Pandemic creates opportunity for music vacations

But what to do about the throngs of people who gather for musical festivals or large concerts?

Enter the music vacation called Moon Crush in Miramar Beach, Florida.

“I’m a big believer that when the world is upside down, it creates an opportunity to rethink things,” said event organizer Andy Levine. “Our whole plan for this event was to demonstrate during COVID that there were some opportunities to make the music vacation.”

Moon Crush, so named for the idea of “crushing” on the people you love most under a springtime pink moon, is not a typical music festival, Levine said. Organizers have been very intentional in marketing the event as a full vacation – just with music.

Prices aren’t like music festivals because Moon Crush prices include lodging and concert tickets as one price per person for seven nights lodging and five different music concerts with three artists each. The idea is you can play on the beach, visit local stores, do some beach yoga and listen to good music.

But to attend Moon Crush, you have to have proof of a negative COVID-19 test. So far, there are nearly 2,000 people set to attend.

Levine, who managed the band Sister Hazel, is the founder of the Atlanta-based company Sixthman, which specializes in music events that connect artists with their biggest fans, such as on a cruise ship. He’s also behind other social event companies like Topeka and, now, Moon Crush.

His work took a big hit during the pandemic, but he found inspiration during a bike ride in Miramar Beach. He spotted a golf course at a resort across from the beach. He had organized events on golf courses before and knew he could create a safe environment for live music. He contacted the golf course resort as well as the property managers of beach houses and condos. Then, he reached out to bands.