By Jeffrey V. Smith
LOVELAND
According to founder Paul Bassis, anyone attending ARISE is going to have a “full-body festival experience unlike any other anywhere in Colorado.” The annual ARISE Music Festival returns to Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, Aug. 7-9 to showcase an exciting and diverse music line-up or more than 100 acts, art installations, workshops, yoga, theme camps, organic food, films, a children’s village and many more dynamic attractions and surprises.

“For three magical days in August, the beautiful Sunrise Ranch is transformed into nothing short of a festival wonderland,” Bassis said. “Great music is certainly expected, from main stage headliners to the best of up and coming regional acts covering multiple genres, but it’s all those things from yoga to art installations to workshops, theme camps, films, speakers, a children’s village and more that give people so much to see, hear, feel, experience and to dive into.”

This year’s ARISE Festival highlights more than 100 acts across six stages including main stage performances from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Polish Ambassador, Emancipator Ensemble, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Ozomatli, Trevor Hall, Stick Figure, Rising Appalachia, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Larry Keel’s All-Star Tribute to Jerry Garcia plus Artists At Large Bridget and Bonnie of Elephant Revival.

More than a music festival, the “music, yoga, activism and co-creative camping” event, now in its third year, provides a wealth of “inspirational” programming, round-house discussions addressing locally relevant environmental and social justice issues, and an emphasis on quality yoga classes in a stunning setting overlooking the 100 acre festival grounds. Celebrated for its quality programming, the 2015 festival will also feature special guest speakers, Filmmaker Josh Fox, Actress and Activist Sheryl Lee and renowned herbal medicine expert Brigitte Mars.

The event’s founder and environmental activist is no stranger to producing events that become favorites of festival and music lovers, like the Reggae on the River festival in Northern California. His productions include an all-inclusive atmosphere and highlight much more than music, especially environmental consciousness.

“The people behind the festival are committed to having it live up to its name and stepping up every aspect of the festival from one year to the next,” Bassis said. “It’s not just about aiming to book music and other programming that is uplifting, which is critically important to creating that “ARISE vibe,” it’s also about striving to raise the bar on how to produce a multi-day camping festival that progressively provides an all-around better experience for attendees.”

Important to its founder, the event is designed to leave no trace. “Newcomers should know that there is a collective consciousness within the ARISE community that has a deep reverence for Mother Earth,” Bassis said. “You can’t buy water in plastic bottles at ARISE, so people should bring their refillable water bottles because drinking water is provided for free at multiple water stations throughout the festival grounds.”

The eco-conscious event will also plant one tree with every ticket sold in conjunction with Fort Collins’ based non-profit, Trees, Water & People. Other aspects of the ARISE sustainability mission include solar powered and biodiesel generators, “Zero Hero” recycling and compost stations, free solar powered cell phone charging stations, and upcycled site decor. “Planting a tree with every ticket sold is something that feels great to be doing and our great hope is that it will encourage others to take similar actions that contribute to ‘global cooling,’” Bassis said. It’s all about positive change.

Anyone who has attended in the past or shows up this year will learn quickly, “ARISE is not just a music festival, it’s a movement.”

Tickets for the ARISE Music Festival are on sale now (12 and under free).  Visit www.AriseFestival.com for more information.

TICKET CONTEST: Visit the MMAC Monthly Facebook Page to enter to win three-day passes to ARISE

Originally published in the July 2015 issue of the MMAC Monthly