Music Festivals | The Nomadic Groove

Bestival Masters Its Second Year In Toronto

June 15, 2016May 21, 2017
by Courtney Smith

Bestival Toronto was unlike any other Toronto-based music festival – in the best way possible. With fully immersive environments, a musical lineup that embraced house and rock music, and a new, easily accessible location, Bestival was a well planned music festival that catered beautifully to the young, hip crowd of Toronto.

The festival itself did not feel like the standard, North American festival, somehow embracing a more laid-back energy. Maybe its because Bestival started in the U.K., dreamt up by Rob da Bank of England’s Sunday Best Recordings. Or because quite a few of the performers including Jamie XX and The Cure are British. Or maybe it was because of the trio of Brits giving out “free shrugs,” with one of the three being dressed head-to-toe in the Union Jack. Nevertheless, you couldn’t help but feel as though you had been transported out of the 6ix for the weekend to a magical festival on the Isle of Wight.

The festival’s unique concept, with a “Summer of Love” theme, dress-up parades, art scattered around the grounds, and activities to take attendees “beyond the music,” provided Toronto with a weekend event that should become a summer staple for all Torontonians.

The eclectic musical lineup for the two-day event saw Tame Impala headlining alongside The Cure. There were also performances by heavy house hitters Jamie XX and Porter Robinson, and a set by festival co-founder Rob da Bank.

Jamie XX performed on the Main Stage early Saturday evening, providing a bopping set for fans until his music came unplugged. After a few confusing minutes for fans and the performer himself, Jamie XX was plugged back in, finishing his set with the interrupted “Gosh.” While the fans all seemed super excited to have him finish his set, the momentary pause and confusion was a bit of a downer and Jamie XX definitely didn’t have the opportunity to showcase his range of talents in only one hour.

ODESZA followed Jamie XX’s performance in the pre-closing slot, taking to the Main Stage Saturday as the sun was setting over the festival grounds. The duo put on an incredible performance that saw the use of live vocals, drums and a mixer that allowed them to perform live renditions of original tunes and covers, including a phenomenal, chilled out cover of Faded by ZHU. ODESZA was followed by Saturday’s headliner Tame Impala, who put on a stellar show, filled with trippy visuals that perfectly complimented the psychedelic nature of their music.

On day two, the event saw the soft, melodic voice of Daughter serenading the late afternoon crowd over at the Main Stage while Thomas Jack took to The Big Top in the evening. Thomas Jack’s music provided festival-goers with a dance infused set that saw him mixing expertly between genres, hair bouncing around as he jammed out with the crowd, huge smile on his face. Lee Foss was given a two-hour sunset slot at the Bollywood Stage that had the crowd dancing through the entirety of his set, before Dubfire closed down the stage with a fiery performance.

It was unfortunate that the festival organizers had to deal with the local city noise bylaws because this meant that the music and festivities on the grounds had to stop at 11 p.m. The Bollywood Stage, while still bopping during the day, had the potential for an epic show at night, taking advantage of the darker environment to show off special effects and lighting. However, with the sun setting around 9 p.m., festival-goers were only given a two hour nighttime show there. As well, many of the artists, although still mixing awesome dance sets for attendees to jam to during the day, could have put on epic performances once the sun had set and the stage had come to life.

A big change this year though was its new location. Last year’s event at Centre Island had a few logistical problems. The only way to get there was by boat, whether the public ferry or by hiring a private water taxi. While not so much an issue getting to the festival, this resulted in attendees having to wait an excessively long time to leave the festival by catching the very limited ferry service back to the mainland at the end of the night. This year’s event at Woodbine Park meant more transportation to and from the festival was available for attendees making for a much quicker journey home, or to the official Bestival Afterparties – although Uber surge pricing was ridiculous, taxis were hard to come by, and street cars were uncomfortably full.

The festival kept the three stages from the inaugural year, including the purple elephant decorated Bollywood Stage, the Main Stage, and the white tent style of The Big Top. They also kept the inflatable church that had been set up in the grounds the inaugural year, allowing the lovers of the world to get married on festival grounds. Full ceremonies were held, with the honorary brides and grooms dressed in their Sunday best, an exuberant MC officiating the ceremony, and rice being thrown as the newlyweds walked out of the church, hand-in-hand.

And if you decided to attend the wedding on Sunday afternoon, you might have spotted Thomas Jack, cheering on the lucky couple before heading over to The Big Top to play his 85-minute set of the day.

Canada

Taking a Field Trip to Fort York

June 6, 2016May 21, 2017
by Courtney Smith

The aptly titled, Field Trip Music and Arts Festival, is a family friendly affair with a laid-back atmosphere. Reminiscent of going on a school field trip to visit Fort York, the festival provided attendees with the opportunity to explore the historic grounds of the old Toronto fort while enjoying a variety of local and international music at the two stages set up on the grounds.

Activities for the whole family were readily accessible with a bouncy castle for the young-uns to jump around in, impromptu ping-pong tournaments occuring throughout the days, bean bag tossing competitions between friends, and watermelon eating contests at The Mess Hall. Little kids could be seen running around the historic fort with green balloons tied to their hands as music floated over the old barracks.

The family-friendly event created a uniquely safe feeling for a festival. Many people could be seen enjoying the music on lawn chairs and blankets, while Moms and Dads were walking around the grounds, bottle-feeding their babies with sound cancelling head phones caressing the delicate little ears of the babes.

The second day of the festival got off to a wet start with inclement weather encouraging festival organizers to suspend the music and evacuate the grounds until early evening. Once the grounds opened again and the music started back up, the sun could be seen setting over the infamous Toronto skyline as the trees in the barracks lit up with pinks and purples, illuminating the leaves that danced magically in the breeze. Patio lights could be seen twinkling above the various food trucks that provided Torontonians with a taste of some of the local cuisine.

From Portobello Burger‘s vegetarian, vegan, gluten free options, to Caplansky’s Deli with a menu filled with BBQ brisket, the vast array of food trucks provided festival-goers with plenty of gourmet options. Curbside Deliciousness offered butter chicken nachos to attendees and The Flying Chestnut Kitchen‘s bright blue and yellow FCK sign beckoned attendees to come try their different tacos. JP‘s truck offered a slew of BBQ options straight from their smoker and The Pop Stand provided gourmet popsicle choices to attendees including cherry bourbon sour, blueberry lime mint and basil lime.

Festival-goers were also given the opportunity to explore the historic Toronto landmark with The Laugh Barracks and the Analogue Gallery Sound Image Exhibition being set up in the barracks buildings, while The Marketplace provided attendees with the opportunity to buy trinkets by local vendors.

The two stages in the grounds saw The National closing the festival on the Saturday night of the event, and Robyn re-scheduled to shut down the night on Sunday with her energetic performance at 9:25 p.m. The pop star danced her way around the Garrison Stage in a sparkly, silver sequinned costume, shaking her hips as she belted out original tunes, new music, and remixes of some of her most-loved tracks by some of her favourite dance artists from across the globe.

While Sunday’s inclement weather unfortunately led to the cancellation of “Nashville” famed sisters Lennon and Maisy’s set, Canadian Basia Bulat was still able to take the TD Stage to perform as the fluffy, dark blue clouds rolled off into the distance, showcasing her soulfully pleasing raspy voice. The two-day event also saw performances by Santigold, July Talk, Ra Ra Riot, and Dear Rouge.

Field Trip is a definite must-attend Toronto summer event, providing activities and music for all ages of festival-goers. Being true to its name, the festival uses the “field trip” theme to its advantage, providing attendees with the opportunity to not only watch some of their favourite musicians perform, but to also explore a part of Toronto’s history in the shadow of the CN Tower.

Festival Reviews

Favourite Artists Heard at Lightning in a Bottle

June 3, 2016May 31, 2017
by Courtney Smith

Lightning in a Bottle provided an experience for attendees that was about more than music. However, the musical lineup was one that can not be overlooked. An array of talented musicians played at this year’s LIB, and headliners of the event included Chet Faker, Grimes, Big Gigantic, Cashmere Cat, Jamie XX, Four Tet and Tokimonsta. The festival saw an eclectic mix of electronic music, from dubstep to techno to deep house to tribal house. There was a little bit of something for everyone.

Here are my favourite LIB acts, listed in chronological order.

Mija

Mija, Mija, Mi hija… Maybe it’s because I have been wanting to see this lady perform since I first heard her B2B sunrise set with Skrillex at Bonnaroo in 2014, but Mija did not disappoint with her set at LIB. She threw down an incredible performance, slaying her 80-minutes on the Thunder Stage and proving to us all her prowess as a DJ. She kept the crowd jumping and dancing the whole time, giving the chills to everyone who was there dropping their dirtiest dubstep dance moves. The highlight of her set came at the end though, when she crawled out into the crowd to share a cigarette with her fans. Thank you Mija, for being so good at what you do, and for sharing that moment with us all.

William Close and the Earth Harp Collective

William Close and the Earth Harp Collective was one of the most unique musical experiences of the weekend. This was my first experience with the Earth Harp which was set up stage left, midway to the back, with the shimmery strings of the harp extending to the top of the front of the stage. The best way to experience the show was to set up under the California stars, grab a seat on the ground and cross your legs to feel the reverberations of the harp through the earth. William Close used his Earth Harp to do a powerful cover of Mozart’s Summer Overture, one that literally gave me goosebumps, before closing out his set with a guest appearance by David Satori of Beats Antique.

Autograf

Autograf appeared to be teasing the crowd with a slow, sensual start to their set… Until they announced that the slow start was really just their soundcheck and it was time to get down! The trio revealed their individual talents through a 90-minute set to a crowd who refused to stop dancing despite the sun’s beating rays. Set up on stage with drums, a keyboard and a mixer to perform live covers of classic dubstep hits, classic house hits, and their own hits, their energetic set was happy and eclectic, and they definitely left their autograph on LIB.

Jamie XX

Oh my God… Did Jamie XX ever kill it! Opening with the song Crystallized by his musical group The XX (can you grace us with a new album yet? Please?) before mixing into one of the most melodic sets of the weekend, Jamie XX took us on a house journey unlike any other. Nothing but a shadow on the stage amidst a constant, mysterious cloud of smoke and lights, the talented producer did not look up once from his set, and barely even noticed when a naked man tried to charge his stage. He just continued to do his thing, keeping the crowd moving and grooving until 2:00 a.m.

HÄANA

If you don’t know who HÄANA is, you need to discover her. She was one of the most talented individuals I came across all weekend. Dressed in a black and gold dress, with a gold cage headpiece, HÄANA sings live, mixes live, and plays the violin live. Her nordic inspired tunes, combined with her ethereal voice and the twang of her violin create a uniquely magical sound. The beauty of her music is something that should not be overlooked and is something that everyone needs to experience at least once.

Lee Burridge Mixing Into Four Tet

Lee Burridge and Four Tet are musical geniuses, each in their own rights, so it was with complete joy that I saw on the schedule Lee Burridge playing the three-hour sunset slot at The Woogie Stage as a precursor to Four Tet’s set there. The legends did not play B2B, or with one another, but Lee Burridge transitioned his three-hour techno set perfectly as the sun went down (amidst cheers) and The Woogie came to light, into an introduction for Four Tet. Lee Burridge’s dynamic three-hour mix kept us dancing and shuffling the night away until, unknowingly, we were listening to Four Tet who took us on a two-hour journey through his unique, artistic beats. Sunday was a phenomenal day of techno at the Woogie Stage, with some of the best sets of the weekend.

Chet Faker

Chet Faker’s energy throughout his closing set at the Lightning Stage was infectious. He could be seen running around the stage, with his black coat flying behind him like a cape. At one point he was belting out his tunes from half way up the scaffolding. The talented musician took a completely different route from his DJ set at the Temple Stage, playing with a four-piece band to play songs old and new. He effortlessly weaved old songs like Drop the Game into new songs like The Trouble With Us, into some of his classics like Gold and his cover of No Diggity. To finish the night, Chet Faker left us with one of the most mind-blowing, stunning visuals of the weekend when he climbed up onto a slightly raised platform to play the piano with a white backdrop, creating a dynamic silhouette of a man and his piano.

Festival Reviews

The Lightning in a Bottle Community Experience

June 2, 2016May 23, 2017
by Courtney Smith

High fives when crossing bridges, spirit animal yells resonating across the grounds, stumbling upon karaoke hidden away in a ravine. These are some of the incredible memories I have from Lightning in a Bottle. But the most unique memory I have from the festival is the community that was built over the weekend, allowing for attendees to have a spiritually awakening experience.

I went into the festival with an open mind and an open heart, having educated myself on the festival beforehand and being aware that it is a festival known for the experience it provides. This allowed me to explore the various music, non-music and self-discovery components that make up Lightning in a Bottle. Every day there were new discoveries, new adventures, and new parts of the festival to explore.

Yoga sessions took place multiple times each day at the two yoga stages Yoga Om and Yoga Namaste. They did wonders to stretch out those tightened up festival muscles. I had the pleasure of attending a yoga session with Kishan Shah under the Earth Harp. Set up at the Lightning Stage, William Close played his mystical Earth Harp as Kishan Shah led a class under the big, blue afternoon sky. The reverberations of the Earth Harp gave me the strength and concentration to move and flow while fully embracing the heat of the day and the brightness of the sun.

Lightning in a Bottle provided festival goers with the opportunity to attend workshops and listen to speakers in The Village. Topics varied from exploring the history and effects of music on the world, and learning about ecological sustainability and environmentally conscious nutrition, to learning about the benefits and effects of essential oils on our bodies and minds.

The festival had a Sacred Fire in the middle of The Village that remained lit throughout the weekend so it makes sense that Fire by Friction would be one of the available workshops. Hosted by Icarus Zuare, attendees learned how to make a fire using only wood. No flint, no matches, no lighter. Just you, Zuare, and a twig. He sat patiently with duo after duo giving every one hands-on assistance and advice as they worked to start a fire using only friction. And every one successfully did it.

LIB is also known as an environmentally friendly festival, encouraging sustainability. It won the Outstanding Award from A Greener Festival Foundation multiple times in the past few years. It is a “leave a positive trace” festival. This means what you take in with you, you take out. LIB works to educate attendees on what they can do to help the environment, and how to maintain sustainability at a festival through educational workshops, talks and booths. To this end, Lightning in a Bottle provided compost bins next to the trash and recycling bins.

Every day of the festival provided a new and incredible experience. The music was phenomenal, with the main stages – Lightning Stage, Thunder Stage and The Woogie – hosting some of the most talented individuals in today’s electronic music, while the Pagoda Bar and Favela Bar kept the beats bopping and the party hopping through the night. It was fairly easy to get caught up in the music until you remembered the large size of the festival, and how much more there was to explore.

From the art structures scattered throughout the grounds, to the smaller areas that hosted more music and games like the Grand Artique, to the different games that could be stumbled upon across the festival like the renegade bowling contraption, it was easy to get caught up in the adventure that was LIB before watching the sunrise from where you were: Temple Stage, Meditation Lookout, a hammock in one of the trees, or your campsite.

Festival Reviews

Five Favourite Moments at Lightning in a Bottle

June 2, 2016May 21, 2017
by Courtney Smith

My feet have not fully touched the earth since the spiritual journey that was Lightning in a Bottle, so to help ease my float back down to reality, I’ve pieced together a list of my favourite moments from this year’s LIB Festival.

1. LIB Opening Ceremony

One of the most touching moments from the weekend was the LIB Opening at Sacred Fire. The opening ceremony was a way for festival goers to give thanks for the use of the land over the five-day weekend. It helped set the tone of respect for one another and for oneself, for Mother Earth and for water in a California drought, and of community that became synonymous with the LIB experience. The ceremony commenced at 7:30 p.m. on the Thursday evening in The Village with traditional native music, a speech by a member of one of the local tribes, a kiss to the earth, and then a slow, silent walk down the hill to the fire. As the sun began to slowly descend on the mountains, thanks were given and a feeling of gratefulness and appreciation appeared to wash over the crowd. Every one began to chant and then, as the sun took it’s last breath before hiding behind the mountains until the morning, the fire expert, Icarus, lit the sacred fire that remained lit all weekend. And so the festival began in one of the most enchanting ways possible.

2. The Funk Hunters Afterhours at The Grand Artique

Once again, The Funk Hunters quickly became a highlight of the weekend. These boys can do no wrong in my eyes, always throwing down one of the most energetic sets of the weekend. With some of the funkiest beats you’ll hear, from jazz to hip hop, to swing to classic rock, if you ever have an opportunity to see The Funk Hunters, put on your comfiest dancing shoes and go dance them off. The Funk Hunters were scheduled to perform on the Thunder Stage from 5:25 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. and, of course, threw down a phenomenal dance-worthy set. But it was the lesser known, late night performance (this time at the carnival themed stage of The Grand Artique) that captivated this gal. From 1:45 a.m. until 2:45 a.m. the boys took the stage at The Grand Artique putting on one of the best sets of the weekend and keeping the crowd dancing the whole time. Some swing dancing was done, lots of twirling was had, and the grooves just kept on going. While the set was phenomenal, and the smaller crowd made for a wonderfully intimate experience, it was the smile and pure joy on the duo’s face that was the most memorable. Their apparent love for the music they were playing for the crowd to jam to was infectious.

3. Late Night Bingo

Also known as LIB’ingo, this fun activity didn’t start until super late (or early in the morning), after most of the music had stopped for the evening. You could wander by the tent but, more likely than not, if you were passing by the LIB’ingo, you were going to be drawn in by the loud music being played out across the picnic tables, and the obnoxiously hilarious bingo hosts dressed in their zany outfits. You knew you were going to have a good time as soon as you walked into the tent and got a bingo card from one of the dancing disco ladies. Watch out for a tie though… A quick game of Twister was used to determine the winner. But if you stayed until the final score card? You became part of a post LIB’ingo dance party, dancing on the picnic tables with your new bingo buddies.

4. Sunset Gratitudes

The gratitude for the sun continued throughout the entire weekend. Sunset gratitudes were held nightly at 7:30 p.m. at the Sacred Fire, and again with sunrise honourings every morning at 5:45 a.m. Another area that was used to honour the sun was the Meditation Lookout. The Meditation Lookout was a big hill, with a tree on top overlooking the entirety of the festival. In the evening, festival goers climbed the hill, and sat facing west to watch the sun go to sleep for the night. The best part of watching the sunset on the Meditation Lookout was how many people you connected with as you released your spirit animal sound into the fading purple sky, then cheering the sun for being the brightest star in the sky. And if you couldn’t make it to the Meditation Lookout for the evening show, chances were you grabbed ahold of your new family and, together, howled the sun to bed. It was a nice reminder that we should all take a moment every day to enjoy the beauty of the world around us.

5. Chet Faker’s DJ Set in the Temple

Chet Faker was one of the headliners of the weekend, scheduled to close out the festival at the Lightning Stage on the Sunday night of the event. If you paid close enough attention though, you might have been one of the lucky few to realize that Chet Faker was also playing a DJ set at the Temple stage during the wee hours of the morning. The festival booklet did say that attendees could “get intimate with headlining acts during late night ‘Encounters’ series at the Temple Stage,” and the schedule for Saturday at the Temple Stage revealed a Chet Faker Afterhours DJ Set at 1:45. However, it didn’t appear that very many people were aware of this musical appearance (myself included until a bouncing Tigger informed me of the event). There were maybe 50 people in the tent watching the performance! Chet Faker on the Lightning Stage was incredible, but a Chet Faker DJ set in such an intimate environment was something unforgettable. And yes, Chet Faker slayed his 90-minute set with a huge grin peaking out from under that beautiful, burly beard.

Notable Mentions

Baseball with The Crows at The Grand Artique, lime jalapeño margaritas, hugs, hugs, hugs and more hugs!

Festival Reviews

Further Future – The Dark Side of Burning Man

May 17, 2016May 23, 2017
by Courtney Smith

It’s safe to say that Further Future founders Jason Swamy and Robert Scott have the support of Robot Heart fans and Burners alike. With the majority of attendees at this year’s sophomore event having had been to Burning Man at least once (if not five or more times), Further Future was dubbed by many of those attending as “The Dark Side of Burning Man.”

The mission of Further Future is “moving beyond the confines of a traditional music festival,” according to the festival website. “Further Future establishes a modern means of social movement and cultural change, engaging a conscious community through a unique curation of world-class musicians and art, alongside inspiring leaders in the areas of science, entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology.”

It’s an inspirational festival that allows attendees the privilege of self-discovery and soul searching. And it is the most incredible festival that I have ever had the chance to experience.

Further Future truly is so much more than a music festival. It allows for the exploration of technology, gastronomy, music, arts and wellness through an incredible lineup of speakers and activities. It is a festival where one can go and learn: about the future of the world we live in and the future that others see for our world. It is also a festival where one can go and learn about oneself with the help of like-minded individuals who are willing to go adventuring with you to the various enlightening talks of the Visionary Speakers Series, morning and afternoon yoga and mediation, and musical performances that carry on all through the night until sunrise.

The festival gives off insanely cool vibes, instantly upon arrival. Further Future is an extremely remote festival, in the middle of the desert, with the stages and tents being set up far away from any sort of civilization, surrounded by the canyons of Nevada under the big, blue desert sky. The location, while being at the mercy of Mother Nature, allows for attendees to explore themselves, discover one another, and connect in a way that is not possible unless you are in such a remote and awe-inspiring setting.

The energy and good vibes that I felt at Further Future are unlike any I have ever felt. Every Futurist that I met appeared to be on a spiritual journey and most helped to guide me on mine. Everyone affected me on my journey and, as a group, we were given the opportunity to explore, discover, and connect in a remote, Mars-like, breathtaking setting.

It is this energy and these vibes that shaped my experience at this festival. It was the people that I met along the way that made Further Future so special and such an incredible experience.

While the festival struggled a bit with organization and a lot with rain, the overall experience at Further Future was phenomenal. Especially for a festival only in its second year.

With craft Oaxaca-made and Damiana-distilled Mescal tequila, and Richie Hawtin’s own ENTER.Sake being the liquor of choice at the festival; sit-down dinners available for purchase with Frank Gorriceta of Nobu; technology talks with Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc. CEO Eric Schmidt; and headlining musical sets taking you on colourful journeys through the night and into the early hours of the morning with Lee Burridge, Caribou, Nicolas Jaar and Four Tet, it is easy to achieve a mind-blowing, life-altering experience at Further Future.

Further Future turned out to be a primo experience: it was luxurious and mature but maintained the laid-back and loving Burner mentality, with the remoteness of the festival being as humbling as the joy of dancing on the Robot Heart Bus.

The Ethos of Further Future is “to be kind and generous; to be passionate. To be innovative and not afraid to believe. To welcome a range of amazing and inspiring people to share our journey, past the future and beyond the horizon.”

I was lucky enough to experience this ethos at the festival. I came across kindness and generosity from so many people; I was able to pursue some of my own passions at the festival that brought me unabashed joy; I learned how to believe in myself and the possibilities that the future holds for me through explorations at some of the Visionary Speakers. I learned so much about myself, my values, my hopes and dreams.

And at the end of the weekend, Further Future helped me realize the possibilities that the future holds for us: the visionaries, the believers, the changers. Because it is the people and our connection with another that will change the world.

Music Festivals

Further Future Travel Guide

May 16, 2016January 16, 2021
by Courtney Smith

Further Future takes place in the Valley of Fire, about an hour’s drive north of Las Vegas. Stages are popped down in the middle of the desert, with the festival being the only thing visible for as far as the eye can see, surrounded by the rocky Nevada canyons.

Getting There

Vegas Bound
If you are flying, the most convenient airport to fly into is the McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Nevada, which is about an hour south of the festival. Alternatively, the festival is about a five hour drive from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport (PHX).

Beyond Vegas
Further Future takes place 50 miles north east of Las Vegas at the Moapa Indian River Reservation. The festival provides a shuttle bus option for festival-goers from McCarran Airport, the MGM Grand and the Oasis Gold Spike for $40.

If you are driving, Further Future provides driving directions from McCarran Airport. Remember to purchase a parking pass, available for $50, as all cars are required to have one to enter the grounds. Multiple entry and exit is allowed.

Where to Stay

If camping isn’t your thing, it will be easiest for you to stay at one of the Further Future partner hotels. Shuttle services run between the MGM Grand, the Oasis at Gold Spike, and the festival for $40. Festival-goers can make unlimited use of the shuttles. Shuttles run every 45 minutes starting at 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. when the shuttle service slows down to every 90 minutes.

Camping

I strongly recommend you experience Further Future in its entirety and camp on site. If this is your first time at an event like this, just follow my lead.

Tent Camping: Passes can be purchased for $95, which gives Futurists access to a 10′ by 12′ campsite, bathrooms, and free showers. Cars are not permitted into the camp grounds. You will need to purchase a parking pass for $50 if you choose to drive to the festival and camp in your own tent.

RV Camping: RV passes are available starting at $250 and allow festival-goers to bring an RV, trailer, or campervan into designated areas for the entirety of the festival. I recommend renting a JUCY RV for the weekend as this was a comfortable and convenient option available for Further Future. Passes with electrical hookups are also available.

Shiftpods: Further Future recommends purchasing a Shiftpod, which uses space-age technology fabric that reflects 95% of UVA and UVB light from the sun to keep you cool during the day and retain warmth at night. Dust-proof, water-proof, and wind-proof, Shiftpods are perfect to protect you from the harsh desert elements.Alpha Pods: Set up with reflective shade netting, flooring, two single air mattresses, two Further Future branded sleeping bags (yours to keep) and a solar light, these 9′ by 9′ Fest Pods will keep you safe and warm… And look super cool. Starting at $750, your Future home is already set up for you when you arrive.

Horizon Class: Air conditioned bell tents equipped with either two single beds or one queen bed to snuggle with your festy besty, these tents are pure comfort. Don’t worry about portable phone chargers, as the Horizon Class comes with power outlets and storage boxes… So go ahead and bring those hair straighteners and curling irons! Horizon Class starts at $1,650.

Voyager Trailer: A classic 28′ Airstream trailer, four adults can fit comfortably in three different available sleeping arrangements. Curated and serviced by a world-class boutique hospitality provider and including a 24-hour concierge, this boutique camping option will cost you a cool $5,000.

Lunar Palace: If you’re looking for pure, unabashed luxury, the Lunar Palace is for you. This 200 square foot, 9’ high, air conditioned, custom-made luxury dome is fully enclosed with wooden flooring and sleeps up to four people. Furnished with real beds, actual mattresses, nightstands, power outlets and a lockbox, the $7,500 ticket price ensures you live like royalty for the weekend. The best part? The Lunar Palace includes a clothing rack and full-length mirror so you will always look on point.

Habitas: If the above still isn’t enough, Further Future provides Habitas accommodation to give festival-goers the comforts of home and then some. This option starts at $1,800 per person and includes full-service hospitality, linen and towel service, in-suite amenities, one or two double beds, light, furniture, full body mirrors, hot showers, and a culinary experience 24/7 complemented with a beverage bar and tented tea lounge.

Camping Do’s and Dont’s

– You are permitted one 30-can case of beer and one five-litre box of wine OR one litre of liquor into the campground.
– You may sleep in your vehicle if you choose not to purchase a camping pass, but cannot set up any structures or items outside your vehicle. Remember, vehicles can get dangerously hot in the heat of the day.
– Do not bring glass bottles.
– Follow Further Future’s leave no trace policy.
– Free water refill stations are available.
– Charging lockers are available for $45
– Leave your drone at home.

The Moapa Band Of Paiute Indians

Further Future is hosted by the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, taking place on their Moapa River Reservation. The Paiute people believe that everything in the universe has a life force and practice meditation and perform special rituals to harness this force. It is believed that health, wartime victory, weather and fertility were attainable through it. As guests of the Paiute people, festival-goers are expected to respect their land and culture and uphold certain standards of conduct:- Treat their land as you would your own (use the provided bathroom facilities!)
– If you come across interesting artefacts like bones or arrowheads, leave them be.
– Sorry guys, no nudity allowed so come equipped with pasties.
– Don’t forget to thank your hosts as you leave.
– Keep the deep cultural significance of traditional Indian dress in mind when creating your outfits for the festival.
– Out of respect for your hosts, leave all Native American inspired headdresses and costumes at home. If you think it might be controversial, it probably is.

Food

The gastronomy of the festival is of such high caliber and deliciousness that it has it’s own lineup… And what a lineup to feast on. The food and beverage program for Further Future’s return to the Moapa River Indian Reservation featured some of gastronomy’s biggest names, including Frank Gorriceta of Nobu, Jason Neroni of The Rose, and Sam Marvin of Echo & Rig, who hosted pop-up dinners throughout the weekend. Festival attendees are also able to indulge in food offerings such as lobster pho, omakase sushi, locally-sourced produce, artisanal gelato, and numerous vegetarian and vegan options at the various food trucks in the festival grounds throughout the weekend.

Beverages

Complimenting this year’s food offerings, the festival also hosted rare Japanese whiskey tastings from Bar Gyu+, Oaxaca-made and Damiana-distilled Mescal selections, and Richie Hawtin’s own ENTER.Sake. Bartender takeovers also took place throughout the weekend with revered Las Vegas establishments Herbs & Rye and Velveteen Rabbit. Definitely get your hands on some of that surprisingly smokey tequila though.

My Advice

Link up your RFID to your credit card before going to the festival. Further Future is a cashless festival and does not accept cash anywhere on the grounds. It is also a cashless festival that doesn’t require you to constantly be topping up your wristband with funds… Your wristband essentially becomes your credit card for the weekend. So link that up!

Consider renting a JUCY RV for the weekend. The rental van comes fully equipped with everything you could possibly need to enjoy the festival comfortably: Two double beds (one in the cozy, top-bunk penthouse, and one that can be set up inside the van) to sleep four people; a sink with tap and drain, water tank and waste water tank; stove, fridge and cutting board; blinds and plenty of storage space. The company also provides renters with the option to purchase a bedding kit and camping chairs, so if you are flying into San Francisco, Los Angeles or Las Vegas for the festival this is definitely a convenient and comfortable option.

Don’t be afraid to take mid-day naps. There is constantly something going on at Further Future… Be it a Visionary Speaker, a yoga class, a nature walk, a sit-down dinner, a sunrise set or a sunset jam session. The festival has been curated to include some of the best of the best in the fields of technology, music, wellness and gastronomy, and trying to see and do everything can be exhausting…

But come to terms with not sleeping very much.

Take joy in knowing that everyone attending the festival is on some sort of spiritual journey, and that you are now a part of that journey. The grand majority of attendees are Burners and this make for a very unique and happy crowd.

Dress up! There are so many beautiful and whimsical outfits at Further Future, people choosing to express what they imagine for the future through their outfits. From moon boots to fur vests to glitter capes to astronauts, Further Future plays host to a very unique, judgment-free crowd so don’t be afraid to let your freak flag fly a little.

Take advantage of the IV drip. Available at the Ablyss Spa (and sometimes at the Robot Heart Stage) the IV can be a game changer to your festival experience.

Embrace your journey into the future. Reality will not be kind once you return from Further Future so embrace the experiences you are being graced with and appreciate the individuals who are going beyond Vegas with you into the future.

Canada

Bestival Toronto

May 7, 2016May 21, 2017
by Courtney Smith

Cancelled for 2017

Sunday Best presents Bestival’s newest addition to its festival family. Set in the heart of the city, Bestival Toronto is the festival’s first location overseas and boasts a musical and creative vision full of wonder and individuality. Festival-goers can look forward to a fully immersive experience, with costume parties, unique environments, a “Summer of Love” festival theme, and adventures that will take them “beyond the music.”

Festival Reviews

Five Best Things Seen at Further Future

May 6, 2016May 22, 2017
by Courtney Smith

I’ve barely washed off the body paint from my journey beyond Vegas at last weekend’s sophomore year of Further Future, and the reality of being back in the city is almost too much for me to handle. To help cope with this though, I’m reminiscing about the festival with a list of the five best things I saw at Further Future.

1. The Brit and the Yank

You know it’s going to be a good festival when the first two people you meet are your camp neighbours who met at the airport on their way to the festival, and, upon knowing each other for t-minus five minutes, decided to camp with one another. Enter the Brit and the Yankee. The Yank recalls seeing the Brit walking through the airport with nothing but a rucksack, looking a little lost. Upon seeing him, he knew he was heading to Further Future as well and, together, they went on a mission to find the somewhat challenging-to-find shuttle bus to the festival. Along the way, they became fast friends and decided to camp with one another, the Yank referring to the Brit as his brother by the end of the weekend. It was this kind of friendly, welcoming energy that could be felt throughout the entire weekend across the festival grounds. With the grand majority of festival attendees having attended Burning Man at least once (if not five or more times), the same sort of Burner mentality and principles could be seen at Further Future. And for someone who has never experienced energy of this sort in such a colossal way, this is enough reason to head back to the festival next year.

2. Sunrise sets with Lee Burridge

Lee Burridge is a techno king. He is known for his amazing sunrise sets on the Robot Heart bus at Burning Man, as well as for his All Day I Dream parties, and for being a pioneer in the underground club scene. He also is known for playing some of the most incredible, lengthy sets, with his sunrise set at Further Future spanning four hours, from 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. It seemed that, as the sun rose over the desert, casting the large, cage-like heart above the bus in a majestic golden glow, the energy of the crowd picked up and Lee Burridge dove deeper into the sounds of the underground. More people seemed to appear, fervently dancing in front of the bus, while women in sky-high moon boots continued to dance atop the bus. And the best part of it all wasn’t Lee Burridge’s unique sounds resonating across the Valley of Fire, but the huge grin that remained plastered upon the artist’s face throughout his entire set. Discover Lee Burridge, but definitely discover him while he is performing because the man appears to be at home, in his happy spot, and his joy while he is performing is just as infectious as his beats that will make you dance until the sun has long since risen.

3. Apocalyptic rain storms

Normally, an attendee’s experience at a music festival is very dependant on the weather during that festival. Unfortunately the weather – extreme heat, extreme cold, crazy rain – is completely out of organizers’ hands. The Valley of Fire gets an annual average rainfall of four inches – so not much. Leading into the festival, there were four days of rain. During the festival, there was rain Friday night, and once again Saturday night. While Friday night wasn’t too damaging to the experience, Saturday’s intense rainstorm, filled with thunder and lightning, rivers and lakes in the campgrounds, and washed out roads, had the potential to ruin the weekend for festival-goers and organizers. Instead, the intense weather, that caused evacuations and attendees to take cover wherever they could, encouraged a sort of bonding between attendees. It was a storm one only really witnesses in the desert and it was a storm that was survived together, in the desert. Batten down the tents, take refuge under neighbours canopies or in their cars, and then, celebrate with fireworks. Mother Nature won that day, but she couldn’t put out the fire that burns brightly inside Further Future attendees.

4. Girl power with Amanda Kahlow

Further Future proved that a festival can explore so much more than just music and art. With an astounding Visionary Speakers lineup that saw the likes of Eric Schmidt of Alphabet Inc. and Bob Pittman of iHeartMedia Inc. giving intelligent talks to attendees, Further Future allowed festival-goers to expand their minds by diving into talks about the future of technology, education, food, cannabis, and so much more. Amanda Kahlow of 6sense delivered one of the most empowering talks of the weekend. Exploring the challenges of running her own business, while also being unapologetic of having to be what people sometimes consider a “bitch,” Kahlow reminded us that girl power can be the best power, to never give up on your hopes and dreams, and yes, women can be just as successful as men.

5. Sunset sets with Easy Star All-Stars

Closing the festival was reggae cover band Easy Star All-Stars, followed by HVOB. Seemed like an odd addition to a lineup that was stacked with electronic and techno artists but it worked. And it was fantastic! From trombones and saxophones, to drums and guitars, the band jammed the night away, covering old songs and new songs and demonstrating the fluidity and joy of music. With the barefoot lead singer, Kirsty Rock, who kept dancing and feeling the music throughout the entire set, Easy Star All-Stars helped close down the official festival with a fun, energetic set that embodied the good vibes of the festival and kept the crowd grooving all the way through long past the final sunset.

Music Festivals

Coachella Travel Guide

April 30, 2016January 16, 2021
by Courtney Smith

Coachella takes place every year on the Polo Fields in Indio, CA surrounded by mountains and palm trees. Music and art can be discovered while wandering around the desert plains under the hot, California sky or the setting pink sun.