Storm Area 51 Music Festival
Developments in this year’s most controversial meme
Do you believe in aliens? Do you want to see them for yourself?
This September may be your chance.
In case you hadn’t heard, earlier this year a Facebook Group was created to organise a raid of Area 51 in Nevada.
The creator of the Facebook group later said that he created the group as a joke, and that its wild-fire popularity had been unintended.
The group exploded and became intensely memed and reported on around the world.
The group declared that “they can’t stop all of us”, and that if we gathered in large enough numbers and “Naruto ran” through the perimeter, the guards would be powerless to kill us all.
Once we theoretically made it to the facility, we’d finally be able to meet the aliens being housed inside and confirm the conspiracy theories once and for all.
Backlash
It goes without saying that the FBI and the Airforce have been vocal in condemning this event. A lot of public officials have taken the event very seriously and have made serious threats against the lives of those who would storm the facility.
In spite of the danger, and the creator of the Facebook page calling the event a joke; a lot of people have still been vocal about their intention to go.
Area 51 is so remote that there’s not much more than a couple motels, a gift-shop, and a legal brothel in the nearby township.
Arguably, nowhere could be less hospitable than the Nevada desert.
Yet the motel rooms of the local town have reportedly been booked up during the planned September 20th date of the event.
Locals are also selling camping and parking spots to those hoping to attend.
Developments
Perhaps in an attempt to save the lives of those who plan to “Naruto Run” through the armed perimeter of Area 51, the creator of the event has now pivoted and organised a music festival called ‘Alien Stock’ in place of the original plan to storm the facility.
According to the official website,
“We want to host a Festival in Rachel, NV.. the closest town to Area 51. They can’t stop us from gathering and celebrating Aliens! This event is taking place whether we set up or not- it’s basically its own entity now. Our goal is to secure the residencies of Rachel and provide a safe & fun experience for all of those who attend.”
The festival is free, although parking, accomodation and food costs need to be planned for.
A lack of internet and phone service should also be accounted for, as well as the boiling heat of the day, and frigid-cold temperatures at night.
It’s unlikely that any band you’ve ever heard of will turn up and play, so if you’re willing to go, perhaps attend with the expectations that it will be as well planned and fulfilling as the Fyre Festival.
Still want to go?
If what you’re expecting is a few dozen people jamming to some small bands in the middle of the desert, then this is the festival for you.
If you’re expecting the Jonas Brothers to turn up because they joked about attending on their Instagram, maybe don’t come. You’ll be disappointed.
You should also anticipate that a lot of your fellow festival-goers are actually attending for the chance to mingle with alien-themed ladies at the local brothel.
Despite the drawbacks, this will be a unique event worth watching, if even from afar. I expect several journalists will attend just to see what happens and report on it.
Mark my words, there will be at least one podcast short-series documenting the life-cycle of the event. This will start from Facebook group creation, all the way up until the festival.
I also expect a HBO special to come out of it eventually.
Desert Music Festival Checklist
If you’re that journalist or podcaster looking to capitalise, remember that -
- The internet will be non-existant
- Accomodation is already booked and night temperatures plunge below zero
- Cash only, because EFTPOS (credit card systems) require the internet
- Food is not being organised, and the local town is use to catering for a population size of literally 50 people
- The Government will be on high alert and will be watching, so maybe don’t get drunk and run into the desert late at night
- Don’t forget your sunscreen
If you’ve checked off your checklist and know what you’re doing, then good luck with your podcast!
And tell us when it’s done, because I for one will be a subscriber.
