Shambhala 2015: Is This The World’s Best Music Festival?

3) Stages And Production

Photo by Kevin Hendryx

Shambhala is privately owned. The same family that runs the festival owns the 500 acre venue. It’s been that way from the start, and they do what they want. It’s this ownership that empowers the prevailing aesthetic and atmosphere which is so unique to Shambhala. The installations and structures don’t need to be erected and disassembled within weeks; many of them are permanent structures that the team works on building for the entire year.

Contrary to most event organizers, there is no central talent buyer at Shambhala. Each stage is essentially treated as its own business. In a rather simple yet complex process, stage teams are given a slice of the budget, and from then on they’re in charge of choosing their creative direction, building their stage, and curating the talent. This not only results in tastefully diverse lineups year after year, but also gives the teams months of prep-time to build out a truly incredible experience for fans. The photo above offers a glimpse of the fantastical catwalks of The Village stage, and check out West Coast Bass for some recap videos to see just how immersive Shambhala’s production can be.