Camp Euforia, a festival on a farm near Lone Tree, will celebrate 10 years of music and camping beginning Friday.
The festival, founded by the Iowa City-based (originally) band Eufórquestra, got its start in 2004. Over the past decade, Camp Euforia transformed from an appreciation week for Eufórquestra’s fans into a full-blown music festival. Festival attendees are invited to bring RVs or cars and tents and camp out for the two-night festival, which includes more than 20 musical acts on three stages.
“Eufórquestra’s goal in creating Camp Euforia has always been a seamless gelling of community and music,” he said. “The festival has always been focused on the Iowa City music scene, but each year, a handful of performers from connections made during Eufórquestra’s touring are invited in to come and experience the magic.”
In honor of the festival’s 10th anniversary, Eufórquestra will unite its original members for a performance. Other Iowa City bands featured in this year’s festival include Tallgrass, FireSale, Dead Larry, Beaker Brothers Band, and Chasing Shade.
Chasing Shade drummer and vocalist Griffen Harris said Camp Euforia presents an interesting and exciting opportunity to see people from all around come together and enjoy different styles of music.
“My favorite part is being able to camp and bike out to something that is so cool and so close to Iowa City,” he said.
Chasing Shade is a new addition to the Camp Euforia band list, but this year is not the members’ first appearance at the festival. The musicians will continue their “greening” recycling system of sorting trash and recycling for a third year. Elliot Beenk, Chasing Shade’s guitarist, said the group began the system to fill the need for a recycling system at the festival.
“I’ve been going to [music] festivals for quite a while, and so it’s kind of nice to feel like you’re paying back the debt a little bit,” he said.
Camp Euforia will offer ample opportunities for festival attendees to get up close and personal with some of their favorite musicians. In addition to a camp-wide yoga session, this year’s festival will host coffee with the Grossos and Bloody Marys with Maximilian Eubank on Saturday morning.
Saturday evening will include a happy hour with Eufórquestra.
Quiner said the mix of camping, music, and activities creates a rock ’n’ roll atmosphere different from that typically found in Iowa City’s downtown music scene.
“This festival has become a staple for many people in the community,” Quiner said. “It’s economy, it’s a reunion, [and] it’s a place for performers to perform. It’s a guaranteed good time for all.”
WHAT: 10th-Annual Camp Euforia Festival