3 Reasons to Drop Everything and Head to Shambhala
Photo by Louis Bockner
Last year, I went festival crazy. There were new events popping up every month and I made it my goal to experience them all. In total, I attended 15 music festivals in 2015, but one stood far above the others: Shambhala.
Shambhala Music Festival takes place from August 5th-8th in the gorgeous wilderness of Salmo, British Columbia. If you ask anyone, they'll tell you that it's an extremely special place. I'm here to explain why.
1. Every Stage is the "Main Stage"
Photo by Novus Photography
Shambhala's 6 stages are more akin to fairytale music venues than a festival stage. They are left standing year-round and have grown into elaborate spectacles over Shambhala's 19 years.
Each stage is run by dedicated Stage Directors, who obsess over their stage's unique theme and genres of music. The stage crews treat their stage like the "main stage" and book the leading artists in their chosen genre.
Basshead favorite The Village Stage is headed up by the likes of Excision, Caspa & Rusko, Ephwurd, and Andy C. The Pagoda Stage - a literal temple for house and future bass - will be soundtracked by legends like Boyz Noise and Justin Martin, alongside newcomers like REZZ and Marshmello. And that only scratches the surface of the full lineup.
2. Shambha-Love is in the Air
Photo by Leah Gair
Shambhala started as a 500 person party on the Bundschuh family's Salmo River Ranch. 19 years later, the event remains a family affair, except that the family has grown to a sold out crowd of 10,000 fans.
Many Shambhala fans are drawn back year after year, some for over a decade, and their driving principle of "Shambha-love" can be felt throughout the ranch. Wherever you go, you're sure to be welcomed and respected for what you bring to the Shambhala family.
3. The Venue is Pristine
Photo via Shambhala Facebook
The lush wilderness of Salmo River Ranch is tucked away a hundred miles from the closest major city. An ocean of stars twinkle overhead every night, miles of towering trees line the ranch, and the Salmo river itself snakes alongside the venue, always close enough for a quick dip in its clear waters.
The entire Shambhala family collaborates to preserve the ranch's beauty. Fresh food is sources from the ranch's very own cows and organic vegetables and waste is kept to an absolute minimum. Organizers also custom-built solutions for sustainable water treatment and power generation during the festival.
Unfortunately, weekend passes for Shambhala 2016 have been sold out for months, but you have a few options. The safest option is to start planning for next year's 20 year anniversary and grab tickets as soon as they go on sale. You could also make the journey to Salmo on Sunday August 8th and grab one of the limited tickets at the gate for 24 hours of magic.
Stay tuned for our full review of Shambhala 2016 coming in August!
Get Weird in the Desert at Further Future
Deep in the Las Vegas desert, the Robot Heart crew is building a new kind of music festival. Their event, Further Future, draws on their many years of Burning Man experience and distills it into a curated buffet for the senses.
Further Future focused on four key areas: eclectic music, gourmet food, large scale art and big ideas. Each experience - from their sit down dinners with world-renown chefs to their speaker series featuring the former CEOs on MTV and Google - is finely curated to push the boundaries of your mind.
Take a look at what awaits you below and experience Further Future for yourself from April 29th - May 1st. Tickets are available via their official website.
Symbiosis Gathering: Far More Than Music
Symbiosis Gathering, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has a lot of unique offerings on the horizon. The Gathering always strives to present its attendees with a well-rounded experience touching on the need for music, visual art, yoga, wellness, and ecology all in one place.
We Are Symbiosis Web Series
This year the organizers are documenting the festival's many facets in a web-series by award-winning director, Noah Hussin. Titled “We Are Symbiosis,” this series will feature 14 episodes that touch on the unique talents and trades of the people in the Symbiosis community.
From tattoo artists to education leaders, each person tells the story of their contribution to the life of Symbiosis as an entity and transformational festival.
Watch the 14 episode web-documentary here: http://symbiosisgathering.com/our-story/we-are-symbiosis/
Elemental Alchemy Workshops
While there are dozens of workshops, yoga classes, and motivational talks are held during the festival, sometimes that’s just not enough. That’s where “Elemental Alchemy” comes in. By signing up for the Elemental Alchemy program, you are allowed to arrive on-site a week before the event to partake in a slew of immersive activities.
From Sept. 12th - 16th, the program will bring together thought leaders in Permaculture, Yoga and Visionary Art to offer a rich educational experience. Participants may choose one of the three learning experience, which include guided courses and three home-cooked organic meals a day.
You can sign up for any of the 3 programs here: http://symbiosisgathering.com/elemental-alchemy/
If the info above hasn’t enticed you to buy a ticket, then these two words should: Art. Boats. See you on the lake!
Symbiosis Festival Dropped Their Full Lineup, And It's Stacked!
Symbiosis Gathering is returning to beautiful Oakdale, CA after taking a much-needed hiatus in 2014. The multi-faceted festival is back and ready for its biggest year ever.
Like many transformational gatherings on the West Coast, Symbiosis pays great attention to yoga, art, and wellness along with the music when configuring festival logistics. Attendees can partake in a slew of different activities, from becoming immersed in aweing big art installations, to taking a dip in Woodward Reservoir.
The Symbiosis collective dropped its lineup a few weeks ago and all we can say is DAMN. It’s tasteful, versatile, and serves as the perfect menu for gathering-goers to satisfy their musical palate and introduce new savory sounds to it. Early Bird Sale ends this Friday (6/12) so get your tickets while the price is right!
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