A two-day music festival and carnival in sunny Los Angeles, offering a wide variety of food, games, rides, and performances: what more could you want? Fans of Tyler, the Creator all headed to Dodger Stadium this November for a weekend they would never forget. Featuring artists like SZA, The Hillbillies (duo of Kenderick Lamar and Baby Keem), Ice Spice, and many more, the desirable setlist drew in a large crowd.
The festival was born in the fall of 2012, and was originally called Odd Future Festival. Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, or better known as Odd Future, is a music group that formed in 2007. The group grew throughout the years, but some members included Tyler, the Creator, Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis, Syd, Mike G, and more. Although Odd Future broke apart around 2016, many of the artists have maintained their friendships.
For instance, the selection of performers at Camp Flog Gnaw consists mainly of Tyler’s friends who are in the industry. Odd Future members Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis, Syd, and Mike G all performed at the festival, even 11 years after its creation. Despite a 4 year hiatus due to the pandemic, the festival came back better than ever. Tyler and his team made sure to have water refill stations, different food options, and an alert team of medics.
Safety is often the most important factor when it comes to entertainment in a big city like Los Angeles. Luckily, the festival-goers at Camp Flog Gnaw all had safety in mind and were looking out for those around them. In intense mosh pits, like at Lil Yachty’s set, many overheated and needed to exit the tight crowds. People shined flashlights and yelled “Medic!” to make sure everyone got the help they needed. The medics were attentive and dedicated to providing relief.
The hardest part of the whole festival: securing tickets. Selling out in less than an hour, presale tickets came out on June 2, 2023, starting at $355 plus fees. If you were lucky enough to snag a pass, you had a choice of General Admission, VIP, or Super VIP. I decided to go with the cheapest option: General Admission. After fees, I paid $377, which is significantly less expensive than competing multi-day festivals and concerts. The one catch is that when you buy the pass, you don’t know the lineup. Most fans just trust that Tyler will include artists with different styles, so that everyone can watch somebody they love.
The positive response to the festival’s return gives LA natives, like me, hope that Tyler will continue to bring Camp Flog Gnaw back to Dodger Stadium year after year. The festival had nostalgic vibes, outstanding performances, and the amenities made the price well worth it.
