MOVE - ISSUE 30

MOVE 07.10.12 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 30

THE KEY TO YOUR ENTERTAINMENT

+ RED, WHITE AND BLUES ANA POPOVIC ARRIVES IN THE U.S. WITH A STOP AT 9TH STREET SUMMERFEST SUMMER SWAG FESTIVALGOER ESSENTIALS YOU SHOULDN'T CELEBRATE WITHOUT FAIR FARE A FUNNEL CAKE RECIPE THAT'S NOM-WORTHY

SURELY, YOU FEST

MOVE COVERS A SUMMER OF CELEBRATIONS

music columnist

FEEDBACK

jackson farley

Bieber can be a gentleman Hey there, friends! I’m Jackson, and I'm going to be a freshman at MU this fall. I run on coffee, I love a good rainy day and I have a huge crush on Beyoncé. But most importantly, I’ll be this semester’s music review columnist for MOVE Magazine! You’ll have the highly-coveted opportunity to read my ramblings every week about new albums by artists you might like. I know, you’re excited — I am too. So without further ado, let’s talk music.

Today I'm going to talk about the one, the only ...

Justin Bieber. Yeah, you heard right. Bieber’s new album, Believe, came out June 15 and sold more than 300,000 copies in its debut week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

After previewing his new style on the album’s first single, “Boyfriend,” Bieber clearly a) is on the tail end of his long, high-pitched journey through puberty, b) has matured quite a bit since his last CD and c) still really, really, really, really likes girls.

Compared to My World, his first release, Believe has matured both musically and lyrically. No longer does he only appeal to screaming 12-year-olds — his new style reaches out to a much wider audience. Believe is a diverse album for the most part. Bieber stays true to his pop roots but also incorporates a large amount of rhythm and blues and “dance pop” into his new record. Taking after artists like Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson in some aspects, Bieber’s new style isn’t exactly “new” in the music world.

However, Believe has just enough originality to please old and new fans alike.

Believe begins with “All Around the World,” a clubready song that will make you hurry to find your dancing shoes. Other high-energy tracks include “Boyfriend,” “As Long As You Love Me,” “Take You” and “Beauty and a Beat.” These dance tracks work well and will definitely be favorites for a lot of fans. “Take You” is probably the most Timberlake-esque song, featuring Bieber’s lower register and falsetto — in other words, ladies, you might want to check this one out.

And what would a Bieber CD be without a few mushy, lovey-dovey ballads? It, well, wouldn’t. You can always count on Bieber to put a few of those on an album. I mean, come on, let’s not forget how much he loves the ladies.

“Fall” and “Be Alright” are practically love letters, but they’re actually good. Both tracks showcase Bieber’s incredible voice and charming personality. “Catching Feelings,” however, is one ballad worth skipping. The song fails in multiple areas: Bieber’s voice seems whiny at parts, and the lyrics are far from clever. “One Love” is another mediocre ballad. It’s by no means horrendous, but it’s also not a song with which most guys would choose to serenade their girlfriends outside a window (People still do that, right? No? Oh). And the title track, “Believe,” is essentially a letter to his fans thanking them for believing in him (Cute, right?), but it comes across as super cheesy, especially when the gospel choir comes in during the bridge. Too far, Bieber. Too far.

Believe also features a slew of special guest artists.

Ludacris, Big Sean, Drake and Nicki Minaj all make appearances on tracks, but unfortunately, most of the special guests fall short. Ludacris’ part on “All Around the World” is — well, about as good as Ludacris can be, which isn’t that great to begin with. Big Sean does a little better on “As Long As You Love Me,” but his lyrics are a bit goofy and the overall flow is choppy. Nicki Minaj is probably the best feature. Her appearance on “Beauty and a Beat” stays pretty true to her style (for better or for worse) and fits the already-catchy song very well.

Overall, Believe is a successful album. It’s incredible to see the amount of growth Bieber has undergone since the beginning of his career, and it’s clear he isn’t done yet. With a new style both lyrically and musically, Believe is a huge step for Bieber because anyone who's not a hyper, infatuated preteen girl can listen to his music without feeling any shame. It probably won’t be the album of the year for most people, but it’s safe to say Believe is a great summer pop album and a huge improvement from Bieber’s debut.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Midsummer merrymaking Big cities have it freakishly easy. This summer, I’ve been living in Chicago for the first time, and after barely one month, I’ve almost literally tripped over all the festivals, fairs and organized frolicking (sometimes there’s no other way to describe it) that fill the city. It’s exciting, for sure. I mean, when and where else can you jam to neon-suited cover bands in the streets one night and herald Nigerian culture at IgboFest the next day? Or throw inhibition (and Mizzou 22 recovery plans) to the wind at the Taste of Chicago? Or mentally prepare yourself to see Passion Pit, at last, with your own bare eyeballs?

At first, it was like getting a jumbo funnel cake of revelry all to myself, and I wanted to just smash my face into it and let it all sink inward. But as any fairgoer knows, it’s physically impossible to have your own funnel cake, eat it and still enjoy standing up, too. You can’t try to have or do it all. It’ll wear you out — or just make you feel gross and wonder how you got powdered sugar everywhere.

That’s what I miss about Columbia, where festivities come a bit slowly but (if this festivals and fairs issue has taught me anything) surely.

Everyone in CoMo comes together every time because they’re special times, so the chance you’ll see people whom you know and enjoy, uh, festive things with is high.

That college-town intimacy is something you definitely can’t recreate in the city. Because when I do happen to see people in remotely black and gold gear, I try screaming, “M-I-Z!” But it just gets lost in a crowd of 2.7 million people, and I sigh.

Columbia, you’ll be good to see soon. delia cai | MOVE editor

CLAYTON HOTZE | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Cover photos shot at the Webster Groves Community Days fair in Webster Groves, Mo.

/cover photo/clayton hotze design/savannah kannberg

Serbian blues at Summerfest

»

A passport and a ’64 Strat: Ana Popovic discusses life, the blues and future albums.

Ana Popovic might be well known for her endless array of licks and her heated blues solos that bear traces of Stevie Ray Vaughan, T-Bone Walker and others, but the star has had a long journey from beautiful Belgrade, Serbia, to the blues-rich U.S. As a teenager, she was already opening for blues greats and playing with her band, Hush. Now, she is busy touring the U.S., recording her seventh studio album and taking care of her new newborn baby, Lenna. Her last album, Unconditional, topped U.S. Billboard charts and was nominated for "Best Contemporary Blues Album" at the 33rd Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tenn.

Popovic has been nominated for many awards throughout the years, including BluesWax Magazine's “Blues Artist of the Year” in 2006 and the British Blues Awards’ “Best Overseas Artist” in 2010. Her success in the U.S. led her to play with blues legends such as Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, B.B. King and her slide-guitar idol, Sonny Landreth. Even though she’s touring and recording fervently, the guitarist/singer/songwriter/new mother had time to discuss with MOVE her music, musicianship and journey from the '80s Belgrade blues scene to major venues around the world.

MOVE: You’re from a place that's famous for obscure time signatures and very fast tremolo picking. What led you to the blues?

AP: Blues was always being played in my house. My father was into blues music before it gained real popularity, so I was used to it from a very young age. He had many records — I loved Howlin’ Wolf, Sonny Landreth, Stevie Ray Vaughan and B.B. King. I really loved the old Mississippi roots players.

When I started playing, it was natural to play the blues. I never cared much for Balkan music, nor did I ever sing or songwrite in Serbian, so playing the blues fit. It was the right thing for me.

MOVE: Beograd is known as a historic European metropolis. Is there a heavy blues scene there?

AP: There is definitely a big blues scene for those who are familiar with the local musicians and blues locales. It’s somewhat underground. There are many ensembles that play in a classic blues style and play standards — it is not difficult to find good music.

MOVE: How come you’re doing a tour in the U.S.?

AP: Like I said, blues was a constant in my house, so I felt obliged to make blues music. I played in Serbia and then went to school in Amsterdam.

In 1999, I started a band, and naturally wanted to play in the States. There were many people who said it was a stretch and it was too difficult, but I was

determined. If you believe in something, you need to go for it. This is what I tell all young musicians in the Balkans — if you’re sitting, playing in Serbia and waiting for someone to book you in America, it will never happen. One must be charismatic and determined to make it anywhere, especially in music.

I was intent on playing on both sides of the Atlantic, and I pursued that goal.

MOVE: You’ve become very popular in America and throughout the world. Did you ever see yourself playing with blues greats like Sonny Landreth and Buddy Guy? AP: Never. I never wanted to set any goals like that. Setting goals in music is tough, because then one may not be ready for disappointment.

Blues music is my passion. I just wanted to play, and I still just want to play.

I want to do it for as long as I am able to do it. This was all I thought about.

Naturally, I had fallbacks. There are always fallbacks, I love graphic design, and I love art, so options were there if music wasn’t. It was though. I think it’s most important to absorb the journey without thinking about success or fame. The point is to enjoy the ride — everything else just comes with it. But playing on stage with Sonny Landreth and Buddy Guy is still a life achievement, and I feel honored to have done so.

MOVE: Any plans for an upcoming album?

AP: Of course! Half of the next album was recorded in Memphis recently, just two months ago, and we hope to have the next half done by August. I’m actually working on three parallel projects right now, though.

One is an acoustic blues album that I’m quite excited about. The other is a fundamentally funk blues album, while the third is a follow-up to Unconditional. I was very happy with the last album, and this one will have a similar sound. We make time for both touring and recording.

MOVE: What is your main guitar on this tour?

AP: My main guitar is a ’64 Strat — it satisfies the majority of my needs on stage, but I also have a ‘57 Strat reissue with a maple neck that I use for slow blues playing. There a few more guitars I own, mainly a Tele and some acoustics, but everything that I have, I use. I don’t like for guitars to sit in closets — they are meant to be played. I’m no collector, but I love my guitars.

MOVE: You’re headlining The Blue Note's 9th Street Summerfest in a few weeks. How does that feel?

AP: Yes, I’m very excited! We love Columbia. We came last year for the Roots 'N Blues 'N BBQ festival and loved the energy and the turnout. The crowd in Columbia appreciates blues music. It’s a great town, and we’re looking forward to returning. haris fazlic | reporter

FESTIVALS LOLLAPALOOZA LOCATION: CHICAGO DATES: AUG. 3 THROUGH AUG. 5

Let’s just get this one out of the way. Lollapalooza is a staple in the music scene and a summer ritual for many. People always get excited for it, and people will come back from the festival all high and mighty because they were there, which always leaves some who haven’t been able to go slightly bitter. If you want to catch bands like Florence + The Machine, The Black Keys and Red Hot Chili Peppers, make friends with a ticket scalper because it’s already sold out this year.

2 MOVE • 07.10.12

VANS WARPED TOUR

PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL

LOCATION: VENUES ACROSS THE U.S. DATES: JUNE 16 THROUGH AUG. 5

LCCATION: CHICAGO DATES: JULY 13 THROUGH JUL. 15

If you look over your shoulder before ducking into a Hot Topic store since you were 14 for fear of being spotted by someone you know, Warped is for you. The traveling rock show crosses the country every summer with dozens of bands, bringing with it all-day mosh pits and boys who still refuse to give up eyeliner.

Taking Back Sunday, All Time Low and New Found Glory are among the many bands that will help you travel back to 2006 and love every second of it.

For those of you who think Lollapalooza is just too mainstream for your special snowflake taste in music, there’s another three-day Chi-Town festival just across the city. Pitchfork’s lineup boasts indie acts like Vampire Weekend, Feist and Sleigh Bells, plus a bunch of other bands I’m sure your friends have never heard of. Earn more cred by getting involved with the festival’s sustainability efforts, like their recycling, composting and use of biodiesel fuel to power your favorite obscure tunes.

MOVE IN THE KITCHEN:

funnel cakes

movie columnist

Nothing smells more like a county fair than frying oil. Don’t wait for the fair to indulge in hot funnel cakes — instead, get in that kitchen and make it yourself!

REEL REVIEWS josh sipp

New decade, new Spider-Man

GET THIS: 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups vegetable oil confectioners’ sugar

«

1 egg 2/3 cup milk 1 1/4 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon salt

DO THIS: 1. In a deep skillet, heat two cups of vegetable oil over medium heat. When the oil is ready for frying, drop a small bit of flour into the skillet. If it sizzles without smoking, it’s ready for frying.

2. Meanwhile, whisk the egg and milk together.

3. Slowly add flour, salt, baking powder and vanilla extract into the egg-milk mixture, whisking after each ingredient is added.

4. Once the oil is hot, pour the batter into a gallon-sized plastic bag.

Cut one corner of the bag, similar to how you would cut a pastry bag, and squeeze it into the skillet. Start by making a spiral with the batter in the hot oil, and then go back and forth in a web-like pattern. By this point, the hot oil will jump out of the skillet, so watch out.

5. Wait two to three minutes. Once the funnel cake is golden brown, flip it over with a spatula to make sure both sides are evenly fried.

6. Take the funnel cake out while hot and coat it with powdered sugar. Add chocolate syrup and strawberries if you wish, then dig in! savannah kannberg | associate editor SAVANNAH KANNBERG l PHOTOGRAPHER

Boone Dawdle trailblazers prepare for third year The True/False Film Fest hosts its third installment of the Boone Dawdle on Aug. 18.

COURTESY OF AUGUST KRYGER

«

With the warm weather and students gone from town, it's easy for things to slow down in Columbia during the summertime.

But for the True/False Film Fest, Columbia's documentary film festival, summer is the perfect time to roll out a different kind of film-going experience.

True/False will hold its third annual Boone Dawdle on Aug. 18, bringing

Columbians an evening of bicycling, music, food and film. The 30-mile adventure along the MKT and Katy trails begins downtown and ends on the bluff tops in Rocheport overlooking the Missouri River.

"It's a surprise- and music-filled bike ride down the trail which culminates in a local food picnic, concert and outdoor movie at Les Bourgeois Winery," True/ False managing director Jeremy Brown says. "We wanted to offer people a sample of True/False in the summertime and do something a little bit different from the festival."

This year's Boone Dawdle has been in the works for several months.

"Every year we change things around and try to make it feel more interesting," True/False co-director David Wilson says. "We've beefed up some of the trailside surprises. It's a great way to dive back into Columbia."

Upon arriving at the winery, participants will hear the psychedelic band Cave, an outfit formed in Columbia now based in Chicago. The evening will also include a screening of "The Source," a new documentary about a Los Angeles commune during the 1970s. True to

True/False form, the audience will be able to partake in a post-screening Q&A session with Source Family member Isis Aquarian and film co-director Jodie Wille.

Jonathan Sessions, who has previously participated in the Boone Dawdle, registered to ride the trails again in August. He said he enjoys how the event brings out many faces in the community.

"You get to meet a lot of people," he says. "All kinds of different folks come out for this, young and old. And it's a great experience to get out if you're a college student."

Sessions is enthusiastic the Boone Dawdle has also received so much community support.

"This is something that I hope becomes part of that Columbia tradition," Session says.

Participants can buy tickets online for the picnic and film screening atop the bluffs, the bike ride along the trails and both events.

Additional information about the Boone Dawdle can be found on the True/False Film Fest's website. jennifer liu | reporter

“The Amazing Spider-Man” is debatably so.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” swung into theaters just in time for the Fourth of July, which awkwardly fell on a Wednesday this year. One would assume a holiday centered on blowing things up and drinking wouldn’t fall directly in the middle of a week, but apparently our founders were not forward-thinking enough to sign the declaration on “the first Friday of July.” But I digress — there’s a movie waiting to be reviewed.

As the new writer of an old column, it seemed all too appropriate for the first column to cover director Marc Webb’s restart of Marvel’s storied “Spider-Man” franchise. There was ample pressure on the director of “(500) Days of Summer” to make this movie better than the webbed hero’s first foray onto the big screen back in 2002. “The Amazing Spider-Man” did improve upon a few of the weaknesses in the original “SpiderMan” but was still missing that special something Spider-Man needs to contend with any of the other superhero movie franchises (Except for “Green Lantern.” Ryan Reynolds is the only reason that movie is remotely watchable).

Andrew Garfield (“The Social Network”) was called up to fill the shoes for “The Amazing Spider-Man” previously inhabited by Tobey Maguire. Garfield played the role of Peter Parker well and seemed to be very comfortable with it.

His version of the character seemed much more fluid than Maguire’s. He still held to the stereotypical reserved, angstridden high schooler personality that is part of Spider-Man canon, but Garfield seemed more interesting and relatable overall. There is no doubt Garfield has the potential to completely overshadow Maguire’s Spider-Man if he stays with the franchise.

Anyone who has seen the trailers knows New York’s favorite genetically modified human goes toe-to-toe against the originally named villain, The Lizard. Rhys Ifans (Xenophilius Lovegood in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1”) delivers a quality performance, yet his character could have used more originality, and he at times felt like the reptilian version of Doctor Octopus. Considering the writers were forced to search for a villain unused by the previous trilogy to at least add some originality to the newest movie, The Lizard wasn’t a poor choice of villain.

The rest of the movie is marked by a new love story.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” decided to trash MJ’s character (thank you, Marc Webb) and go with Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) instead. Everyone knows the on-again, off-again story of MJ and Peter Parker already. This is something new and (hopefully) without the monotonous “I can’t be Spider-Man and be with you” character development black hole into which the last trilogy fell.

So there’s Andrew Garfield’s great performance, the inclusion of a new villain and love story, a more polished backstory and. finally and rather notably, the correction of a mistake the last trilogy couldn’t take four seconds to distinguish: Spider-Man doesn’t shoot webs out of his wrists because that was never one of his powers. He has to build a gadget to do it. Props to Marc Webb for getting this crucial original detail right.

Unfortunately, “The Amazing Spider-Man” has one fatal flaw that has a vastly negative impact on what would be an average to above-average superhero movie: the original “Spider-Man” was released in 2002, and the subsequent movies were released in 2004 and 2007. It was far too soon to make another movie. Based on the box office totals from “Spider-Man,” you watched it 10 years ago and probably have a few times since then.

Overall, “The Amazing Spider-Man” is a decent movie.

It’s not great, but it was enjoyable to watch and provided a few hours of entertainment. If you really love Spider-Man, or haven’t seen “Spider-Man” or “Spider-Man 2” recently, go see it. You’ll enjoy it. If you want to see something new and exciting, then “The Amazing Spider-Man” isn’t even close to the movie for you, and you will leave feeling like you just rewatched the original “Spider-Man” without the annoying bits.

FESTIVALS OUTSIDE LANDS LOCATION: SAN FRANCISCO DATES: AUG. 10 THROUGH AUG. 12

To get down with your inner hippie, head out west to Outside Lands. Held in the famous Golden Gate Park, you can commune with nature while taking in some fantastic scenery and the most eclectic lineup of the season. Where else can you see Metallica, Regina Spektor and Skrillex in the same place? Outside Lands isn’t just about the music, either — art installations, wine tastings and gourmet food await you. Go get you some culture!

MISSOURI STATE FAIR LOCATION: SEDALIA DATES: AUG. 9 THROUGH AUG. 19

What’s better than going to the fair, ingesting obscene amounts of cotton candy and snow cones and then hopping on one of those insane whirly rides that whips you around until you feel like you’re going to die? Pretty much nothing, that’s what — so show some Missourah pride and hit up the state fair. Sedalia is only an hour west of Columbia, so there’s no excuse for not going to see pig races or the Missouri Fiddling Championship.

KANSAS CITY RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL LOCATION: BONNER SPRINGS DATES: SEPT. 1 THROUGH OCT. 14

Campy things are always the best things. Round out your 2012 festival tour just outside Kansas City at the renaissance festival, where you can pretend to live in the 1500s when cellphones and the Internet didn’t exist, if that’s your thing. Get your fortune told by a gypsy, dance with a court jester and witness a jousting competition during the festival’s month and a half run. The festival is open on weekends, so when you totally miss your mom after the first week of classes, just know there’s someone in tights willing to treat you like a king or queen. compiled by lauren guminger | reporter 07.10.12 • MOVE

3

Swag to snag for festival season

fashion columnist

STYLE FILES

claire boston

Thriving off thrifting Whether you're looking to beat the summer heat by refreshing your hot weather wardrobe or you’ve already turned your attention to fall fashion, resist the urge to head to the mall the next time you’re looking to add to your closet. Though it may be tempting to lump every used clothing store under the blanket term “thrift store,” secondhand shops identify themselves by using unique terminology. Here’s a detailed breakdown of different types of secondhand stores and specific suggestions in CoMo: The thrift store: Generally, a thrift store’s selection is determined entirely based on donations it receives, so finding pieces can be a hit-or-miss process. However, the low prices easily excuse the days when the pickings are slim. Expect shirts and shorts for less than $5 and dresses and shoes for less than $10. As an added bonus, thrift stores are sometimes run in conjunction with a charity, so you might be able to justify your too-frequent shopping trips if they benefit a worthy cause. Nearby thrift stores include the Columbia Goodwill Store (1405 Grindstone Parkway) and the Salvation Army (1304 Parkdale Blvd.).

Consignment shops: Consignment shops are the thrift store’s classy older sibling — to stock their racks, they purchase gently used pieces from people who recently purged their closets. You can expect to find a nice selection of sundresses, party dresses and various shirts and tops from brands you recognize. While most items will be in the $10 to $40 range, the quality of the available selection tends to be more reliable than that of thrift stores. If you’re looking to make some quick cash, consignment stores will likely offer you about 10 percent of an item’s retail value.

Nearby consignment shops include New Beginning Consignment Clothing (7 S. Tenth Street) and Plato’s Closet (2609 E. Broadway).

Vintage stores: Selection here is easily the crème de la crème of all secondhand shopping, but vintage pricing can be high enough to make you cringe. The central dogma of vintage store pricing is fairly straightforward: the older the product, the higher the price.

However, they are still worth checking out if you’re in search of a perfect period Halloween costume or if you don’t mind paying extra for the more reliable selection. Check out Maude Vintage (818 E. Broadway) or Absolute Vintage (923 E. Broadway).

For the unabridged version, visit our website at move.themaneater.com

kyle primack | reporter

Whether you're headed to Lolla or 9th Street Summerfest, here's a checklist to make sure you've packed the necessities for your day out.

Festivals have been an American staple since Woodstock. They're perfect symbols of American exceptionalism and hold true to our belief in freedom of speech. In a festival crowd, everyone can express themselves in their own ways: fuzzy animal hats and tie-dye skirts are celebrated, not looked down upon. When somebody asks for a drink from your CamelBak, it is usually followed by the positive and heartwarming response, “Yeah, bro, for sure.”

But do not be mistaken. It takes time, energy and a little creativity to get ready for these festivals. Can't decide between shoes or sandals? Water bottles or CamelBaks? Sunscreen or tanning oil? No fear. With this swag, you can look awesome while still beating the heat: Blankets:

Towel:

They're big enough for five of your friends but still very easy to schlep around. During dead times between acts, there is no better (or, uh, cleaner) place to sit than on your blanket.

Head massager:

For those of you who sweat profusely, it would be a great idea to invest in a towel. The mixture of the humidity and the art of dance can at times be ... unbecoming. The towel is a perfect “swagger savior.”

Lighter/clap apps:

If you're going to a festival solely to befriend everyone there, this is the perfect conversation and lifelong friendship starter.

Gum: Swagger starts with this savory snack. Gum is arguably the most important item on this list. Bad breath is unacceptable at a festival, and as long as your mouth is occupied by the aroma of mint, green apple or watermelon, you will be accepted.

Sunglasses:

What hits artists' cores is when you show your appreciation for their music. There is no better way to do so than taking out your cellular devices and holding your virtual lighters high. One Clap, which is exactly what it sounds like, is annoying yet incredibly fun — for the first 30 seconds, at least.

Camera: People love taking pictures with random people. It's a law of nature.

Hats:

These festival staples will protect your beautiful retinas from the sun whether they're goofy glasses or beautiful, fragile Ray-Bans. Fan fave: refraction glasses (go to your physics professor — he will have 1,000 stashed in his desk).

Sunscreen: Not to be your mom, but you need it. It is very easy to get lost in the music and forget about your skin. Remember to take the extra five minutes to help yourself.

Much like sunglasses, hats are important for several reasons. They protect your head while making a fashion statement. Whether you are rocking a snapback, fedora, beanie or graduation cap, express yourself.

CamelBak: A CamelBak is in a league of its own. It can hold most items on this list while simultaneously dispensing water for your dehydrated body. The CamelBak swagger is off the charts, and quite frankly, a true festival experience cannot be had without one.

9 Best CoMo Fests

The NINE coolest festivals in Columbia and central Missouri victoria ross | reporter

As amazing as MU is, sometimes all a student needs is some off-campus fun. This list consists of the nine coolest festivals in central Missouri, most of which are right here in Columbia. Worried about stretching your budget with an off-campus excursion? No worries, some of the events are completely free!

Midway Music Festival 5 p.m. Aug. 24 Midway Expo Center Tickets: $36 Pretty Lights, Curren$y, Coyote Kisses and Keys N Krates will take over Midway, where Dayglow was held only a few months before. Think you're ready for round two?

Go back to 1859 and celebrate with old crafts and trades. Events include cowboys and wagons, ghost stories and village tours!

Artrageous Fridays 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 12 to 13

Citizen Jane Film Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 15 to 16

Downtown Columbia Tickets: Free A self-guided art crawl through downtown, Artrageous Fridays are a celebration of the arts in central Missouri.

Columbia Tickets: TBA In collaboration with Stephens College, Citizen Jane showcases films directed by women in an effort to increase awareness of females in the movie industry. Expect diverse films and rowdy after-parties. It's OK, boys — you can come too.

Living Windows Festival 6 to 8p.m. Dec. 7

True/False Film Festival March 2013

Downtown Columbia Tickets: Free

Downtown Columbia Tickets: TBA

Every year, the shopkeepers of CoMo fill their windows with living figures of holiday cheer. Three words: "free," "food" and "discounts."

4 MOVE • 07.10.12

35th Annual Heritage Festical and Craft Show 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 15 to 16 Nifong Park Tickets: Free

Easily one of central Missouri's most prestigious festivals, True/False showcases ruthlessly independent documentaries, often fresh from Sundance.

Roots 'N Blues N' BBQ Sept. 21-22 Downtown Columbia Tickets: $55+ Roots 'N' Blues 'N' BBQ is an annual festival that benefits music education in Columbia schools. This year's fest features major headline artists such as Al Green and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, the folksy darlings behind "Home."

Deutsch Country Days 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 20 to 21 Marthasville Tickets: $13.50 Check out how the early German settlers of Missouri kicked it — Deutsch Country Days offers all the German culture you could ask for. Eat delicious homemade dishes, watch artisans master their craft and even practice your sausagestuffing skills!

St. Louis Storytelling Festivals May 2013 St. Louis Tickets: Free Local and nationally acclaimed storytellers gather in St. Louis for this event sponsored

by UM-St. Louis. Go on — you're never too old for stories.