Catch Drifter Merch at these October Events

We are buzzing with excitement for October as we have a jam-packed schedule filled with tons of fabulous vending events alongside awesome music. It's going to be a whirlwind of activity and exciting opportunities to connect with other vendors, showcase our products, and network for custom orders.

Five Points JerryFest, a FREE outdoor Columbia, SC concert, returns on Sunday, October 1st from 11:30 am-8:00 pm. The fun-filled event will have more music and regional acts on two stages this year featuring Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead music from Stillhouse and The Reckoning along with the addition this year of some other jam-band favorites that includes Phish-inspired Runaway Gin and Widespread Panic cover band Machine Funk. In addition to food vendors and beer trucks, there will be family fun activities along with artisan vendors creating a Shakedown Street atmosphere. Merchants include us, Bravefriend Apparel and Design, Bright Star Designs, Grizzly Belle, Hippy Do-Da Creations, HoneyCreek Pottery, Reba’s Dancing Dyes, Revyved Records, Ruffled Rooster Co. & Mercantile, and Zinnialou Jewelry. Guests will enjoy eats and drinks from Senor Burrito, Zosh, Kombucha Bus, Bang Back Pinball Lounge, Publico Kitchen + Tap, Home Team BBQ and Crowntown.

The 6th Annual Day of the Dead will be held on Saturday, October 7th at the Big Winston Warehouse, presented by Fiddlin’ Fish Brewing Co, Pesca Muerta, Broad Branch Distillery, and Celestial Wellness! Day of the Dead is the party of the fall in Winston-Salem featuring live music from Cosmic Charlie, Athens GA’s high-energy Grateful Dead tribute. This year, Dr. Bacon will be kicking the party off with a little Appalachian funk at 5:00. Get here early and check out the lot scene. We’ll have vendors, a tie-dye station, and good vibes all afternoon!

The Palmetto Park Jam will be held on Sunday, October 15 from 12-4:30 p.m. at Palmetto Islands County Park in Mount Pleasant. Get ready to jam with the ultimate Allman Brothers tribute band, Idlewild Revival. Grab your tickets now, and secure your spot for an afternoon of tunes. Whether you're a die-hard Allman Brothers fan or simply love great music, this tribute will blow you away!

The 10th Annual Tribute to the Band will be held on Sunday, October 22 at the Pawleys Island Tavern. 30-plus musicians will gather to pay homage to the music of The Band. This is a free show that will benefit All4Paws animal rescue in Pawleys Island, SC. Artists from near and far sing and play a song or two with the eight-piece house band. It's a beautiful setting under the oaks and the stars. Come listen to the music of The Band in what has become a community tradition for the musicians and audience, alike.

As Widespread Panic will be back in Savannah for Halloween, Drifter Merch will be set up in the lot with many talented Shakedown vendors. Check us out before and after the shows on Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28th at Enmarket Arena.

Rock Your Style with Jam Band Merch: A Guide to Finding the Perfect Gear

If you're a fan of jam bands, you know that the music and the community surrounding it are unlike anything else. Beyond the mesmerizing tunes and improvisational jams, jam band culture is characterized by a unique sense of camaraderie and self-expression. One way to showcase your love for this genre and connect with fellow fans is through jam band merchandise. In this blog post, we'll dive into the world of jam band merch, exploring its significance, popular items, and where to find the perfect gear to rock your style.

1. The Power of Jam Band Merchandise:

Jam band merchandise serves as a powerful symbol of identity and belonging for fans. By donning apparel featuring their favorite bands, fans express their passion and create connections with like-minded individuals. It's not just about wearing a t-shirt or hat, it's about celebrating the music, embracing the community, and sharing the experience with others who understand the unique vibes of the jam band scene.

2. Popular Jam Band Merchandise:

When it comes to jam band merch, there's an abundance of options to choose from. Here are some popular items that fans often seek out:

a. T-Shirts and Hoodies: These staple items feature band logos, album artwork, or custom designs inspired by the music. They are versatile, comfortable, and perfect for showcasing your love for jam bands in everyday life or at concerts.

b. Posters and Art Prints: Jam band concerts often feature stunning visual art, and many artists create limited edition posters to commemorate these shows. These prints not only serve as collectibles but also add a vibrant touch to your living space.

c. Accessories and Jewelry: From pins and patches to bracelets and necklaces, accessories allow you to express your love for jam bands in subtle yet stylish ways. They provide a unique flair and can be conversation starters among fellow fans.

d. Vinyl Records and CDs: For collectors, owning physical copies of albums is a must. Vinyl records and CDs not only offer high-quality sound but also serve as tangible mementos of your favorite jams.

3. Where to Find Jam Band Merch:

Finding authentic and high-quality jam band merchandise can sometimes be a challenge. However, with the rise of online platforms and dedicated merchandise websites, it has become easier than ever to explore and purchase your favorite gear. Here are a few places to start your search:

a. Official Band Websites: Many jam bands have their own official websites where they sell merchandise directly to fans. This ensures authenticity and supports the band directly.

b. Online Marketplaces: Platforms like Etsy, eBay, and Bandcamp offer a wide range of jam band merchandise, including creations from independent artists and sellers.

c. Live Shows and Festivals: Attending live shows and festivals is not only a fantastic way to experience the music but also an opportunity to find exclusive and limited edition merchandise available only at these events.

d. Fan Communities and Forums: Engaging with fellow fans through online communities and forums can lead you to valuable recommendations and insider tips on where to find the best jam band merch.

Jam band merchandise allows fans to proudly display their love for the music, connect with a vibrant community, and express their unique style. From t-shirts and accessories to posters and vinyl records, the world of jam band merch offers a variety of options to suit every fan.

Learn Differences Between Printing Processes

When ordering t-shirts, it's important to understand the different printing methods. Our website and Etsy offer screen-printed designs using plastisol ink, while Amazon purchases come with DTG printing. Our custom flags and tents are created through sublimated printing. What does this mean? Screen printing, heat press, vinyl, DTG (Direct-to-Garment), and sublimation are all different printing methods, each with its own advantages and considerations.

1. Durability: Screen printing often provides excellent durability and long-lasting prints. The ink used in screen printing is typically thicker and more robust, making it more resistant to fading, cracking, or peeling over time, especially when compared to heat press and vinyl transfers.

2. Vibrant Colors and Opaqueness: Screen printing allows for the use of vibrant and opaque colors. The ability to apply multiple layers of ink during the printing process produces vibrant and eye-catching designs, even on dark-colored garments. In comparison, heat press and vinyl transfers may have limitations in color vibrancy and opacity.

3. Cost-Effective for Large Orders: Screen printing becomes cost-effective when producing large quantities of printed items. Once the screens are set up, printing multiple items becomes relatively efficient, making it a preferred choice for businesses that require a high volume of printed products. Heat press, vinyl, DTG, and sublimation printing may have higher costs per unit for larger orders.

4. Versatility: Screen printing can be performed on various surfaces, including fabrics, paper, plastics, and wood, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. Heat press and vinyl transfers are primarily used on fabrics, while DTG and sublimation printing are more specialized for fabric applications.

5. Customization Options: Screen printing offers a wide range of customization options, including the use of special inks (e.g., metallic or glow-in-the-dark inks), specialty finishes (e.g., foil or flock), and textured effects. This flexibility allows for unique and creative designs. While heat press and vinyl transfers offer some customization options, they may have limitations in terms of effects and finishes. DTG and sublimation printing also offer customization options, but they may have limitations in terms of special effects and the type of fabrics they can be used on.

It's important to note that each printing method has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the better option depends on specific requirements, such as desired print quality, quantity, fabric/material, complexity of the design, budget, and available equipment. It's always recommended to consider these factors and discuss with us or your printing professional to determine the most suitable method for your specific needs.

Port City Jerry Day

The 5th Annual Port City Jerry Day is a charitable event presented by the City of Wilmington in support of the United Way of the Cape Fear Area. The event, celebrating the life and music of the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia, will be held on Saturday, August 19th from 6pm-10pm at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. The successful event last year raised $20k for local charity with 100% of proceeds again going to the non-profit. Get ready for an unforgettable evening filled with fantastic music by The Garcia Project with Maria Muldaur & Buzz Buchanen (original Jerry Garcia Band members). Additionally, local Dead cover band The Possums will start at 5:30pm. Mayor Mike Purzycki and the Peguin’s Beau Gunn with also make a special appearance singing on stage. Doors open at 5 pm, allowing patrons to explore the offerings of live artists and vendors. Artists include Nugget, Brandon Besecker, Kaichica Loca, Kosmic Kev, The Tying Alchemist and Bee Jones while craft vendors are Drifter Merch, Viola Lee Tees, Nothing Too Fancy Designs, Love That Baby, Hopkins Creative Group, T-Shaw Designs, Tink-A-Belle, Cosmic Carolina Dyes, Mountain Soul Designs, Homegrown Market, Settle Down Easy Goods, Barefoot and Brazen and more. Don’t miss the $5 raffle with items from various vendors raising additional funds.

100% of the proceeds will directly benefit the United Way of the Cape Fear Area that works with its community to leverage resources and improve the lives of local people. By partnering with local agencies across the Cape Fear region, the non-profit is able to continue to fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in its community. United Way of the Cape Fear Area empowers its neighborhoods by building strong foundations to have a stronger, united, more resilient community.

Come be a part of this meaningful event and help make a positive impact. Get your $10 tax deductible tickets now to enjoy a night of incredible music, charity, and community spirit!

Port City Jerry Day poster by T. Shaw Designs

Lowcountry Moontime Market and WSP Sticker Con

During the Widespread Panic Charleston run, HoneyCreekPottery and Drifter Merch present the Lowcountry Moontime Market & WSP Sticker Con at the Whale in the Refinery on Saturday, May 6th from 12pm-5pm. As Shakedown lots usually get shut down on Daniel Island, we will have numerous artisan vendors participating along with Palmira BBQ food truck and live music from Rodeo Clown playing jam grass. Bring your stickers to trade too! Located at the Refinery in downtown Charleston, The Whale will be serving up its craft beer and wine selections. The event is rain or shine and free to attend.

VENDORS:
HoneyCreekPottery, Drifter Merch, Magic & Glory, Dust & Sunshine, Zinnialou Jewelry, Cotton Patch Hemp, Cool Attire Co, Bright Star Designs, Cool Frames & Funky Findings, Arbor Vitae Local Goods, Nothing too Fancy Designs, Pearl Psychedelic Institute, Reba's Dancing Dyes, Block and Ink, Grillkilt, Love that Baby, Ashley Apothecary, Hi Seltzer, Flash Memorabilia, Play Salty, Hash Racing, Charleston Dye Lab, Scotty Radford and Blaze On

Red Daisy Festival in Winston-Salem, NC

A Billy Strings concert pre-party, the Red Daisy Festival will be held on Friday, March 3rd and Saturday, March 4th from 12pm-7pm at Big Winston Warehouse in Winston-Salem, NC. Presented by Celestial Wellness, Fiddlin Fish, Broad Branch Distillery, the event features an amazing lineup of live music and 20+ vendors including Drifter Merch. It promises to be the place to be for pre-show festivities on the weekend of the Winston-Salem Billy Strings shows! 

MUSIC LINEUP:

Friday Schedule:

Corbin Floyd 12:00-1:30

Terra String 2:00-4:20

Off the Rails 4:30-6:30

Saturday Schedule:

Hotwax & The Splinters 12:00-1:20

Kind Thieves 1:35-3:35

The Grass is Dead 4:00-7:00

This event is FREE to attend. In place of a ticket fee, donations will be accepted for the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, in honor of Doc Watson’s 100th birthday. Fore more information, click here.

3rd Annual Drifter Fest Lineup Announced

The 3rd Annual Drifter Fest: Bert Griggs Memorial Jam will be held on Friday, March 31st and Saturday, April 1st from 7-11pm at the Refinery Amphitheater in Downtown Charleston. Headliners for the live music event will be legendary bassist George Porter and his band the Runnin’ Pardners along with Southern rock band Tishamingo reuniting for a special performance. Supporting acts include Gavin Hamilton and Friends featuring Wallace Mullinax, Broken Speakers and Just Groove.

A portion of proceeds will benefit Carolina Studios. Led by Hootie & the Blowfish’s Mark Bryan, the non-profit organization fosters creative, educational & career-focused initiatives for students through music, technology & media arts. Presented by Drifter Merch, Ear for Music and The Refinery in partnership with local businesses, sponsors include Jack and Coke Ready-to-Drink Cocktail, Lunar Light Botanicals, Southern Flavor Magazine, Attorney Joe Good, Rodgers Wranglers, Eskimo Advertising, Carolina Audio Video, Closet Factory and Trial Attorneys Clawson Fargnoli & Utsey. Providing a true festival experience, the event will have craft vendors such as Drifter Merch, Zinnialou Jewelry, GrillKilt, SunHeist Eyewear, Honey Creek Pottery and Sophie Kate Candles. Additionally, local favorites Home Team BBQ and King of Pops will be on site.

One day general admission tickets are available for $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the event. A limited number of $50 VIP tickets will include GA access plus a second level platform viewing area above the event with private bars, complimentary spirit tastings, seating and a commemorative laminate. Weekend passes for GA are $35 ADV, $40 DOS and VIP for $90. Tickets are on sale now at drifterfest.com

Drifter Fest celebrates the life of the late Bert Griggs. A huge fan of live music, he turned his passion into a well received apparel and accessories company, Drifter Merch, that was inspired by his favorite bands. Additionally, Bert was an amazing father, husband, son, brother, and friend. He had an innate ability to make everyone he met feel like they were the most important person in the room. Bert never met a stranger. In fact, he was everyone’s best friend. He had the sweetest soul and a tender heart that loved hard and deeply. Bert had a unique sense of humor with an infectious laugh and smile that could light up the darkest room. 

For interviews, photos, media passes, sponsorship or additional information, please contact Lorrie Dixson Griggs of Eskimo Advertising at lorrie@eskimoadvertising.com. For more information about the 3rd Annual Drifter Fest: Bert Griggs Memorial Jam, visit www.drifterfest.com. 

Bert Griggs

The 3rd Annual Drifter Fest: Bert Griggs Memorial Jam Announced

Stay tuned for more details and the live music schedule at drifterfest.com.

Drifter Holiday Gift Guide

We here at Drifter Merch are out and about selling our music-inspired goods all of the time at live music lots, events and festivals. We thought it would be fun to put together a holiday gift guide of some of our friends and fellow vendors who sell a variety of cool goods. Check out this list and shop small business this holiday season. Some vendors have offered specials to our followers!

1. Artist Preston Smith sells a variety of music art for any style or budget. Featuring artwork of many of favorite artists, his website works with a printer to make his art available on different canvas types from paper, wood, acrylic or metal. You can play around with different mats, paper styles, and frames to design a shape and size to fit your wall and budget. All art is currently reduced to $20 a square foot. Click here to shop.

2. Grateful Fred brings you chrome for the holidays with chrome car badges, metal stickers, and more! While this store is officially licensed by the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia’s family, it also offers products inspired by Widespread Panic and Phish. Check out the newest addition to the Grateful Fred lineup, the Stealie 2.0, available in color and matte black for only $25. Get it here.

3. SunHeist Eyewear is where your new, favorite shades await with ultra lightweight sunglasses with 100% UV protection and quality frames. The Willow sunglasses shown are sleek lifestyle shades with a face-hugging, flexible frame, comfortable rubber tips, and glare-blocking polarized lenses made for adventure. Grab some that are non-polarized for $50 or polarized for $85 by shopping here and using promo code “DRIFTER” at checkout to save 20% off your order.

4. Shakedown Goods is owned by a husband/wife duo who not only sell their own art and goods but also have a passion for supporting other vendors by cross selling. This Ain’t Life Grand Pin is based on the company’s original drawing. It is rainbow metal and double posted. The pin retails for $15 and can be purchased here along with other great gifts.

5. ICEMULE Coolers has championed boundless adventure by creating high-performance, hands-free coolers that provide the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want. Inspired by venues where a clear bag policy is enforced, ICEMULE has developed the first-of-its-kind, air-insulated, ultra-portable, and reusable CLEAR cooler. It sells for $79.95 on ICEMULE’s website.

6. GRILLKILT is a game-changing grilling apron with integrated tool belt & practical pockets. Featured here is the Tailgater Grill Apron in a tie-dye print that has deep hand and cargo pockets making this waist apron great for grilling and chilling as well as other activities such as crafting, gardening, and other artistic endeavors. This tie dye apron costs $65 and you can get 25% off all tailgater models with code DRIFTER on the website.

7. Stupindous is a jam band merch vendor that has mostly Phish designs but also carries Widespread Panic and Billy Strings. The company offers these super soft, stretchy, and comfortable yoga leggings that are inspired by Phish. Made of 82% polyester, 18% spandex, the leggings have a four-way stretch. Get a pair by clicking here.

8. Cotton Patch Hemp was created to offer products designed to help your body operate at its fullest with quality, organic, all-natural CBD products. Keep the holidays from being tough with Trifecta that is 1000mg each of CBD, CBG & Delta 8. Cotton Patch Hemp’s Trifecta will make your life better for $125. Buy here.

9. Sophie Kate Candles make a great gift for anyone on your list. The company features all natural soy wax candles infused with an essential and fragrant oils in refillable wooden dough bowls. Try the tree shaped candle in fraser fir to fill the house with the smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree. These are on sale for $40 now on the website.

We hope this is a great start to help you get some ideas to complete your holiday shopping. Don’t forget that we also offer lots for the music lovers on your list with premium music-inspired apparel and accessories from tees and hoodie to hats and flags. Click here to shop Drifter Merch.

Learning More about Vector Images

As we do custom printing orders often, we are always sent various formats of logos. Many times they are in the incorrect format needed for screen printing. Our friends at Sticker Mule have allowed us to reprint their blog covering all that relates to vector images. Hope this helps in your printing journey.

What is a vector image?

To better understand what a vector file is, it is important to learn the two basic categories of a digital image: raster graphics and vector graphics.

You may already be familiar with a flat or raster graphic. These graphics are .jpg (Joint Photographic Experts Group), or .png (Portable Network Graphics) file types. Notice that when you zoom in a .jpg or .png image, you’ll see that the image becomes blurry and you start seeing little square dots. These dots are called pixels. This is the basic foundation of a raster graphic: flat little dots that form the full picture.

On the other hand, a vector graphic is made up of mathematical formulas rather than flat, fixed, and solid colored pixels. The formulas create the points, paths, lines, curves, shapes, and colors that you see in a vector image.

The most important attribute of a vector image is that it is infinitely scalable without compromising the quality of the image. No matter how close you zoom in, or how big you scale a vector image, it will remain smooth. The resolution will also remain high! Some common file formats of vector files are .ai (Adobe Illustrator), .eps (Encapsulated PostScript), and .svg (Scalable Vector Graphic).

Where are vector images used?

Vector images are used in branding and printing. Most logos, icons, and other graphics that you see displayed on websites online are vector images. Most print jobs you have seen might also have been vector images before printing.

What can you do with vector images?

Because vector files are resolution independent, they are great for large scale printing like banners, signs, and other large format jobs. Vector files are also great for smaller prints like business cards, packaging, and stickers because even the tiniest details are guaranteed to be sharp and clear.

It is generally a good idea to keep graphic assets as vector files because of its smaller file size compared to a raster image. You can also update and edit vector files with ease as well as export it into any other file type you need anytime.

What are tools that can convert an image to a vector?

There is a variety of software, both offline and online, that have the ability to export vectors. Some popular professional software are Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW. There are also open source and free software like Inkscape and Vectr.

Alternatively, there are a lot of free vector conversion websites where you can upload your image and convert them to a vector image. The downside of using free and automatic conversion tools like them is that you will not get an accurate image. Some include watermarks, while some simply do not produce high resolution vectors.

Here’s our pro tip: Redraw from Sticker Mule converts and upgrades any image to a high resolution, vector graphic. Redraw eliminates the hassle of tracing, coloring, finetuning, and exporting. Though you may need to shell out a few bucks, Redraw guarantees that it will convert any image into a high-quality vector image that is infinitely scalable! And after that, your new poster, sticker or image for screen print will be ready in no time!

How do you convert images to vector for free?

There are a lot of websites that convert flat images to vectors for free. Some of them go as far as giving the user the ability to input the number of color output, as well as designating a color palette. One of the best examples is pngtosvg.com.

The downside to this is that aside from the webpage being heavy because of numerous ads that pop up all over the site, the output creates imperfect and crooked lines. (And be careful with clicking on those ads too! Sometimes, they may lead you to malicious, virus-ridden websites! Yikes!)

The converted vector also creates unnecessary extra shapes. You would still need to download and edit the vector image using software to finetune and clean up the vector.

Converting images to vector: Tips from a designer

Here are some tips on converting a flat image into a vector:

• Converting images into vectors works well for images that are simple, clear, and have minimal colors.

• When manually tracing, zoom in as close as possible so that you are able to follow the lines with better accuracy.

• Use the color picker tool when filling in paths and shapes.

• If the software that you are using has advanced automatic tracing tools, take advantage of it! You will only spend time fine tuning the result

• If you’re not a pro designer, then doing this process manually may not yield the best results. It’s better to take advantage of online tools like Sticker Mule’s Redraw to get that perfect finish!

These are all great tips from Sticker Mule. Be sure and check out their custom stickers​ for all of your projects!