As the world awakens from the darkness of the global pandemic, many are looking to gather and share in the joy of live music. Kalan Wolfe and Keely Crow-Ka, of “The Shift,” have called on performers from across the country to come and join them at Departure Festival in Ford Washington on the weekend of August 6th, 7th and 8th 2021.
Tickets available at:
https://musicbytheshift.com/departurefestival
Keely Crow-Ka and Kalan Wolfe founded Departure Festival out of a determined desire to persevere through the hardships the COVID-19 pandemic has created. When performing with their band The Shift was no longer an option, the focus went inward.
Writing and recording took the place of touring, and soon they found themselves with a new album, Departure. Departure Festival was inspired by their desire to support other artists who they admire, in a communal environment where people can gather as restrictions ease.
“We are musicians first, and festival organizers second. We want to give back to the community who has supported us so much through these unprecedented times” says Wolfe. “Local vendors will be here in force, providing everything from delicious food from Hillside Catering, to jewelry, pottery and art. We have all taken an enormous blow from the pandemic, and we want to provide an opportunity for artists and creators to get back to their craft.”
Departure Festival will take place at Happy Meadows, an open pine forest, with both shady and sunny spots. There is plenty of room for camping, and RVs of any size are welcome. Organizers are working to minimize single use plastics at the event, and proceeds will benefit the Skalitude Honey Bee Sanctuary.
“We are passionate about the environment and social justice. We have selected artists that not only inspire us personally, but who we see doing the hard work it takes to make positive changes in the world” says Crow-Ka. “We also understand how hard covid has impacted us all, especially in the arts community. We are going to keep our prices low so that Departure Festival can be accessible to everyone.”
To preserve an atmosphere of gentle comradery, attendance will be limited 1000 tickets. Pre-sale tickets, which include camping, are $65 and can be purchased from the Departure Festival website at https://musicbytheshift.com/departurefestival
