Particularly during this time of year, there seems to be a music festival every weekend. Although we, of course, value the lineups as much as anyone, it’s equally important to think about the experience as a 360 one–not just a place to watch your favorite artists perform but also one to celebrate and enjoy the culture that surrounds it. With every event, the vibe and crowd are different, but few have done a better job of cultivating an all-encompassing, yet laid-back, atmosphere than Northern California’s Symbiosis Gathering.
Nestled on the Woodward Reservoir in Northern California, Symbiosis has the immediate appeal of a scenic camping location with beautiful wilderness sitting on a lake that festival goers are free to enjoy. In its tenth year now, Symbiosis has created a culture outside of just the music and backdrop that brings workshops, yoga courses and art installations to the event. This year, they’ll even be introducing the concept of ‘Art Boats,’ which will allow attendees to bring their own creativity with them by creating amphibious vehicles that can roam the grounds.
Aside from the diverse experience, the festival’s lineup this year may be their best yet with artists including Nicolas Jaar, Four Tet, GriZ and Sylvan Esso serving as headliners but a strong bill from top to bottom. For those of you who will be in attendance tomorrow, we asked San Francisco’s own Tone of Arc to put together a playlist to prepare you for their set, which you can check out below. If you haven’t gotten a ticket yet, and are feeling like you need an escape this weekend, they are still for sale here.
