, Inc. founder Sean Gearin (a/k/a/ GFunk), marketing executive Nick Tran, LinksDAO founder Mike Dudas, and his 6th Man Ventures, and Roger Ehrenberg’s Eberg Capital also participated in the round.

“SuperNFT’s product is not NFTs or festivals,” stated co-founder Michael Lazerow. “Those are just the mediums and tools we plan to use to create the ultimate goal, a deep community of creative souls who want to create the future they envision.”

CEO Tori Stevens, a 15-year ESPN veteran who directed planning, staging, and business operations globally for the X Games, is leading the new company. Farman, Lazerow and Autograph Chief Operating Officer and Chief Business Officer, Ted Russell, will serve on the company’s board of directors.

Other founding team members include Creative Director Caroline Kerr, a DJ, and long-time artist relations and creative executive, marketing and community chief Corey Nocco of creative agency 11 Ounces, and Lead Artist Donte Neal, a self-taught multidisciplinary artist and respected purveyor of music culture. 

The SUPERF3ST Founders mint took place on July 15. Holders of the SUPERPASS NFT also gain access to the SUPERF3ST Discord channel, the first SUPERF3ST festival and hospitality areas and have the ability to participate in the festival Field Trip Program, priority NFT ticket minting rights and SUPERF3ST Founder-only air drops and invites to community events.