The Black Hills’ largest electronic music festival concluded Sunday (August 31) at Bulldog Creek Campground in Sturgis (South Dakota), drawing hundreds of attendees for the seventh annual Synesthesia.
The multi-day event, which has grown into a significant gathering for the region’s electronic music community, has already begun welcoming artists and fans in previous days before wrapping up the weekend.
Synesthesia, now regarded as a staple in the Black Hills’ music calendar, began as a far smaller gathering.
According to an article published by Kota Territory on September 1, Founder and Production Director Lucian Bedard said its origins were modest. “It really started as kind of a fun getaway weekend,” Bedard said. “Getting some friends together and playing music on some speakers, it was closer to a homie campout.”
The event traces its roots to 2019, when Bedard and a group of friends experimented with small-scale shows. At the time, electronic music in the area had little visibility, with performances often confined to improvised spaces.
“Bass music was in the basement of places, like underground normal operating businesses and we would just set up and go off,” Owen Mechling, Synesthesia’s lighting director, said.
For organizers, the logistics of staging a full concert in a campground setting remain demanding.
“It’s essentially a second full time job,” said Reed Lindbloom, Synesthesia’s finance director. “It never really stops. We could do it year round and get 40 hours a week out of it making sure we have all of our i’s dotted, t’s crossed.”
According to its website, just five minutes from downtown Sturgis, South Dakota, Bulldog Creek Campground offers 43 acres of green grass, shade trees, and the scenic Bulldog Creek.
Conveniently located off Exit 37 on Interstate 90, the family-owned and operated campground provides a range of accommodations, including 50- and 30-amp full hookups, 30-amp water-only sites, 110-volt electric sites, and space for tents and dry camping.
During the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Bulldog Creek becomes a hub for riders looking for a comfortable stay. Guests can enjoy hearty breakfasts and suppers, with nightly specials served at the on-site bar and café, which are open to the public.
The campground also features the Dawg House Bar, open throughout the summer for special events, Rally week, and the Synesthesia Music & Arts Festival over Labor Day weekend.
For more information about the campground, visit their website here.
Featured image by Bulldog Creek Campground via bulldogcreek.com