Each Spring, we assemble the full gang of Shambala’s creative bookers, programmers and venue producers, and hole up together in the countryside for a weekend of camping, sharing, cackling, feasting, plotting and planning.
On site at the festival, we’re all flat out, in our own little bubbles, camps, venues and offices, so this annual camping retreat is incredibly important. This is where we put the final, creative pieces of Shambala together. Zoom calls have their place, but they can’t hold a candle to being sprawled on the grass with a dog at your feet, tummies full of vegan delights and ears full of bird song.
There’s an element of nuts and bolts, we pour over the site map, chat about any operational changes and challenges and (lovingly) nag everyone to hit any upcoming deadlines… but the very best bit, is hearing what our different venues have got up their sleeves.
Whilst the HQ team are up to their eyes in never ending spreadsheets and to-do lists, all over the country, this lot are busy threading together a wild tapestry of music, performance, art and ceremony that somehow gets more impressive every single year.
Erotic cheese-grater based puppetry? Check. Bashment Bingo? Go on then. A mysterious shoe shop? We couldn’t possibly comment. An unhinged, theatrical pub crawl? Count us in. Live techno acts suspended from the ceiling? Sold.
We may just have the best Shambala ever on our hands.
A huge thank you to the amazing folk at Three Pools Farm for keeping us so beautifully fed, watered and held. What a place, what a team.