When Pocologan Camp Party officially transitioned from a backyard party to a full blown festival it only took two years before the question had to be asked: “exactly how you determine the maximum capacity for a backyard?” With a huge buzz growing around the small festival and an amazing line-up this year, it left festival organizers worried that they’d be turning would-be festival-goers away at the gate.
Held on the unlikely festival-grounds of the Keleher family property in the woods of Pocologan, New Brunswick, the festival is somewhere between it’s sixth and eleventh year – depending who you ask. Its evolution, from a gathering of family and friends around a bonfire to the burgeoning dance party it is today, has long been shrouded in mystery. The sudden growth spurt of the last two years, and the decision to welcome that many people onto their property is equally mysterious, aside from a clear drive throw the best party east of St Andrews and west of New River Beach.
Despite concerns, everyone somehow managed to work themselves into the festival grounds, with much of the wildlife coming out after dark – shambling out of their tents and into the glow of the festival’s strung lights. The energy in the yard, packed as it was, felt like it was a crowd of thousands instead of hundreds.
The 2019 Pocologan Camp Party line-up featured Terra Spencer, the return of Jamie Comeau & The Crooked Teeth, Cursing & Swearing, FM Berlin, Bleum, Slowcoaster, along with DJs AnuBass, Fractal Code, Betsy White, Gold Punks and Maztradamus, and Pocologan Camp Party’s unofficial mascot: DJ Anteeq.
While that line-up is stellar enough on its own, none stole the show quite like Edmundston, New Brunswick’s disco punks, Spoutnique. The band have been turning heads all year and really shone at Pocologan. But now you can see that for yourself.
Here’s the video of all the magic that was captured by Tyler Warren Ellis at Pocologan Camp Party 2019.
And fun fact: the deciding factor in how many people you can fit into a festival that size isn’t necessarily determined by square footage, but how many porta-potties have budget for. It’s absolutely the last thing you want going wrong.