Episode 306: Mike Chadinha, Director and Co-Founder of Northlands Music & Arts Festival

This week’s guest is my friend Mike Chadinha, Festival Director and co-founder of Northlands Music & Arts Festival which takes place June 19-21 in Swanzey, New Hampshire. I’m a big fan of Northlands and I’m super psyched to welcome Mike to the show!! Mike co-founded Northlands with his partner Seth McNally after enjoying success with the Drive-In Live shows in Swanzey during Covid. Mike and Seth ultimately joined up with co-owner and co-producer Jen Meyerhardt to form the key group that guides this uniquely independent, grass-roots and community-focused Festival. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Northlands features headliners Dirty Heads, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, and The Disco Biscuits along with a slew of other amazing acts. Mike and I of course break down last year’s edition with plenty of amazing stories, and he talks to me about his background in music, including how he eventually partnered with Seth to book shows, mostly in the New England area. We discuss the hows and whys of festival organizing from the ground up — everything from booking, ticketing, food, camping, to porta-potties (so important!!), and to just what is behind the awesome vibe that makes this festival so special. I learned a ton from this conversation, and I know you will too!! =================================== Chapters: 00:00 Episode intro with Host Josh Rosenberg 04:29 Festival Reflections and Growth 11:29 Community and Vibe of the Festival 16:45 Camping Logistics and Regulations 19:43 Unique Festival Experiences and Challenges 27:12 Unexpected Events and Team Resilience 28:05 Unexpected Helicopter Landing at the Fair 30:52 Festival Success and Community Impact 31:49 Mike's Journey from Musician to Festival Organizer 34:45 Pivoting to Drive-In Shows During COVID 37:41 Transitioning to a Full-Fledged Festival 41:41 Planning and Logistics for the Upcoming Festival 44:33 Booking the Perfect Lineup 48:38 Creating a Unique Festival Experience 55:35 Appreciating the Hard Work Behind the Scenes 57:30 Festival Planning and Band Selection 59:04 The Journey of a Promoter 01:00:17 Teamwork and Community in Music Festivals 01:02:00 Navigating Competition in the Festival Scene 01:05:27 The Rewarding Experience of Live Music 01:06:14 Ticket Pricing and Economic Challenges 01:09:27 Financing Bands and Festival Operations 01:11:57 Concessions and Community Engagement 01:14:23 Sustainability Practices at Festivals 01:16:27 Wellness and Balance in Festival Life 01:21:22 Music Recommendations and Personal Favorites 01:26:00 Episode wrap-up with Host Josh Rosenberg =================================== For more infomation on Northlands Music & Arts Festival, click here For more information on Roadcase: https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com Or contact Roadcase by email: [email protected] Roadcase theme music: "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer