There’s an electric energy in the twenty-second ward of the Lavender Beds tonight. Walking the paths, you can feel it. There’s the tension of a firework about to burst, or of the moments before a needed rainfall. You can’t escape the sense that something monumental is just beyond the dawn.
This weekend, the neighborhood plays host to the social event of the season; Mogstock. So much more than a music festival, Mogstock brings together practically the entire neighborhood with food, games, afterparties, and prizes in addition to some of the greatest musical talent on the Star.
I got to walk the grounds with a group of organizers, led by Braely Fiala. Fiala is the personal assistant to festival cofounder Demytrya Eno’traeh. Eno’traeh, and by extension Fiala, do much of the festival’s outreach to participating companies, vendors, and promoters. Fern Oswell of Coin joined us, as well as Petra Karingar and Campion Rehw-gilda.
Despite seeming to be the beating heart of the neighborhood herself, Fiala was quick to point out that Mogstock wouldn’t be possible with community partners like Coin and Tonberry Tavern. Starting with just the properties owned by Eno’traeh and her partner Lledwyn, Mogstock now sees the entire ward transformed.
“I can’t say enough how important and thankful we are to have such amazing neighbors that have not only enjoyed, but embraced what began as a little seed of an idea that was more a ‘what if’ chat between Demytrya, Clayde, Viyenne, Lledwyn and Tromad so many years ago,” she said, standing by the bonfire on Coin’s lawn. “I’d say that it’s honestly the mutual respect and friendship that allows for it.”
Those names include legendary musicians Viyene Vaitisionne, Clayde Lockheart and Tromad Moonrose. Over the years, new faces like Doc Laladay, Fordaux Llane, Mihna Cohrvenn, and master restaurateur Nyte Snow have joined the festival’s planning committee, while Moonrose has parted from this year’s proceedings. The company Aegis Knights have also joined the festivities, handling the prizes and giveaways for the festival.
“In some respects, it’s truly a festival of all art forms.“
As all the names make abundantly clear, the festival is far more than its acts, headlined by household names like Lockheart and Cohrvenn’s own Final Fantasia and featuring Dawn Nightmare, the North Wind, and Harmonia Crystal to name a few. It has places to eat like High Nunh, Calescent Glen, Third Eye Izakaya or the renowned (and, full disclosure, owned by this journalist’s mother) Bandee Pakshee. And then, there’s the games.
Dark Crimson Tavern is previewing its fight night season on the 9th, with four-man brackets that reward gil to the champion. Dueling Otters is also a sparring venue turning up to the festivities. And the sensational sport Ballafell is returning to blast a little capitalist across a field repeatedly. But the star of the show game-wise is Fiala’s own brainchild: a game where the player gets to live a life of rock and roll.
Moving along a keyboard-themed trail, players will roll to see how far they move, and encounter life events like scandal or romance that advance or hinder their careers. The winner, that round’s rock star, also gets a gil payout. This is based on a larger game of a similar stripe in development at the Gilded Matanga. Gilded Matanga’s version features a bigger board, and optional after-dark rules for adults only. Look forward to an inside look at that!
And that’s to say nothing of the multiple artists and photographers who will be at the festival grounds capturing memories for the attendees. The spaces the festival occupies are gorgeous as well, showing off the feats of architecture and interior design that the people of ward twenty-two can accomplish.
“In some respects, it’s truly a festival of all art forms,” said Fiala. “It’s nice to be able to acknowledge all of the people that put their hard work into the festival, and honestly there are so many people to acknowledge and thank and praise.”
The community of the festival extends outside the neighborhood of course. Not only do venues, performers, and artists from around the Star participate, Mogstock is just one of three heavily interconnected festivals that take place every year. Alongside Mogstock is the autumnal A Feast Reborn, led by Snow, as well as the annual starlight festival The Great Ishgardian Frostfaire, whose planning committee is involved in supporting and promoting Mogstock. Together, these mark the major events on the Eorzean social calendar. Of them, though, Mogstock is easily the most expansive.
“We’re blessed that what started as a silly idea among friends was embraced so thoroughly by the community from all of the different aspects that are included, be it bards, venues, game runners, sponsors, and just general volunteers making sure that every little thing is covered,” Fiala said, as our evening together was coming to a close. “Don’t just go to watch one band and then leave, take advantage of it all.”
Mogstock runs from the 9th to the 11th. For more information, check the enclosed pamphlet.
