Festies

Just Vanessa and Sunny on the mic today. Sunny recaps seeing Major Lazer with Clark at Stern Grove , then hypes up Same Same But Different , one of her all-time favorite fests. -- You can watch our Stern Grove recap vid on Instagram , TikTok , and Youtube @festiespodcast Check out the Festies Tool Kit for festival packing lists, planning resources, helpful guides, and products we actually use to m...

Bonnaroo 2026 is officially in the books. This week, Sunny and Clark sit down with Vanessa and her fiancé, Ed, to hear all about their trip to The Farm. It was their first time tackling a major camping festival in the ambulance camper, and we're going to hear all about it. The good, the muddy, and the unforgettable! -- Check out the Festies Tool Kit for festival packing lists, planning resour...

Sunny and Clark are back from Lightning in a Bottle and giving Vanessa the full recap. We cover favorite sets, workshops, camping adventures, festival lessons, new friendships, and the moments that made LIB unforgettable. Plus, we read notes left by fellow festies at our campsite, including stories, advice, confessions, and shout-outs from the community. -- Shout out to everyone who left us a note...

In this episode, we talk with Lauren and David, the creators of Sidequest Grid, a festival-based social game that helps attendees meet new people and discover the magic between the sets. Lauren and David have spent the last few years living full-time in their van, traveling to music festivals across the country and sharing their experiences on Soundchecks to Stage Dives. After attending more than...

We're officially approved for media at Lightning in a Bottle 2026! In this episode, we break down what LIB is all about, why the community is so unique, and what we’re excited to cover on-site. We share lineup picks, can’t-miss experiences beyond the music, and real tips from our audience and Reddit to help you prep smarter. See you at LIB! Check out the Festies Tool Kit for festival packing...

Our 50th episode is here, and we’re celebrating with a full FloorChella recap. Vanessa joins remotely from Iowa after her big move, and Clark joins us for the conversation as we break down the best moments from the Coachella livestream weekend. We talk favorite sets, surprise moments, and share our thoughts on Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G! Check out the Festies Tool Kit for festiv...

Serena Flowers joins us to share the story behind the festival General Store you’ve probably relied on at Coachella , Stagecoach , and dozens of other major events. What started with a not-so-glamorous festival moment, getting lost without service and breaking a shoe, turned into the idea that launched her entire business. Over the past 20+ years, Serena’s General Store has served more than 80 mus...

This episode is our Outside Lands 2026 lineup reaction! We pull up the poster together and talk through our favorite artists, surprises, and early thoughts on the lineup. Outside Lands is August 7–9 in San Francisco. Going? Let us know in the comments! Eargasm Earplugs Protect your ears with Eargasm Earplugs. Use code FESTIES10 for 10% off! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you ma...

Caleb Arias, creator of the Bonnaroo Yearbook Project and the mind behind The Bonnaroo Yearbook Guy , joins us to talk about documenting one of the most iconic music festivals in the world. We talk about how the project has grown, what he’s learned along the way, and what’s next — including bringing the yearbook concept to Okeechobee Festival and expanding his Bonnaroo I Spy project. Find Caleb on...

In this episode of Festies, we are joined by our friend Aaron Apple, a longtime rock and metal fan and festival regular, to talk about the evolution of festivals from Warped Tour and Mayhem Festival to Aftershock Festival. We dive into how Warped Tour shaped a generation of punk and alternative fans, how Mayhem Festival brought major metal lineups to cities across the country, and how events like...

We’re diving into our first reactions to the BottleRock 2026  lineup. We go day by day through the artists, call out the surprises, and talk about who we’re most excited to see. If you’re planning your weekend in Napa, this is your quick, hype-filled lineup rundown! Eargasm Earplugs Protect your ears with Eargasm Earplugs. Use code FESTIES10 for 10% off! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate li...

We chat with Ritesh Patel , CEO and co-founder of Ticket Fairy and founder of LOCUS Festival (A Drum 'N' Bass Experience in Paradise) , to talk about how a love for throwing parties turned into building real systems that help promoters bring their vision to life. Ritesh shares what producing over 400 shows taught him about the biggest challenges promoters face, not a lack of creativity,...

In this episode, we’re catching up on everything that shaped our year and talking honestly about where Festies is headed in 2026. We share quick reactions from Governors Ball (June 5th - 7th in New York City), and walk through our 2025 scorecard, including what we hit, what we missed, and what we learned along the way.  Follow along with Festies Podcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube @festiespo...

We’re recapping our favorite Festies moments of 2025 — from Portola, SFJAZZ, Give Thanks, ACL, Stagecoach, Bonnaroo, and beyond. We talk about standout shows, unexpected moments, and the little things that made this year unforgettable. As we head into the off-season, we’re slowing the release schedule while leveling up the storytelling. Got a topic or guest idea? DM us, share with your fest friend...

We’re breaking down Bonnaroo’s early 2026 lineup drop, the festival’s return after last year’s rain, and why this mix of headliners, legacy acts, and deep-cut gems is sparking so much conversation. Plus, we get into the Reddit debate on the lineup and share our must-see picks. Eargasm Earplugs Protect your ears with Eargasm Earplugs. Use code FESTIES10 for 10% off! Disclaimer: This post contains a...

We spent Thanksgiving weekend on the dance floor at Give Thanks in San Jose. From dark, bass-heavy energy to melodic, feel-good moments, the weekend showed how one festival can hold two completely different sides. We break down the sets, the crowd, the venue logistics, and the one upgrade we’re hoping for next year. Join us as we recap Give Thanks and share what the community is thankful for. Earg...

The Okeechobee 2026 lineup dropped, and we are all in . If the stars align, this will be our new fest for 2026. With its stacked reggae presence, eclectic mix of artists, and a setting actually built for comfort—shade, hammocks, and the iconic AquaChobee beach—it shot straight to the top of our list. Join us as we break down the lineup and get to know the festival behind it. Eargasm Earplugs Prote...

A weekend add-on that promised shuttles, suites, and sunrise sets turned into a cautionary tale. In this episode, we break down how Home Bass , the resort “takeover” tied to EDC Orlando weekend, unraveled amid last-minute venue changes, vague updates, and a same-day cancellation that left so many people scrambling. It’s a late review, but the story still matters! And before we get into it…  Happy...

Sunny & Clark spent a night at the San Francisco Leonard Cohen Festival and got an honest look at how his music lives on in the community. The festival is put on by Conspiracy of Beards , a Bay Area choir dedicated to performing Leonard Cohen’s music. In this episode, Sunny & Clark tell Vanessa all about their experience at The Great American Music Hall, where they saw the Red Room Orchest...

The lights and lineups get all the attention, but the real story of a world-class festival happens behind the scenes. We sit down with our friend Kevin Argueta, who has been in the Coachella and Stagecoach trenches as the payroll lead for the resources department — the crew behind cleanliness, sustainability, and nonstop operations that keep the experience seamless. He shares what it’s like living...

Austin City Limits 2025 Recap (Weekend Two) We’re breaking down our Austin City Limits weekend — what worked, what didn’t, and what we’d do again. From Johnny Stimson’s opener to The Killers’ massive closer, we talk about favorite sets, surprise moments, and a few lessons learned along the way. Festival food, crowds, heat, and the moments that made ACL 2025 worth it. Head to YouTube and see our of...

Austin City Limits hits different—the skyline, the dust, the heat, and all the little choices that make or break your day. We haven’t been (yet), but we did the homework so you don’t have to: smarter ways to get around, how to stay connected when service drops, and the packing list that keeps you cool instead of cooked. We’re talking shuttles, chair check, snacks, vibes, outfits, and the mindset t...

Portola Music Festival took over San Francisco, and Sunny and Clark were there with press passes. We conducted our first-ever artist interview with Bob Moses, saw Christina Aguilera, and danced through sets from DJs all weekend. Here’s the recap. Support the show Follow Festies Podcast. Share with your fest friends. @festiespodcast

Heading to Austin City Limits 2025? We’ve got your complete ACL packing guide. What to bring for travel, festival days, and everything in between. We’re gearing up for Weekend Two of ACL (October 10–12) with all the essentials you’ll need, from hotel logistics to ACL’s official bag policies. Our list covers the basics (don’t forget your wristband!) plus smart hacks for surviving the Texas heat, in...

Coachella shocked fans by dropping its 2026 lineup on September 15th— months earlier than usual. Many thought it was a prank, but the surprise timing lined up perfectly with our interview with Kevin, a six-time Coachella veteran. Headliners Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G sparked big debates about the festival’s direction, while electronic fans are buzzing over Nine Inch Noise (Nine...