Shambhala is a name that’s been popping up as of recently in the electronic music scene – and rightfully so, given that the British Columbia-based festival will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next year. This year’s 19th annual event took place from August 5th-7th, at the Salmo River Ranch; however, thanks to early entry up to two days in advance, as well as the option to stay on the farm until the 9th, some campers turn the weekend event into a week-long excursion.
Without a doubt, no two festivals are alike – especially considering the fact that there’s seemingly a new festival every weekend this summer. However, Shambhala stands well above many others, and is considered to be one of Canada’s prime festivals, and it’s not simply through its rejection of corporate sponsorship, nor the fact that it’s had time to grow and build itself up properly (although, those two factors do help quite a lot). In fact, it’s so highly acclaimed that some of the attendees are there because a local or one of the border patrol guards recommended the festival to them.
Regardless of whether you’re a first-timer, or celebrating your 10th consecutive year attending Shambs, there’s always a new adventure awaiting on the farm, and you’ll easily come to call it home. Here’s a breakdown of the extravaganza that went down this year, as I lost my Shambs virginity:
The experience
The experience itself feels so surreal, to describe it best. Between the moments you enter and leave the farm, everything is like one continuous dream which you know is actually occurring. Tie in the insurmountable Shambhalove given and shared amongst everybody you come across, as well as the isolation from life’s concerns and expectations, and you are blessed with an experience which not only gives you an opportunity to be free (in whatever manner you wish to express), but also the chance to let go and enjoy the festival (and life, in general) for all that it is. Truth be told, saying the name ‘Shambhala’ out loud still has some magic to it.
Also considering that a vast number of us are from busy suburbs/cities, being surrounded by nature and seeing the Milky Way in the sky at night is a wondrous sight, as well as a much needed change of scenery. Along with the amount of spirituality that goes with the festival, the whole event is one great reason to smile and have a prolonged peace of mind.
The Music
There are strong claims made throughout the weekend that artists who perform at Shambs go much harder into their sets than they normally would. Then again, with the high energy exerted from each artist (more than I’ve seen elsewhere), as well as the praise and gratitude to play at the festival, I’d have to wholeheartedly agree.
Shambhala is about the music, first and foremost. With a massive roster of approx. 300 artists, there is clearly not enough time to take in everything. However, the Shambhagods organizers listen to the people by sifting through artist requests, as well as catering to the tastes of its frequenters, to bring a lineup which makes you feel like you’re in the right place at the right time, regardless of wherever your adventures take you. There is a total of six stages, which have come to grow substantially over time:
Amphitheatre
The Amp is one of only two stages open prior to the opening ceremony – the other being Living Room – and hosts a wide variety of sound which ranges from deep, to heavy, to weird… or possibly even a mix of all of the above, such as that delivered by Yheti and Space Jesus.
Living Room
The stage which brings the groove to the riverside! It’s the perfect place to beat the high noon sun (especially when you wake up in a 30° tent), as you take a dip in the icy-cold Salmo River, and have access to some fresh organic fruit at a nearby booth – it’s like having your own paradise in the mountains. There’s even rumours of a magical, colour-changing sandbox that appears at night.
Pagoda
Unofficially classified as “Shambhala’s Main Stage”, this multi-layered stage easily has heads turning to check out what’s going on, whether it’s from REZZ and her show-crushing set which still has people talking, to Mija throwing down some happy hardcore to an explosion of colours and lights, or even Destructo and his array of pineapples welcoming the sun during his sunrise sermon – there’s always a story to be told, just by entering its gates.
The Village
This place is heaven for any and every basshead out there! Thanks to its affiliation with pk Sound, this stage brings you the true, raw power of bass – in the form of 200,000 watts. Acts like Excision, Andy C, and the highly-anticipated Shambs debut of Haywyre were not only properly heard, but also felt – especially if you stood right next to the speakers and let the sound take over your body. (Yes mom, I was wearing earplugs.)
The Grove
Aptly nicknamed ‘the treehouse’, this stage is tucked away in a far corner of the farm, where you can chill in the treetops while taking in graceful sets and live performances such as Emancipator, CloZee and Five Alarm Funk. The Grove is accompanied by a forest with psychedelic artwork, as well as the Cedar Lounge, which has its own array of workshops happening throughout the weekend. It’s also home to the festival’s opening ceremony, which gives praise to the Earth that we all share.
Fractal Forest
One of the most iconic stages at Shams, one step within the forest will transport you to a lush, green realm with bass in the trunk and roots full of funk! With the return of legends such as The Funk Hunters and Stickybuds, along with the debut of funkalicious artists Father Funk and Defunk, it’s safe to say that the forest was lit the entire weekend – especially at night, thanks to its out-of-this-world light show and next-level stage setup.
Photo courtesy of Shambhala
Atmosphere/Crowd vibe
Music aside, another driving force of the festival is the Shambhalove. In fact, it’s so widespread throughout the weekend, that calling the people of Shambhala a ‘crowd’ fails to capture the true essence of the atmosphere; rather, Shambhala feels more like a town that shows up once a year, and all of its inhabitants return home to dwell and revel during its brief appearance. The ‘townspeople’ themselves easily form a warm community – or better yet, a farmily.
Upon arrival at the farm, we instantly receive a joyous ‘Happy Shambhala’ from multiple volunteers – a phrase that is heard and said frequently through the course of the weekend, often accompanied with an ecstatic high-five or a bear-hug. It easily paves the way for a very open and welcoming space, which encourages you to let out your inner child, embrace your weird-kid side, and be the best damn you that you can possibly be – regardless of who what, and how you choose to represent yourself.
Aside from the festival
Shambhala is two completely different places depending on the time of day. From sunset to sunrise, all the ravers would spring forth, and dance until the sun started rising over the mountains. During the day, there’s a plethora of activities and sights, such as the marketplace with its many vendors, to daily scheduled yoga, and even some crews throwing some daytime parties of their own.
All partying aside though, the festival does everything it can to take care of its attendees, which includes its zero-alcohol policy, as well as the Shams Medic team – who work so well in the background of everything that’s going on, that you almost don’t notice them as they whiz right by you. There’s also the ‘Safety Zone’, which consists of the Sanctuary (for that bad trip or a safe place to get away from all the noise), the Womens’ Safe Zone, and the Ankors Tent, which provides free drug testing, as well as info on many popular drugs.
Shambhala is a prime example of a festival done right, and it’s very easy to see this, given its large turnout of repeat attendees, ranging from 3 consecutive years, to as many as 15. The hype for the 20th anniversary had begun before the 19th event even took place – for now, there’s not much currently known as to how they’ll celebrate two decades of Shambhalove, but rest assured it’s going to be a massive celebration all the same. Tickets go on sale September 1st – hope to see you on the farm next year! Happy Shambs. <3
