Summer is in full swing, and with it comes lazy days and evenings of chilling with friends, enjoying cool drinks to relieve the record-high heat, and hitting up music festivals to dance the night away. Eorzea is sharing in those summer vibes as MogStock returns to Final Fantasy 14 on July 14-16, 2023, taking over Ward 22 in the Lavender Beds of Mateus, Crystal.
This year’s event sees over 30 scheduled acts made up of talented dance and musical performers, including the likes of The Song Birds, The Wiggles, and Final Fantasia. There will also be artists, photographers, and roleplayers contributing to the fun with a special art show, the Camp Cloudtop Ice Creamery and Tonberry Tavern RP venues, and the return of last year’s popular Kitty Twister honky tonk venue.
New for this year’s MogStock will be a collaboration with various roleplay sparring clubs, showcasing their combat skills in sparring matches and displays of strength. There will also be ways for festival-goers to get involved, such as with a giant game of beach volleyball. The festival aims to have something for everyone, so whether you’re a roleplayer or not, you’ll undoubtedly find something to enjoy.
I recently spoke with the MogStock organisers, Clayde Lockheart, Demytrya Eno'traeh, Lledwyn Eno’traeh, Mihna Cohrvenn, Tromad Lunakith, and Viyene Vaitisionne, who told me this Woodstock-inspired event first began in 2021 when the world was still adjusting to life in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During this time, we found solace and connection through our shared love for the bard system within the game,” the team tells me. “The initial spark for MogStock emerged during our gatherings in a cozy space we affectionately called TinyClub. This intimate setting allowed us to socialize, share music, and dance together.”
Clayde was the first to propose the idea of a potential event, and it didn’t take long for the rest of the team to jump on board. With so many fan-led events happening in-game, they wanted to make sure MogStock was something special, so they channeled their shared experience of bard performances, emote dance choreography, DJing, in-game festival management skills, and venue design experience into their new pet project.
“With such a wealth of expertise at our disposal, our idea flourished, attracting an ever-growing number of individuals eager to join our project,” they tell me. “We were fortunate enough to get big name bards and ensembles to join us for the ride, including The Songbirds, Moogle Troupe, and Broken Wings from the very start, but as the festival has grown, we’ve had all sorts of amazing creatives join us in the festival.”
Each year, MogStock has grown in size, with the FF14 community’s enthusiasm for the festival encouraging the team to go bigger and better with each new iteration. More creatives, sponsors, venues, and FCs sign up, and in turn, the number of attendees also increases, which has prompted the team to stretch the festival hours even further this year.
“We're particularly proud of the diverse communities that come together for MogStock,” the team says. “From RP venues to bards, DJs, and artists, multiple facets of the FFXIV community unite to contribute their unique talents and perspectives. It's this collaboration and mutual support that make the event so special. Witnessing the seamless integration of these communities and the incredible synergy that emerges is something we hold dear.”
This year’s event has been months in the making, with the team splitting responsibilities to ensure that everything runs smoothly. There were plenty of challenges in bringing the event together, such as securing the participation of performers, sponsors, artists, venues, and volunteers while coordinating everyone to ensure the scheduler had no conflicting performances.
The team tells me that all the hard work is worth the effort because they are proud of what they have accomplished, “When it comes to MogStock, there are several aspects that we, as the organizing team, take immense pride in. Firstly, the overwhelming support and turnout from the community is truly remarkable.
“Witnessing the number of people who show up to support the event, whether as performers, volunteers, or attendees, is a testament to the vibrant and enthusiastic spirit of the FF14 community. It fills us with pride to see many individuals come together to celebrate music, art, and roleplay in such a positive and inclusive environment.”
You can stay updated with event details and check out the full lineup via the official website or the MogStock Discord.