Shambhala Music Festival hasn’t climbed to the pinnacle of the festival scene by accident. Since 1998, these guys and girls have been hard at work forging an atmosphere different from anything offered today. From the music, to the attendees, to the setting and policies, there is truly no other place like it; a large feat in itself. In our minds Shambhala stands alone at the top of the festival food chain, and there’s a few contributing reasons why.
(photo credit: Lindsay Donovan)
The first immediate thought when a music festival comes to mind is, well, the music. We outlined the six stages and their lineups a little while back, and the lineup this year absolutely did not disappoint. Pretty Lights, Skrillex, ill.Gates, GRiZ, Claude Von Stroke, Datsik, Koan Sound, Excision, Camo & Krooked, Tipper, Mr. Carmack, G Jones and so many others graced the stages throughout the long weekend, bringing along a specific, curated vibe to each and every one.
Maybe a contributing factor to the one-of-a-kind feeling of these stages is the fact that they’re permanent structures, not needing to be taken down and put up every single year. Held on privately-owned land, this is an enormous advantage that not many (if any) festivals can boast. Always tinkering with and improving the stages and layout each year, there is a welcoming familiarity that comes along with the Salmo River Ranch that seeps through into the vibes of the weekend.
(photo credit: Louis Bockner)
Another big part of the festival which separates it from others is the fact that it’s completely, 100% alcohol free. Throughout your time of attending festivals, it’s inevitable that you’ll run into one, or two, or fifteen people who have had too much to drink. Not only would it harm the pristine vibes that Shambhala is known for, but possibly just as importantly, alcohol accounts for an immense amount of trash at events. Empty cups normally line the ground at each and every stage you go to, empty cases are lying around in the campgrounds, beer cans and bottles are littered as far as the eye can see. Not at Shambhala though. This simple rule has a profound impact on multiple aspects of the weekend, and no doubt is a big player in why attendees keep coming back for more.
Last and certainly not least, is in our minds the most important service Shambhala provides. There has been one drug-related death in 17 years at the festival. Think about that number. This is not by some stroke of luck, or by some kind of harsh zero-tolerance policy, but instead it is in large part because of the availability of harm reduction services. On the premises there is offered free drug testing to any attendee who wishes to test their substances.
Harm reduction services like these have been huge contributors to the sterling safety numbers that this festival has enjoyed, as it’s refreshing for once when a festival attacks the issue at hand head on in a constructive way. Attendees who decide to experiment aren’t treated as criminals; they’re instead given all the tools necessary to reduce the risks as much as possible after they already made the decision to use a substance. Hopefully in the States we can start to take note, and take the first step by pressuring representatives to overturn the RAVE Act.
(photo credit: Leah Gair)
Add all of the above together and you get one of the best festivals in the world. Not many can say they have the longevity, diehard fan-base or atmosphere that Shambhala has, and you can bet that the fine people over in B.C. are already cooking up ideas on how to make next year even better than the last. It may seem like an eternity but next year will be here before you know it, and it’ll be well worth the wait. We hope to see you there!
Connect with Shambhala Music Festival:
https://www.facebook.com/shambhalamusicfestival
https://twitter.com/shambhala_mf
http://www.shambhalamusicfestival.com/
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