ARISE Fest: More Than Just Music

By Malini Bartels
The ARISE Festival just announced headlining artist Michael Franti, one of the most respected active artists in music, to complete the 100+ performer lineup. The stellar listing encompasses a variety of musicians, independent films, workshops and environmental speakers over three days and nights this August 14-18 at Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, Colorado.
Well-known acts such as Zap Mama, Xavier Rudd, Keller & the Keels and Michael Franti and Spearhead make the ARISE Music Festival a powerhouse experience on the front range. ARISE has partnered with SpokesBUZZ in Fort Collins to bring eight SpokesBUZZ bands to the stage as well. Local favorites Better Than Bacon, Common Anomaly, Grant Farm, Justin Roth, Maxwell Hughes, Michael Kirkpatrick, the Echo Chamber and Trichome will represent our thriving music scene. Young talent, Jaden Carlson from Boulder, will also perform on stage with her band, bringing a talented Colorado presence.
But, there is more to this festival than the five large stages of music. It’s days of complete immersion into the world of yoga, decompression, and presenters. Workshops for Sustainable Living, an array of films, a kids village with theatrical performances, and a hemp village are a few of the themed activities. You will also find an abundance of craft beer and wine to accompany the many food vendors parking their trucks at the epic event.
This is the first large-scale eco-conscious festival of its kind to take place on the picturesque Northern Front Range. The scheduled global speakers, workshops, independent films, and art installations proves to make this festival more than just a musical concert, but rather a co-creative camping experience. Paul Bassis, festival promoter, considers the ARISE festival a “full body experience” bridging entertainment, education, and activism together for everyone to benefit.
Outdoor camping is encouraged at the event, as the facilities at Sunrise Ranch will not be accessible to event goers. The entire event will run on generators. Aiming to be an eco-conscious festival, everyone is encouraged to carpool. Parking is free at the festival if your vehicle contains 3 or more people. Bringing your own water bottle and whatever you would need for a few days of camping is a good idea too. Tent and RV camping is recommended, but there are several hotels in the surrounding area as well. ARISE has teamed up with Fort Collins based waste conservation company Zero Hero to run the on-site composting and recycling. Everyone at the festival will experience a sense of community and sharing as the different art forms converge together for a few days of intense wholeness.
“This is the first of many ARISE festivals,” says Bassis. “This will be an annual event to take place on the beautiful grounds of Sunrise Ranch.”
Sunrise Ranch is surrounded by national forests, permaculture gardens and hiking trails with unparalleled mountain vistas. People are encouraged to explore the land. Bassis is positive that the festival will bring a vibe making it a transformative experience for many. Many locals who have had the same “festival experience every year” are looking for something different to attend. If you feel the price points for tickets are not in your budget, the event staff encourages you to sign up for volunteering on the website www.arisefestival.com. Volunteering is a great way to immerse yourself in the event, meet people, and even get a shirt!
With a focus on environmental sustainability the camping festival aims to bring conscious living to the forefront including a variety of opportunities for festival-goers to gain inspiration and education from some of the nation’s best educators, independent film makers and leaders in environmental advocacy. Presenters Daryl Hannah and Julia Butterfly Hill will bring topics ranging from conservation, biofuels, energy alternatives, and sustainability to life with incredible stories of triumph and tragedy from years spent on the front lines. Actress/activist Daryl Hannah has been a proponent of biofuels and renewable energy resources for years and is the founder of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance. Her website, www.dhlovelife.com is dedicated to sharing solutions on how to live more harmoniously with the planet and all other living things. Hannah has been outspoken for years about wanting to be remembered by she is for and not her body of work in film (but if you’ve seen Splash or Kill Bill, you know she’s pretty awesome!)
The festival brings an air of excitement to the area. Set in an ideal location for a conscious living event, ARISE will take place on 100 acres of lush valley nestled between pine-covered hills of red sandstone at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. The three-day event will kick off on August 14th in Loveland, Colorado. Tickets are on sale now with opportunities for upgraded VIP camping and VIP tickets, full weekend passes, Friday/ Saturday and Saturday only passes at www.arisefestival.com.