Many of us attend music festivals for the musical experience. We want to see our favorite DJs, dance to dirty beats, headbang to the bass, and sing out loud to our favorite songs. When Monday morning arrives we often wake up with throbbing heads, aching legs and feet, and sometimes a fuzzy memory. I call that a great weekend, sometimes. However after attending Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, Il, I discovered I wanted to chase a new reason for attending music festivals. I was ready for a new experience, but most of all I was ready for a transformation.
What is a Transformational Festival?
Transformational festivals are a global phenomenon that originated about 18 years ago and remains heavily dominated in Northwest America. Their central features are not much different from any other musical festival we may frequently attend. They are built around music stages/dance floors and the most common genre is electronic dance music. All of the festivals are held outdoors in a remote area; you could find yourself in a forest, a desert, or maybe even a beach. As the campers gather around in different clusters, one may begin to notice a small community forming. Sounds like almost any other camping music festival, right?
So what makes transformational festivals different? There is a sacred stream surrounding the entire festival and the journey does not stop even after the festival gates are closed. Every festival’s main focus is to immerse their crowd into interactive and thought provoking environments filled with inspiration to spark new-age sustainability and self-realization.
There is an entire art movement infused within the transformational culture as well. The visionary art probes you to think of the transforming perception of yourself and our entire universe. The art goes hand-in-hand with the performance. Multiple workshops and seminars are held throughout the festival ranging from yoga, glass blowing, live art, composting, hooping, cob building, planting, etc. It’s a co-creative experience that has the potential to alter and change how future generations think and interact.
We’ve complied a list of transformational festivals throughout North America that are well-worth the visit.
Lightning in a Bottle – Southern California
Lightning in a Bottle (LIB) provides a simple motto, “Leave it better, Leave it beautiful.” They rely on their fans to help take care of the planet we live on by cleaning up their own trash at the end of the festival. LIB is the only festival to win the “Outstanding Award” from A Greener Festival all four years. Which makes it the greenest festival in the entire America!
Biodiesel fuels their light towers, camping shuttles, crew vehicles, and generators. They also provide a solar powered cell phone charging station for festival goers. Their Lucent Temple of Consciousness provides a space for personal healing through yoga and temple music and mental engagement with different speakers and workshops. Many of their workshops provide low cost, do-it-yourself projects people can learn to create a more sustainable community back home.
For the seventh year in a row, participating artists and The Do Lab will collaborate through live painting and auction off pieces to raise money for local public art programs. 2014’s lineup included Moby, Little Dragon, Phantogram, Beats Antique, Gramatik, Amon Tobin, Baauer, and many more. Entire lineup here.
Connect with Lightning in a Bottle:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Sonic Bloom Festival – Colorado
The amount of experimental performances and activities are endless. This year, festivalgoers can clean up in Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap walk-in bath, watch Andrew “Android” Jones create an electro-mineral portrait, become mesmerized by AlaDance, or warm up with fire poi and dance artists. The list could go on and on.
Sonic Bloom also prides themselves on not only supporting local acts but choosing local food and gift vendor companies, marketing teams, and even their production staff to give back to their local community and economy. Their commitment to GMO free foods means an endless amount of vegetarian and organic food options, so you’ll never feel sluggish after a feast.
This year’s Sonic Bloom was on June 19-22 with acts including Tipper, Shpongle, EOTO, The Polish Ambassador, Michael Menert, and more. Entire lineup here.
Connect with Sonic Bloom:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Lucidity Festival – Southern California
Lucidity follows seven different core values: participation and immersion in the artistic process, personal growth and healing, awake and aware consciousness, environmental and social responsibility, family fun and creative play, communal reciprocity, and transparency. The festival is completely open-sourced and co-created, meaning they rely on you! They want you to bring the art and lead a workshop. Don’t worry, they’ll bring the worldly musical acts and galleries.
One of the most unique features at Lucidity is “Lucid City University.” The Lucid City University houses the lecture stages of “Lucid University” and “Fishbon University”. The lecture stages run from morning until midnight and include panel discussions ranging from financial freedom, world peace, adventures in lucid dreaming, beer, Burning Man culture, self-empowerment, and so much more. 2014’s lineup included musical acts from Tipper, Love and Light, Haywire, and many more eclectic artists. Entire lineup here.
Connect with Lucidity:
Shambhala Music Festival – Canada
Shambhala’s inaugural event in 1998 hosted around 500 people. Fast forward 16 years and Salmo River Ranch now hosts 10,000+ eager fans. The “Shambhalove” has made this festival one of the largest and longest running electronic music events in Canada. Since the beginning, Shambhala has been owned by the Bundschuh family, who maintain the 500-acre farm year-round. They continue to deny any corporate sponsorship making the festival produced and managed entirely by volunteers. Their ethos relies on idea that people who attend and volunteer reflect their own beliefs and visions onto the music festival and turn it into what they want it to be.
To further the idea of independent thinking, each of the six stages are managed by their own stage director. The stage director is in charge of talent, vibes, and everlasting experiences. You have a lot of stage directors to thank for booking Andy C, Bassnectar, Beardyman, Beats Antique, Caked Up, Datsik, and more. Checkout the entire lineup here. This years Shambhala will take place August 6-11. Purchase tickets here.
Connect with Shambhala:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Summer Camp Music Festival – Illinois
Fun fact: in 2001, Summer Camp Music Festival’s first lineup featured around 20 bands over two days. Today, the lineup has grown to include over 100 jam bands and electro-soul artists making this four day event a music lovers dream. Head over to the Soulshine Tent and gain the proper and tools and knowledge to maintain a sustainable world. You can participate in multiple interactive activities ranging from companion planting to stepping into the hoop and partner hooping. Summer Camp is super interactive with their fans and take any chance they can to get you to join in on the fun. It takes place every Memorial Day weekend and this year’s lineup included Bassnectar, Umphrey’s McGee, moe., Primus, Slightly Stoopid, and more. Read the entire lineup here.
Connect with Summer Camp Music Festival:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Oregon Country Fair – Oregon
Oregon Country Fair (OCF) originated in 1969 as a benefit for an alternative school. In August 1972 and August 1982, Grateful Dead headlined OCF and funds supported the Springfield Cemetery…which is owned by members of Ken Kesey’s family. Whoa.
The OCF has a rich and diverse history of educational opportunities, alternative arts, philanthropy, land stewardship, and performance promotion. OCF is one of the original counter-culture movements. With 20 different stages, areas, and live performances to explore, you are never bored. Interested in belly dancing? Head over the Gypsy Caravan stage. Watch unique play performances at the Morningwood Odditorium. Listen to spoken word artists at the Rabbit Hole. Popular acts like Beats Antique, Everyone Orchestra, and Indubious grace the main stage this year. Purchase tickets for OCF here. This years fair runs July 11-13.
Connect with Oregon Country Fair:
Photosynthesis Festival – Washington
Founded in 2008, Photosynthesis started as a celebration for the Makah Tribe of Neah Bay, WA. Today, the celebration is still going strong with three days filled with music, circus performances, ritual theatre, dance performances, healing workshops, and art from all different cultures. Photosynthesis’ goal is to cultivate unconditional love, acceptance, compassion, creativity, and community. With a large musical lineup, fans remain calm knowing there is only three different stages to travel between. Which makes this community really close-knit. The vibe at Photosynthesis is so deep and it starts the moment a Mekah elder blesses the ground we dance on and call home for the weekend. This year you can catch Bird of Prey, The Flashbulb, Jay Tripwire, KiloWatts, and more. Photosynthesis will take place July 25-27 at Masonic Family Park in Granite Falls, WA. Purchase tickets here.
Connect with Photosynthesis:
Electric Forest – Michigan
Double JJ Ranch has been home to one of the largest transformational festivals in the United States since 2008. What started as “Rothbury Festival” and later evolved to “Electric Forest,” this production has become one of the leading events produced by Insomniac Events and Madison House Presents. Many fans travel to Sherwood Forest for a weekend full of extravagant lights and chart-topping musical acts but when you stray away from the main stage, explorers can find something much more beautiful. They can find art installations, yoga, BLVisuals, and so much more. This year fans can catch The String Cheese Incident, Umphrey’s McGee, STS9, The Glitch Mob, and more. Electric Forest will run June 26-29, tickets are sold out.
Connect with Electric Forest:
The Evolve Festival – Canada
Evolve is an annual arts and music festival near Antigonish, Canada. Their dedication to environmental awareness and sustainable living has earned them the title of “Best Festival in Canada” by CBC Radio 3. The venue is nestled in the heart of the Nova Scotia’s highlands and the view is quite breathtaking. Imagine waking up to the Atlantic coastline every morning. Fans can take a short walk to the Black Avon waterfalls or a 10 minute drive to the beach.
It’s like a vacation in a wilderness paradise mixed with amazing music. 2014’s lineup includes Peaches, Keys N Krates, Grandtheft, Grandmaster Flash, and more. This years Evolve will run July 11-13 and tickets are still available here.
Connect with Evolve Festival:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The Bounce Festival – Northern California
Bouncers hearts weighed heavy this year as Bounce Festival took a hiatus this year to reboot and refresh their creative energy before the sixth Bounce Festival in 2015. What started as a love for the genre turned into a movement. Bounce showcased the ultimate music festival experience all while maintaining a strong sense of community within the crowd.
Bouncers could explore their own chakras at Chakra Village. Each of the seven chakras were represented in seven different tipis and each participant could indulge in chromotherapy and guided information. Talk about a spiritual awakening! 2013’s lineup included acts like Ana Sia, Boombox, Break Science, Griz, Luminox, and more.
Connect with The Bounce Festival:
Burning Man- Nevada
Burning Man founder, Larry Harvey, had written the ten principles in 2004 for the Regionals Network and they served as reflection of the community’s ethos and culture. The ten principles included; radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy. These ten simple principles have fueled this vibrant culture for 28 years now. Fans become lost within the mesmerizing art installations and create experiences that can never be duplicated. 2014’s theme is “Caravansary.” You have until August 25 to prepare! Purchase tickets here.
Connect with Burning Man:
What The Festival – Oregon
What The Festival is the “crème de la crème” of transformational festivals. Not only is there music, arts, and movement classes but you can also indulge in film screenings, a hookah lounge, the Splash Pool Party, and the Oasis Spa to name a few. Each night until dawn, WTF attendees can enjoy Decked Out Cinema which showcases independent films from all over the world. The Splash stage serves as the Pacific Northwest’s biggest poolside party. 21+ attendees can head over the OMG Lounge for private DJ sets and exclusive drinks. The hookah lounge is a designated chill zone for attendees to relax with shisha.
This years headliners include The Glitch Mob, Nightmares On Wax, RL Grime, Claude VonStroke, Cashmere Cat, Kygo, and many more here.
Connect with What The Festival:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Gratifly Music & Arts Festival – South Carolina
Gratifly takes place in the large grassy fields and wooded are of Avalon in Westminster, South Carolina. With countless workshops aimed at unleashing your inner creativity and moving your body/spirit, you can’t help but leave feeling awakened and refreshed. Gratifly provides the basic fundamentals of any transformational festival but with some southern hospitality. Groove the night away with Papadosio, The Polish Ambassador, and Little People this year July 24-27. Purchase tickets here. Full lineup here.
Connect with Gratifly Music & Arts Festival:
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival – Tennessee
Bonnaroo has grown into one of the largest music festivals in North America with their large array of musical genres ranging from indie rock, hip hop, jazz, bluegrass, reggae, country, pop, alternative, and electronic. The festival began primarily with jam bands and rock but continues to pay tribute despite it’s significant growth.
Bonnaroo promotes itself as a sustainable festival and has been recognized by Greener Festival for the past three years now. Head over to Planet Roo to heighten your global consciousness! 2014’s lineup included Elton John, Kanye West, Skrillex, Kaskade, and many more world class acts. Read the entire lineup here. Bonnaroo typically starts on the second Thursday in June. This years festival ran June 12-15.
Connect with Bonnaroo:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Rootwire Transformational Arts Festival – West Virginia
Rootwire is four day transformational experience that gathers an impressive collection of visual artists, unique performers, and thriving underground musicians who will most likely be tomorrow’s headliners. As they plan their fifth year, fans can look forward to jaw dropping names from local and international regions. Some visual artists include the admired Alex and Allyson Grey along with visuals from Zebbler Visuals. Embrace the earth with Anthony Ward’s floral sculptures and Osirian Flora Design’s earthworks and stage decor.
Another space to explore is the “Fabric of the Universe” and “Cuddle Dome.” The FOU is a jewel like design that creates a magical experience for those who are drawn to enter and the cuddle dome is literally a community building for guided or supervised cuddle sessions (non-sexually, of course.)
Musicians this year include Tipper, Shpongle, Beats Antique, EOTO, Quixotic, Conspirator, and Zilla among many more. Check out the entire lineup here. Tickets for Rootwire 2014 are available for purchase here. Rootwire will run July 17-20 in Terra Alta, West Virginia.
Connect with Rootwire Transformatinal Festival:
Phases of the Moon Music & Art Festival – Illinois
Join us as we discover Phases of the Moon Music & Art Festival together! 2014 marks the first year of Phases of the Moon and we’re excited to see what this grassroots festival has in store for us. This is an exciting, new four day camping festival nestled in Kennekuk County Park that will feature feel good jams, outdoor exploring, 100% organic foods and crafts, workshops, and visual/performing art installations.
The Phases of the Moon will introduce their very own “Sanctuary.” The sanctuary will feature gongs, crystal singing bowls, Tibetan singing bowls, drums, rattles, and more to create a sacred, healing, quiet zone to refresh the mind and body.
The lineup includes Widespread Panic and The String Cheese Incident among others. Check out the entire lineup here and purchase tickets for the inaugural event here.
Connect with Phases of the Moon Music & Art Festival:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Share On
you will love it
jooouli
The Dead played that benefit for The Springfield Creamery, not cemetery lol
You forgot FARMFest! All good though! Hopefully we make your list next year!