Festies

Head Trip and Valley of the Seven Stars landed on the same October weekend, and both got hit by storms. We get into Head Trip’s Saturday shutdown and how the Seven Stars crowd stayed locked in through the mud. Then we zoom out to why 2026 has been such a rough year for festival weather, from storms to extreme heat, and what it means for the festivals we love. Check out the Festies Tool Kit for fes...

Megan, a Festie since day one, joins us as our first ever Festies correspondent to recap Portola Music Festival 2026! She spent the weekend at Pier 80 in San Francisco and came back with all the details. We get into her top sets from Robyn, Zara Larsson, Swedish House Mafia, and Dog Blood, the warehouse stage, the disco chicken drama, and her best Portola tip. Check out the Festies Tool Kit for fe...

SSBD 2026 is in the books! Sunny and Clark were on the ground all weekend. Vanessa's here to get the full scoop. We get into how we camped, what we'd do differently, and how we beat the heat at the lake. Then we talk about the sets we loved the most. All weekend, Festies left notes on our welcome table. We're reading the wildest stories and the juiciest confessions. Plus some advice...

Portola holds a special place in our story. It was the first festival we covered after starting Festies, and the first to hand us media passes. Now we're back, and leveling up: sending our first ever correspondent, Megan, to report live from the grounds at Pier 80 in San Francisco. This episode, we run through the 2026 lineup, then get practical, how to plan your day at Pier 80 so you don&apo...

Bonnaroo just dropped the news: no festival in 2027. We get into why a year off might be exactly what The Farm needs to come back stronger. Then we hop over to Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields , talking the mission, the crowd energy, and the logistics everyone's still talking about. Check out the Festies Tool Kit for festival packing lists, planning resources, helpful guides, and prod...

No stress prep for Same Same But Different at Lake Perris. Built from community tips plus everything we learned camping there ourselves. The gear that actually keeps you comfortable. The camp mistakes that ruin a good night. The food prep that makes festival days easy. Everything you need before you roll into Lake Perris. Check out the Festies Tool Kit for festival packing lists, planning resource...

Clark joins us to break down Outside Lands 2026 , day by day. We rank the highs. We rank the lows. Surprise sets, sound failures, and the stuff everyone was talking about all weekend! Check out the Festies Tool Kit for festival packing lists, planning resources, helpful guides, and products we actually use to make festival weekends smoother and more fun: Free Festival Planning Toolkit   And for mo...

Vanessa and Sunny are joined by Clark this episode, gearing up for Outside Lands 2026 : Reddit finds, the fog you need to dress for, and a few side quests in Golden Gate Park worth ditching a set for. Plus our battle-tested tips for surviving crowds, staying warm, and dodging the mistakes every first-timer makes. Head to Spinning Platters for their top 10 of the bottom half of the Outside Lands 20...

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...