Festies cover art

Festies

Festies

By: Sunny Balopole Vanessa Gutierrez Clark Lawson
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About this listen

Festies Podcast - a music festival podcast


Festie (noun): A music-loving adventurer who flourishes in the vibrant energy of festivals. Known for dancing to any beat, making new friends at every stage, and offering unwavering support to fellow festies in their crew. A true festie views every festival as a fresh opportunity to immerse in the moment and create lasting memories.

Festies isn’t just a podcast—it’s our backstage pass to the wonderful world of music festivals! We’re Vanessa and Sunny, lifelong besties with 20+ festivals under our belts (14 of those together), and we’re here to be your go-to source for festival stories, tips, and all the glittery chaos in between.


Think of us as your festival spirit guides. We share advice, chat with the coolest folks in the industry, and spotlight hidden gem festivals you need to know about.

From reggae to rock, EDM to indie, and hip-hop to country, we dive into the music, vibes, and people who make festivals magical. We also highlight innovative products and festival hacks crafted by the community because the best ideas always come from fellow festies.


Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, we’ve got your back. So grab your hydration pack, lace up your comfiest shoes, and tune in—because the festival adventure doesn’t stop when the music does.


Let’s keep the vibe alive, one episode at a time!

© 2026 Festies Art Music Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Warped Tour, Mayhem Festival & Aftershock Festival With Aaron

    Warped Tour, Mayhem Festival & Aftershock Festival With Aaron
    Feb 27 2026

    In this episode of Festies, we are joined by our friend Aaron Apple, a longtime rock and metal fan and festival regular, to talk about the evolution of festivals from Warped Tour and Mayhem Festival to Aftershock Festival.

    We dive into how Warped Tour shaped a generation of punk and alternative fans, how Mayhem Festival brought major metal lineups to cities across the country, and how events like Aftershock Festival in Sacramento became a modern home for rock and metal lovers. Clark and Aaron also reminisce about their day at Aftershock, the bands, the chaos, the nostalgia, and what makes festivals like these stick with you years later.

    If you grew up on Warped Tour or found your scene at Aftershock Festival, this episode is for you.

    Eargasm Earplugs
    Protect your ears with Eargasm Earplugs. Use code FESTIES10 for 10% off!

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    Support the show

    Follow Festies Podcast. Share with your fest friends. @festiespodcast
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    38 mins
  • Ep. 45 BottleRock 2026 Lineup Reaction

    Ep. 45 BottleRock 2026 Lineup Reaction
    Feb 13 2026

    We’re diving into our first reactions to the BottleRock 2026 lineup. We go day by day through the artists, call out the surprises, and talk about who we’re most excited to see. If you’re planning your weekend in Napa, this is your quick, hype-filled lineup rundown!

    Eargasm Earplugs
    Protect your ears with Eargasm Earplugs. Use code FESTIES10 for 10% off!

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    Support the show

    Follow Festies Podcast. Share with your fest friends. @festiespodcast
    Show More Show Less
    10 mins
  • Ep. 44 Ritesh Patel on Building Ticket Fairy to Support Festival Creators

    Ep. 44 Ritesh Patel on Building Ticket Fairy to Support Festival Creators
    Jan 30 2026

    We chat with Ritesh Patel, CEO and co-founder of Ticket Fairy and founder of LOCUS Festival (A Drum 'N' Bass Experience in Paradise), to talk about how a love for throwing parties turned into building real systems that help promoters bring their vision to life.

    Ritesh shares what producing over 400 shows taught him about the biggest challenges promoters face, not a lack of creativity, but a lack of time, tools, and capital. Those lessons shaped how Ticket Fairy works, from affiliate ticketing to fair resale and smoother on-site entry.

    We also get into lineup flow, crowd energy, and why thoughtful curation matters just as much as booking big names. From creating Locus in Tulum and Bali to navigating agents, weather chaos, and even a volcano, Ritesh breaks down what it really takes to build festivals people feel connected to.

    This conversation is all about supporting independent festivals, leading with community, and helping organizers actually see their ideas through.

    Eargasm Earplugs
    Protect your ears with Eargasm Earplugs. Use code FESTIES10 for 10% off!

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    Support the show

    Follow Festies Podcast. Share with your fest friends. @festiespodcast
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
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