The time is nearly upon us as the highly anticipated Camp Kouch draws closer to opening its gates! Organized by sound-system culture cultivators Kouch Kollective, this three-day retreat focuses on more than just the party. At Camp Kouch, Kouch Kollective aims to uplift the community, focus on the arts, and elevate those paving the way for fresh steps in the underground bass community. Camp Kouch also features extremely thoughtful workshops and activities, which are sure to anchor the intent of this event. Located in the Woodlands Nature Reserve in warm South Carolina, we encourage you to chase some Spanish moss and sink your feet into the sand for a weekend of conscious connection and creativity.
The lineup for the weekend is stacked from top to bottom. It features heavy-hitting headliners such as Eazybaked, Resonant Language, The Widdler, Artifakts, and Tripp St. to keep the dancefloor moving well into each evening. The lineup is absolutely dripping with talent, and we are highlighting eight artists we’ve had our hawk eye on as sets not to miss at this year’s Camp Kouch.
DiCE MaN – Poetry Sunrise
DiCE MaN is the emotive musical project by Wade Appleton. He has played monumental festivals like Elements, Autumn Revival, and recently Okeechobee. He tosses heavy-hitting baselines and bold breaks into his sets, creating lively energy throughout his performances. Another side of the dice is his renowned poetry sets that we are lucky to experience. During his poetry sets, DiCE MaN eloquently braids together hand-selected songs, his own soul-speaking writing, and snippets from others’ poems to curate a one-of-a-kind journey that really reminds the audience what it’s like to feel human. DiCE MaN poetry sets pour human emotion like fine wine, paired with the perfect taste of accompanying music. This is a truly unique performance that is trailblazing something new and fresh in the scene. If you catch one set out of your ordinary this weekend, we highly recommend lending your heart to a poet for this one-of-a-kind sunrise.
“After a weekend full of partying to intricate sound design, energetic drum patterns, and compelling dance floor music, I’m grateful to be the cozy campfire that open, tired souls come to warm their hearts by. These poetry sets are lyric-forward performances of spoken word, accompanied by ambient, downtempo music. If you are highly susceptible to feeling a lot, this is for you.” – DiCE MaN on his poetry sets
Audio Goblin
Audio Goblin is well-versed in conjuring mind-melting sets. Playing monumental events such as the beloved Tipper and Friends, he draws the attention of fans of the wonderfully complex. With Audio Goblin sets, no two are alike. Each is a masterfully thought-out story told through sound. In addition to an evening set, we are in for a treat with a very unique Audio Goblin sunrise set. We are very eager to see what his mind creates to accompany the rising sun!
“I’m really excited for this festival. This event feels very personal, me and Zack have been working together for years, and I’ve been watching it get built from the ground up, all while leveling up my own project, it just feels very full circle. I’m playing two sets, and they’re going to be really different. On Friday I’m really pushing the limits of how heavy an Audio Goblin set can go, with a lot of new music I’m excited to try out. Bring your hard hats. My sunrise set is going to be really different and special, a tasteful collection of downtempo and ambient video game music (trust me). I’m stoked to get the opportunity to share such different parts of my own project and music taste in the same place.” – Audio Goblin on his sets for the weekend
air castles
Haunting the decks deep into the ethereal evening, air castles brings genre-pushing sound to her sets. She has breakout talent, known for creating ominous and grimy atmospheres. air castles is an enigma of a producer, balancing light and dark elements with exceptional ease. She recently played an intoxicating set at Seven Stars and is soon to play massive festivals like Lightning in A Bottle and The Untz. Let her selections tell you a ghost story and get lost in the dark with us.
Mantra Sounds
Vocalist, producer, and DJ, Mantra Sounds knows how to flaunt her many hats as an artist. The core of her sound focuses on exploration, both of the self and the outward human experience. She knows how to put a crowd under a spell! Mantra Sounds is indeed a multifaceted project. She displays poetic, esoteric lyricism throughout her songs and blends them beautifully into her sets. It is easy to feel her personal experiences moving through life imbued in her work.
ALEA
ALEA is making strides in the scene as a multiskilled vocalist, songwriter, and producer. She has released on trailblazing labels such as Gravitas and The Gradient Perspective. Her project aims to transmute human emotion through sound. Like an alchemist, she works her magic through her project in captivating ways. If you missed her at the boundary-pushing Sound Haven Festival in 2025, now is your chance to dive into her unique style.
Rafeeki
Rafeeki is a set not to miss. Also gracing us with a very special sunrise set, he is well known for transporting listeners through different realms. His sound is often pensive, yet accompanied by snarling bass and diverse instruments. Rafeeki frequently swings through different types of energies during his sets. He is set to be on the decks a few times this weekend, and we hope you’ll travel alongside us!
Sbokes
Sbokes is a mysterious showman of gritty, grimy, and grinding sounds. His sound design is hypnotic, emphasizing rhythms that crawl through the night. We are absolutely hungry to see more from him and will not miss his set at Camp Kouch! We hope you will decipher these perfectly peculiar sounds with us.
Murkury
Vinyl enthusiast Murkury will be leading a sound bath to help you settle in and set intentions for the weekend. As a co-owner of the revered Synthesis Audio lab, Murkury is a figurehead in the underground environs. He frequently pushes the envelope of what a sonic journey can be, often culminating in transformative experiences. He will be displaying his talents throughout the weekend and is sure to catch the ears of fans, new and long-term.
The Countdown is Almost Complete!
We have been counting the days until it is finally time to gather and immerse ourselves deeply in art, creation, and community at Camp Kouch. The lineup is very clearly curated with love. Each act is hand-picked by people who want to see the underground flourish, and each artist brings something truly original to the decks. This is going to be an event for the books, but most importantly, one for the culture!
Let us know who YOU won’t be missing this weekend at the first-ever Camp Kouch Festival!
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