Culture Collide Festival 2014 lit up Echo Park this week with a multi-cultural experience to behold. Sampling the future of music to come was one of the many highlights of the Culture Collide Festival experience this year.

If you missed out on the festival… no worries (there’s next year!) For now, we’ve got the recap.

Day 1:

Go Back to the Zoo

The activities kicked off on Thursday, October 16 with a keynote speech introducing us to the artists, the countries, and beyond. Ready? Wristbands on? Let’s go…

Our first stop is the Creative Summit, “Music and Technology” headed by Evan Lowenstein (Stage It, CEO). Lowenstein kicked off this panel and we tuned in to an engaging discussion on music and technology, how the landscape has changed, and where it’s going. The industry’s current flux proved to be an invigorating topic, leading to discussions regarding the future of music (indie vs. corporate) and the importance of artist connections with his or her audience.

After grabbing some eats, it was time to learn about some drinks at the Creative Summit, “Spirits of the World” held in Taix. Matt Cook (The Groundlings, funny guy) kicks the discussion off as the host of this educational and enjoyable forum! Among the samples in this spirited discussion: Wahaka Mezcal, Suerte Tequila, Deep Eddy Vodka, and more.

It’s time for a break as we get ready to rock into the late hours. With five venues featuring a curated selection of international artists, the only challenge is deciding where to start.

Venue hopping from The Echoplex, Echo, The Church, Taix, and the Taix champagne room makes finding artists hassle-free and super accessible. Discovering new artists is what this is all about and there’s no shortage of funky, energizing beats to take us into the night.

At Taix we get down with Costa Rica’s Alphabetics and the folk rock aesthetic of Japan folk crooner, Simon. At The Church, we get a dose of Dutch indie rock with Go Back to the Zoo’s high energy beats and the deep, evocative vibes of UK act, Until the Ribbon Breaks.

Julie Bryne enchants at the Echo with her melodic guitar strumming and gentle whisper bordering on an ambient hum. Taix champagne room hosts a slew of Korean electronic rock including Seoul’s Love X Stereo and From the Airport and the honest lyrics of Big Phony.

Day 2:

The Kokoro

It’s Friday and with Day 1 behind us, what’s on our minds is more! More summits, more music, which Culture Collide is fully prepared to deliver.

It’s time to hit the champagne room for our first summit of the day, “Delicious Foodstuffs.” Zach Brooks, host of Food is the New Rock teams up with Kate Burbank (Yelp, Community Manager) and Dana Elrich (Consulate General of Israel, Los Angeles) returns after her Day 1 debut at the “Spirits of the World” summit.

We delve into why hummus is so darn popular with bands and what makes good hummus such a time-honored tradition, particularly in Elrich’s home country. Hint: it’s all about soaking those chickpeas…

Kate Burbank enlightens us on how Yelp is staying ahead of the game and the top rated spots on Yelp to grab some hummus in LA.

After a short break, it’s time to meet the man himself, Culture Collide founder, Alan Miller. Miller leads the discussion at the creative summit, “Bands and Brands.”Industry leaders discuss the opportunities international artists have to implement new brand partnerships and what it takes when creating marketing initiatives between labels and bands. An eye-opening discussion that takes us inside the marketing minds behind these relationships.

It’s not shocking that the day’s final creative summit, “Beers of the World” is a crowd favorite. Frances Lopez, of Golden Road Brewery, continues the panel discussion on everyone’s favorite topic. Among the international delights in the way of craft brews, we get to experience Strongbow’s Gold Apple Hard Cider and Honey Hard Cider, Carta Bianca, Bohemia, Special Anchor Stream, and more. Choosing a winner proves to be a difficult task, but a very enjoyable one at that.

With drink in us, it’s time to let our hair down as the evening begins with some serious sounds. Friday night offers up six venues jam-packed with multi-cultural artists (Taix, Taix Champage Room, The Church, Lot 1, and Tilly’s World Stage in the Taix parking lot).

Beat Connection gets us in the groove and takes us away with killer vocals and impossibly catchy rhythms. The very talented Auckland native, Eden Roberts gives us a captivating performance and indie rock champs Cloud Nothings have us singing along with the band’s amazing energy. Popstrangers show us their country’s unique indigenous indie-rock tradition of jangle and drone with a powerful surge of psychedelia.

Jordan natives Autostrad serve up infectious Mediterranean indie and Dutch outfit Taymir serves up an energizing pop performance with a serious ’60s beat tradition.

Day 3:

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

All of the previous night’s festivities can work up an appetite but never fear, our friends from Sounds Australia have things covered for Saturday with an Aussie BBQ of epic proportions. Australia’s numero uno DJ Chef, Mr. Andrew Levins works his magic on the grill as we get ready for an all-out day of dancing and delving into the sounds from around the world.

Still hungry? If you were lucky enough to try a Bronzed Aussie Pie, you know culinary fare doesn’t have to be sweet to be deemed a treat.

With a full stomach, Netherlands Happy Hour awaits to quench your thirst! Presented by Eurosonic Noorderslag Dutch Impact, drink specials and Durth snacks await. We chilled and soaked up the musical performances by Go Back to the Zoo, Taymir, and Monokino.

Day 3 is ready to go full-force with six venues, embarking on a no-holds barred musical rampage with the most innovative and spirited acts worldwide.

Stockholm-based quartet Nervous Nellie takes us on an indie-pop adventure and A Million Billion Dying Suns leads us on a transcendental dream into the evening.

Oslo native’s Level & Tyson bring their unique blend of experimental rock to stage and have us swaying to their diverse songs, with punk-laced growls and delicate, heartfelt ballads.

Dancing shoes? Check. Mexican act The Oaths make sure you have your best on when they take the stage at Taix. Sweet and strong dance aesthetics take over and leave us wanting more!

Crowd favorites Clap Your Hands Say Yeah took the stage to deliver a rollicking feel-good performance, much to everyone’s delight.

This year’s Culture Collide 2014 Festival showed us offerings from around the world and it would be easy to go into length at what a blast this year’s best multi-cultural talent showcase of beats and treats was. Our advice? Check it out for yourself next year and in the meantime, fill your ears with all of the fantastic bands that showed LA how to truly rock.

Culture Collide LA

Culture Collide LA

Culture Collide LA