The 21st Shambhala Music Festival has concluded this last weekend and I had the pleasure of attending for my first time. Insurmountable thank-you’s to the people at Shambhala for inviting RMR out for a damned good time. Getting the opportunity to share my first Shambhala experience with everyone is both exciting and exhausting to think about…
I saw so much and had so many different fun times that it’s hard to articulate it all. I’ll shed some light on my inaugural Shambhala experience from everything I enjoyed as a press attendee, and in general as a person with little experience attending festivals of this magnitude.
My Shambhala Experience:
The People
Not only were the festival grounds and stages magical—the people attending were too. I encountered so many kind people from all around Canada and the world that were in attendance. In addition, some put immense effort into costuming, by having funny signs and overall pageantry. Wow. Countless creative costumes ranging from desert steam-punks, to spaced-out Sasquatches and beyond.
The Dust!
This is no laughing matter, it’s dusty as hell on the magical ranch in Salmo, Canada. Having a bandanna or large handkerchief around isn’t just a dope fashion-statement, it’s clutch. Many areas of this festival become heavily foot-trafficked and it kicks up a lot of dust.
The Stage Visuals
Without getting too caught up in talking about the intricate stages, the lights and lasers blaring alongside each DJ was a sight to behold. Add a couple psychedelics into the mix and you get an unforgettable spectacle of heavy bass shaking the laser-dripped trees. This whole festival is embedded in a vastly wooded valley so imagine it like a forest on a distant planet.
No Booze = No Assholes
What I found unique about this festival is its banning of alcohol. Every other recreational substance you can imagine is encouraged though. When you enter the festival they check your car for weapons, alcohol, and glass. That’s the other thing, there was no glass allowed on the festival grounds to ensure any barefoot attendee remained unscathed in their good time.
As a result of the lack of booze, I found there to be no hostility present throughout my Shambhala experience in attendees in the realm of loud yelling, or physical violence. Everyone was chill, and more often than not offered me a hit of their hometown’s weed. To which I often obliged, naturally. If some other festivals kept alcohol out of the picture, I wouldn’t be surprised if the operation went a little more smoothly.
Secret Spots
While sifting through every nook and cranny of this festival’s grounds, there are many hidden gems to be found. Among which include secret lounges with DJ sets and beds, tree forts, ropes, and even a slide behind one of the giant stages that lead to a bed of rubber chickens. These are the kind of small additions to the property that tell you this has been going on for the 21 years. These people are always adding things to make it more and more unique.
The Music
I admittedly haven’t followed electronic music as much as I have in past years, but some big names still came up that I recognized. Clams Casino, Adventure Club, Barclay Crenshaw, Space Jesus, and Black Tiger Sex Machine being among them. There were even a couple rappers that made appearances during some sets to spit some heavy bars. Boogie T even busted out a guitar and started shredding like a madman over his wobbly, bass-driven beats.
What wowed me was the presence of all these DJ’s beats through the amazing surround sound system present at each stage. Nothing was straining to the ear. Even the fatty bass filled up your whole body in a way that was highly unobtrusive.
Overall…
Each aspect of what I saw, heard, and felt during my first Shambhala experience was worth writing home about. Every staff member I spoke to was kind and helpful. Every person I met was easy to talk to and welcomed conversation from a complete stranger. People lent me rolling papers if I was out, new friends lent me a fur coat when I was cold and high.
Friendship, love, and partying your ass off all night until the sun rose was at the core of this festival at any given point. Next year couldn’t come sooner. I hope to see Shambhala again with my RMR family and the amazing people we meet along the way. Cheers to an unforgettable experience.
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