The felt moment of immediate experience has been lost. Perhaps we have given it away by not accessing it. Perhaps it was robbed by this mainstream media/cereal box religion/consumer culture. Music festivals help us drop out of the noisy centralized confines of the Matrix and fall into the magic of experience; to revel in the full richness of the moment. It is a domain of feeling, and at best it is a vector of love, light, good vibrations and community.

Unify Fest 2016 at Ranchos de Las Golondrinas, outside of Santa Fe, hosted 200 performers and visionaries. Since I could only sample a bit here and there, here are more highlights of some of the acts, workshops, and ceremonies I saw over my four days there.

Day 2 Friday

Let me just say one word about Unify Fest: Awe-inspiring.

The 8^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival will take place at the historic Monterey County Fair and Event Center from May 26-28, 2017.  The top tier national festival is the premier gathering for the progressive U.S. Reggae and roots music movement, bringing the scene together over Memorial Day weekend in beautiful Monterey, CA.
 

Every year The Emerald Cup adds a little more to the premiere outdoor organic medicinal cannabis competition at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. This year the event will be held from December 10th to 11th, and will include a new award – Regenerative Cannabis Award, activists and artists Alex and Allyson Grey, Damian Marley pre-party on Friday, December 9^th and much more!

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is excited to announce the music schedule for the inaugural Suwannee Roots Revival taking place October 13-16, 2016 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL.

Due to an overwhelming response from our Wanee Family, what is shaping up to be the most exciting Wanee Music Festival ever is now announcing its scheduled dates for the 2017 event.  Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 20th through Saturday, April 22nd to enjoy what has grown over the years into one of the biggest and most star-studded Music Festivals around. 

The Wanee Music Festival 2017 will once again be held at the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL.  Early Bird information and performing line-up will be announced soon.

LIGHTS ALL NIGHT announces today (September 28) the full lineup for its first-ever venture into El Paso at the El Paso Convention Center on Saturday, December 31.  For Texas' even larger 2016 New Year's Eve Party, festival organizers also have made the El Paso event 16+.

Taking place on the stunning beaches of Costa Careyes, Mexico from October 27-30, Ondalinda is a boutique music and lifestyle festival embarking on its first journey this year with the goal of awakening the senses of those that attend. On the grounds of one of the world's most coveted travel destinations will arise a community bound by alluring music, captivating activities alongside the waters of Mexico’s coastline, and a deep dive into the local Huichol culture during Dia de los Muertos weekend.

Snowboard on the Block returns to Downtown Denver with a larger footprint and new location. Presented by SNOWBOARDER and TRANSWORLD SNOWBOARDING, a high altitude style celebration will kick off in the heart of downtown Denver from October 14th -15th at Sculpture Park.