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 Rosenberg04:29 Festival Reflections and Growth11:29 Community and Vibe of the Festival16:45 Camping Logistics and Regulations19:43 Unique Festival Experiences and Challenges27:12 Unexpected Events and Team Resilience28:05 Unexpected Helicopter Landing at the Fair30:52 Festival Success and Community Impact31:49 Mike's Journey from Musician to Festival Organizer34:45 Pivoting to Drive-In Shows During COVID37:41 Transitioning to a Full-Fledged Festival41:41 Planning and Logistics for the Upcoming Festival44:33 Booking the Perfect Lineup48:38 Creating a Unique Festival Experience55:35 Appreciating the Hard Work Behind the Scenes57:30 Festival Planning and Band Selection59:04 The Journey of a Promoter01:00:17 Teamwork and Community in Music Festivals01:02:00 Navigating Competition in the Festival Scene01:05:27 The Rewarding Experience of Live Music01:06:14 Ticket Pricing and Economic Challenges01:09:27 Financing Bands and Festival Operations01:11:57 Concessions and Community Engagement01:14:23 Sustainability Practices at Festivals01:16:27 Wellness and Balance in Festival Life01:21:22 Music Recommendations and Personal Favorites01:26:00 Episode wrap-up with Host Josh Rosenberg===================================For more infomation on Northlands Music & Arts Festival, click hereFor more information on Roadcase:https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.comOr contact Roadcase by email:  [email protected] theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer