Led by curator Doug Aitken, a colorful bunch of world respected artists and musicians are travelling, from the 6^th to 28^th of September, from New York to San Francisco. Each of the 10 stops that the train will make on its journey will host to a top festival. Levi’s has given Sefand Tess Milne a ticket, and they’ll be reporting on what they see, taste, hear and experience. Read their first update here!

SEF:

Day 3

Today we had a day (and night) off in New York. That meant shopping, wandering, drinking wine and of course a bit of a party in the evening. Really clever, considering that we were to be picked up at 8.30 the next morning from the hotel. But as the great Canadian philosopher Aubrey Graham once said: YOLO.

Quick summary: party in the Soho Grand Hotel. And there he stood, right in front of us, an incredibly buff David Chappelle and his entourage. Just after we had seen Courtney Love and her “cracked” head get into a car. And because it’s New York fashion week after all, we decided to head over to the Alexander Wang after party. Where I suddenly stood shoulder to shoulder at the urinals with Miguel. A really cool party, in a shopping centre in South Street Seaport. Twerking ladies, lasers and free drinks.

I remember thinking: I really need to go home now. Not. Just a quick look with the group at Le Baron. I lost my backbone years ago. After seeing the ATL Twins and having a quick tour of the club, I eventually went home. The alarm set for 8 – and it was somehow already 5.15.

Day 4

Today we flew to Pittsburgh, the venue for the second Station to Station event and the departure point for the train. The city was pretty dead, but when we drove past the packed Pittsburgh Steelers stadium, it became clear why: Sunday football.

This time the event took place in an old train station called Union Station. The set up was more or less the same as in New York, but thanks to the setting and a slightly older audience, it felt completely new. Tess went to take a look at the train, but I really needed to get an hour’s shut eye: NY had finally got me beaten. In fact, everybody went to bed early because tomorrow is the big day. We’re finally going to start the journey! Good night.

Day 5

I woke up today with a kind of school trip excitement. We left for the station, and there it finally was: the train.

It’s difficult to describe just how cool this thing really is. An old train built for crossing the Midwest, kitted out as though the Beatles are about to tour the the USA. Every carriage has its own specific design, from the Native American inspired Levi’s carriage to the restored carriage with panorama roof.

There are a few bars, lounges and loads of cool gadgets on the train. Take for example the guitar that automatically transfers everything played on it to SoundCloud, and an old fashioned typewriter that is connected to Twitter. This is going to be one crazy journey.

We took a walk through the whole train to take it all in, and so stumbled upon the fully operational music studio, in which Ariel Pink will be recording an album during the trip. I think that everybody was still feeling a bit broken after New York and Pittsburgh, but being able to sit and enjoy such a wonderful view of the everchanging American landscape, it really didn’t matter at all.

During the journey, we met all kinds of people, one of which was Joey, my favorite.

Joey is 67, and has been working on the train for 10 years. He told us about how the panorama carriage was always used by Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack when they had to travel across America. Siiiick. Obama, and countless other presidents, are all ex passengers. A train with a rich history, you could say.

The landscape becomes more beautiful and more sunny as we travel further. Just when I thought that something should be happening, at exactly 5.01 (get it? 501? Levi’s?) a ceremony master comes into the carriage and announces that it was Happy Hour, and that we needed to drink cocktails. Well, if I have to…Within a few minutes, the train changes into a party, with drinking games, dancing and music .

From the window, I saw a new skyline appearing. Chi-town, the home of The R in R&B (R. Kelly), Michael Jordan and the pan pizza. Chicagooooooo!!

TESS:

DAY 3

I fell asleep last night at 3am in a taxi, but that doesn’t stop my body from lying wide awake in bed at 5 in the morning. I decide to go outside and watch the sun come up. It’s cold, and apart from a few tramps, the wide Brooklyn streets are deserted. This is the moment when those people who have to go to work are still lying in their beds and the people who’ve been out have just got into bed. It’s all quiet in New York.

In the afternoon, we go to the Meatpacking District, where we are allowed to shop for free in a cool shop where you could quite possibly enjoy a whisky and a cigar or two. We then meet up with two of Seth’s friends, Jasper and Junior, for, you’ve guessed it, a glass of wine. Jasper and Junior are Dutch DJ’s but live here. Together with Nianga, they form Illuminati AMS. And it’s sounds like they’re on the right track: last Friday they played for Kendrick Lamar. We agree to go out with them that night.

The location is a super deluxe, chic spot with high ceilings and loads of beautiful people: not exactly a place where you’d expect to find an R&B evening. It’s also a place where people don’t bat an eyelid when Rihanna emerges from the hotel next door. When the girl told me that she had just seen Rihanna, and I squealed in enthusiasm, we were more or less laughed at. “Aaah….everything is so new to you guys”. Ouch.

DAY 4

Pittsburgh is a strange city – fascinating but strange. The buildings are monumental and towering high in the sky, but on the day we arrive, the streets are empty. All the shops are closed and only in McDonald’s we could only score a coffee. We’re sleeping at a Grand Hotel that exudes the luxury of the twenties, yet strangely reminiscent of The Shining. As if time has stood still and the walls bear the secrets of the past with them. I try to put The Shining out of my head as I shower and change.

That evening we catch our first sight of the train we’ll be touring on in the coming days. As we walk towards the old station, where the big party will take place, I start to feel ‘butterflies’ in the pit of my stomach. The moment has finally arrived. I see the train, my jitters become twists, and at the moment I walk on the train, there’s a kind of vortex rushing through my stomach.

Now it gets tricky, because how do I describe the first impression of the train? It is impossible via these letters to convey that feeling. But do you recall how you felt when you were little and woke up on the morning of your birthday? That’s how I felt when I walked into the first compartment. It is not often that your idea of something appears to be less than the reality, but that was the case. It is a magical feeling, which probably also had to do with the history of the train. Back in the days of the 1940’s, there were four such trains. This is the only one that has survived and this train was the favorite of Frank Sinatra. Together with the Rat Pack (including Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin) he rented it for example to go perform in Las Vegas. The train still carries this aura with it: A whiskey and a cigar, please!

The train has a studio in which Ariel Pink will record an album during the trip.

There are also several lounge areas with bizarre gadgets. You’ll find an old typewriter connected to Twitter, a guitar that will directly upload everything that’s played on it to SoundCloud and an old camera from the last century places ​​photo’s immediately on Instagram.

The LED-lights on the outside of the train respond to the music played inside the train. Conclusion: NS, eat your heart out.

That night we brought some life to Pittsburgh, with performances by Ariel Pink and YOSHIMIO. The party seemed very similar to the one in New York. This time I jumped nobody but I almost suffocated in one of the mysterious tents. When all the dancing was done I went ‘dog tired’ back to my hotel room, where suddenly the TV turned on! Yeah, I admit .. that’s really scary!

DAY 5

Yes! At half past nine we stand on the platform. I feel a mix between Ringo Starr and Harry Potter, in short: I’m looking forward to it. Our dear friends who weren’t travelling with us, waved us ‘adieu’ and we arranged ourselves in our ‘relaxing’ coupe. Some people are still sleeping because they have been doing an ‘all-nighter’. The morning started relaxed with beautiful views of the American landscape.

We met a really nice guy: Jacob from Berlin. He has his own blog and makes ‘extremely dry’ video clips in which he is dresses as Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys. When it’s time to have lunch, the three of us sit together accompanied by the gurgling of wine.

The food is competely different from what you normally get on a train: slow food made ​​by chef Lev. He buys the products every morning at a local market in the area from which we depart.

On this train everyone has an interesting story to tell, but the bartender had one of the best. The whole winter he lives deep in the forests of California to make a tree house. How cool is that? By noon, people start to relax, someone picks up a guitar and jamming takes off.

At five past one (aka 501) is the happy hour on the train! High time to reach out for the tequila. Sef and I end up at a table to play dice with the operator and Marie. I win almost all the rounds, which means I do not have to drink. Just how unfair is that? The people on the train start to dance and sing, and anyone who needs a breath of fresh air can find it between carriages while enjoying the scenery.

When we arrive at Chicago station in the evening, I don’t want to get out. But fortunately we are still far from home.

Follow the journey via:

@StnToStn
# makeourmark
@YousefGnaoui
@Tessmilne