Sonic Bloom – Same Festival, New Location

By Charlie Englar
The optical and auditory explosion that is the Sonic Bloom Festival is back for another year, and with a new home as well. Located roughly forty-five minutes west of Denver on I-70, Saddle Ranch (in the proximity of Georgetown) will play host.
The 2011 edition of the festival, which will take place on June 24-26, will feature various workshops, multiple visual and artistic performers and a musical lineup that boasts an array of DJs and bands.
EOTO, VibeSquaD, Zilla, Signal Path, Michal Menert, Octopus Nebula and Juno What!? are just a few of the many musical performers who will be on hand.
Logistically, the new site shows signs of being able to support the festival for presumably a long, multi-year stint. Unlike previous years, with the festival being held at sites such as the Mishawaka Amphitheatre and Copper Mountain, Saddle Ranch will have everything located within a “proper festival grounds” set-up.
“Moving locations is tough, as you have to change systems based on the location. This year we finally have a home where we can really do what we have been hoping to do, which is be in a place where all the camping and parking and stages and workshops and performances are in one area, with no shuttles and no long walk to get from the front of the stage to your tent,” said Jamie Janover, both a promoter for the festival and an artist.
After years of bouncing from location to location, Sonic Bloom may have found a place at Saddle Ranch, which has the type of privacy and seclusion that any festival needs to be able to thrive, mature and continue.
And if there is anyone capable of navigating a situation such as moving locations multiple times, it would be Janover. Being both an artist and a promoter, it seems he has the ability to put on a festival that caters to the fans and the artists with equal amounts of perspective.
Therefore, even though the festival may change sites, the artists and fans will no doubt continue to flock to the fest based on their past experiences or word of mouth.
“This is not your average festival because the promoter – me – is not really a promoter. I am an artist, a musician, and educator, a family member, a festivalgoer, etc., so I know what makes a good festival and I know what the people and the musicians want. I want everyone to have a great experience in a way that resonates with them and makes people come together as friends and family. Fun in style is the way to go,” said Janover.
A three-day pass to the festival includes camping, but a parking ticket, which costs $20 per car, will be extra. Most of the camping will be walk-in; meaning you’ll park your car in the designated parking area, and then carry your stuff to a campsite. However, according to the festival’s website, there will be a limited amount of car camping and RV spots.
All information regarding the festival can be found at sonicbloomfestival.com.