Really it’s opposite of the models of most festivals. I’m sure there would be interest, but I think people just know that that’s not us… Our model is completely opposite to someone like Live Nation. No one has directly approached us, but I think people know us well enough that they know that we’re very different than most of the other festivals, and very, like, fiercely independent. As you guys have become nationally and internationally renowned, have corporations kind of come sniffing around your festival? We’ve kind of been there before the industry got big, and before there were so many festivals doing the same thing.ĭance music culture is obviously something a lot of corporations have latched onto. DJs were relatively niche now they fill stadiums. We started in ’98, and it was all about bands back then. A lot of festivals try to get big really fast, or they do get big really fast and then they become a victim of their own success, or they just spend way too much money and throw in the towel.Ī big part of our success has just been slow growth, and taking our time and being in the genre before so many festivals were doing it. I guess we started small and just grew it slowly over the years. How has Shambhala maintained its independent status for 22 years? Here, Bundschuh discusses staying independent, maintaining Shambhala’s zero-alcohol policy, and staying true to his farm roots.
