By: Anand Harsh

Now in its second year, ARISE Music Festival, taking place August 8-10, is coming at us FAST! We're just over a week away, and there's so much we want to share with you about this really special event hitting Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, CO.

Right away, ARISE set a tone with its inaugural effort last year that really sets the stage for years of growth. The setting was perfect, the family-friendly atmosphere was infectious, the smiles on everyones' faces really told the story of this swirling stew of music, education, activism, yoga, intention, and art. There's a really strong message behind all the fun, and it grips you from the moment you step foot on-site.

The Music

There really is something for everyone at this sonic-centric hootenanny. Fans of progressive electronic music and performance get to enjoy the wild shows of Beats Antique, The Polish Ambassador, and Quixotic. Bluegrass fans who happen to overlap nicely with fans of the Dead get Grateful Grass, featuring Keller Williams, Billy Nershi of String Cheese, and former Cornmeal violinist Allie Kral, among others. Folks who like a good ol' fashioned jam get Yamn, O-Neb, and the Everyone Orchestra, conducted by Matt Butler, and featuring the legendary Steve Kimock. And who doesn't love Nahko & Medicine for the People?!?

Folk, world, hip-hop, rock, reggae, and singer-songwriter fans can dig into this massive lineup, and pull out a few gems that seem like they were picked just for them. Dive in!

SOULS RISING

TheUntz.com is teaming up, once again, with the fine folks at Souls in Action to bring fans the electronic side of ARISE. Untz faves Mr. Bill, Marvel Years, Unlimited Aspect, Krooked Drivers, SunSquabi and more will bring their talents to the SOULS RISING stage, presented by SIA and The Untz. For folks who have experienced a stage presented by us, we generally do what we can to make it the rowdiest stage at the festival. You know what we mean.

Greening / Sustainability

ARISE prides itself on its environmental efforts. The festival is once again working with ZERO HERO to ensure anything that's compostable can be delivered to community gardens. Separating waste due for the landfill from that which can be recycled is an important part of making sure the footprint is as small as possible.

The reliance on printed materials is an annoyance faced by all festivals, but ARISE's efforts to reduce that need for that crutch is admirable. Additionally, the event encourages all attendees to bring as many reusable items as possible, including canteens, silverware, and plates/bowls, in order that vendors can stay as green as possible. Some fans go so far as to use recycled tarp for shade, as opposed to going out and buying a brand new EZ-UP from one of those big box stores. Everyone can do a little bit, and make a huge difference.

Speakers / Workshops

Since its inception, ARISE has had a focus on bringing world class speakers to the festival. Environmental activisists, political instigators, and wellness experts are always going to be represented by and representative of the event's core beliefs. Peter Yarrow of legendary act Peter, Paul, and Mary will be on hand, as well as poet Sheryl Lee (who played Laura Palmer in David Lynch's Twin Peaks. Reyna Bryan is a scientist, artist, and inventor, and she seeks to inspire with her RECYCLING IS SEXY campaign. Rennie Davis made his mark as a member of the Chicago 7, and his anti-war stance continues to flourish to this day. Shane Davis, the vehemently anti-fracking advocate will be sharing his knowledge about the destructive practice with fellow Americans who are being and will be affected by this hot button issue. Many others will share their wisdom with the fans base that seeks out these kinds of educational and uplifting messages.

Camping / Lodging

There are three styles of camping for you: Big Meadow camping is your wide-open, 360-degree view of Red Rocks and easy access, there's West Side camping with VIP access to swimming pools in a lush, shaded area, and then there's A-OK camping, where they take care of everything for you, all you have to do is show up ready for the experience. RV camping is available, of course, and car camping is an option, should you choose to go that route. More information can be found here.

Tickets

At this point, three tiers of weekend passes have sold out, and all that remains are Tier 4 weekend passes at $185 + fees. As always, children under 12 are admitted for FREE (with an accompanying adult), and young adults can get in for the weekend for $92.50 + fees.

If you want to do the day pass thing, that's all you. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday day passes are available for $84 + fees, and you can even do a two-day Saturday/Sunday pass for $159 + fees.

Get all your tickets at all the various levels at arisefestival.eventbrite.com.