Steve Emmerich

Steve Emmerich is a longtime concert promoter, talent buyer, and festival innovator whose work centers on immersive, community-driven experiences. Since 2002, he has helped shape the live events landscape through Fresh Bakin’ and a range of large-scale festivals that blend music, interactivity, and playful participation.

At Electric Forest, Steve has been part of the festival team since 2014, where he led the Plug In Program Department from 2018 to 2025, supporting fan-driven projects and collaborative art that turn attendees into co-creators. In 2026, he stepped into the role of Special Programming Director, further expanding the festival’s interactive offerings and off-the-beaten-path experiences. Steve also brings deep campground and community programming expertise from Lost Lands Festival, where he serves as Campground Entertainment Director and Oracle Program Director, curating participatory spaces that stay alive well beyond the main stages.

Through his company Fresh Bakin’ Interactive, Steve books unique and unconventional talent, with a special focus on shows that collapse the distance between audience and performer. He has worked on projects such as The Great Bingo Revival (2017–present), the OffBeat Festival (co–talent buyer and marketing consultant since 2024), and a founder of the beloved Reno Sculpture Fest (entertainment coordinator, 2016–2017), helping to grow Reno’s reputation as a home for experimental, collaborative culture. When he’s not on site at a festival, Steve can often be found at concerts or in the theater, cooking and baking for friends, training (boxing, weights, and yoga), watching horror movies, or traveling, usually with a dog nearby and a new idea for bringing people together already taking shape.