Photos by Don Idio
Shambhala Music Festival just released their lineup for the 2020 season, and it would not be an overstatement to describe the collection of musical talent on display as breathtaking. While most festival enthusiasts will be convinced by the powerful selection of chart-topping EDM mainstays alone, it’s the broad array of eclectic and exotic acts that lend Shambhala its distinctive charm.
There’s more than enough on the list for any bass-lover to fawn over. Arena-filling performers like Rezz and Slander will surely draw the eye at first glance, but the notoriously well-curated festival hides gems in every line of the release. Acts like CharlestheFirst, BTSM and RL Grime will keep the energy up for the head-bangers, while more timid souls might take to the stylings of Said the Sky, the melodic dubstep of Seven Lions, or get weird to the other-worldly tones of LSDREAM and Space Jesus. Cult favorites like Tipper and Dion Timmer are also making an appearance, while Testpilot will be on board to keep the house fanatics bouncing. It would be difficult to fully exhaust the amazing acts on the list, but Shambhala isn’t just about the bass — there’s an emphasis on performance-driven acts at the festival, and that factor is readily apparent in this year’s lineup.
Facebook-savvy observers will quickly spot Marc Rebillet near the top of the page, whose hilarious improvisational social media performances rapidly launched his career over the past couple of years. A similarly novel experience can be expected from the duo of Reggie Watts and John Tejada, the former currently serving as the bandleader for The Late Late Show with James Cordon and typically performing an entirely unique form of live vocal looping. The quirkiness continues with funky brass trio Too Many Zooz, and newcomers would be remiss if they overlooked the old-school vinyl-scratching show put on by perennial favorite DJ A.Skillz.
The festival, which is returning for its 23rd year, is held on the picturesque Salmo River Ranch in British Columbia, Canada. While veteran attendees know that traveling to this remote farm is half of the adventure, what awaits visitors upon arrival is a scenic and mystical landscape that’s ideal for both introspection and community building. The ranch is tucked into a valley in the Kootenay mountain range, on the bank of the Salmo river. The mountains provide a breathtaking 360 degree view, and the river offers festivalgoers an opportunity to take a plunge and refresh each day before the evening’s events, which are not at all as primitive as the setting would lead one to believe – the six stages scattered throughout the grounds are each dripping with personality and individualism, powerful sound systems, and jaw-dropping projection mapping.
Shambhala Music Festival, which has traditionally taken place in early August, has been bumped up to the weekend of July 24-27. Tickets for the event are currently available here for $450 CAD. In addition to basic camping passes, the festival offers numerous lodging packages, as well as the option to arrive on the farm up to three days in advance to set up camp, settle in, make new friends and take advantage of the idyllic setting. Early entry fees are $50 CAD per day, which is collected upon arrival.
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