“This Spring, we come together for an experience that is both sonic and scenic.”

When the beloved Wakarusa came to an end in 2015 many of us were left feeling disappointed; Mulberry Mountain provided a rejuvenating and spiritual experience for those who were lucky enough to be let in on the festival circuit’s best kept secret. Years later we’re still reminiscing on days spent hiking through the Ozark’s before settling in to the venue for a night full of life and music.  However, this year, we’re not reminiscing – we’re going home.

Backwoods Music Festival, which took place in Oklahoma in years past, has made the move to sacred Mulberry Mountain.  With artist’s such as Griz, Snails, STS9, The Floozies, Space Jesus, Papadosio, and more – they’ve brought us a lineup that is sure to make this an unforgettable weekend.

Backwoods will take place at the end of this month from Friday April 20^th to Sunday April 22^nd with the option of purchasing early arrival for Thursday the 19^th.  GA tickets start at $233.00 before fees which includes camping for one person in the general camping area. If you’d like a shaded camp spot in the woods, tickets start at $262.00 for all three days. However, with temperatures averaging low 70’s during the day and low 50’s at night, not having a shaded camp site won’t make or break your experience.  RV’s are permitted and passes start at $179.00. If you can’t make it to all three days, Backwoods conveniently offers day passes for $120.00 on Friday and Saturday and $110.00 on Sunday.

Above all else, Backwoods makes the safety of their attendees a priority. A couple years ago, they brought in DanceSafe to be a part of their festival experience stating, “Backwoods does not promote drug use, or allow it to be brought into the venue. It is inevitable that some attendees will choose to take illicit substances despite efforts to prevent it at any concert, festival, or event. Since this cannot be ignored, Backwoods wants to ensure the health and safety of its attendees first and foremost.” While many festivals choose to ignore or be aggressive regarding drug use, making their priority punishment, Backwoods is realistic and has taken measures to ensure that all its attendees have a safe space to engage in conversations about health, drug use, and personal safety. “DanceSafe provides honest, fact-based, unbiased information on drug effects and potential harms to empower users to make informed decisions as well as offer a nonjudgmental first ­point of contact to risky or challenging situations. On top of this, they also offer drug checking services to help prevent overdose and death.” It’s things like this that can make or break a festival, and Backwoods wants us to know that our safety comes before any need to take aggressive action.

If all of this doesn’t already have you reaching for your wallet, their website outlines “Festival Life – The Backwoods Way” which consists of values that many of us festival goers hold close to our hearts that often go ignored at other festivals, such as:

“Our motto is: ‘Good People.  Good Music.  Good Times.’ and we achieve this by spreading nothing but Good Vibes at the festival.  Help us by doing your part in staying positive and being friendly to everyone you meet at the festival.”

“Respect the Environment – If it’s recyclable, place it in its proper place.  There are areas on the festival grounds to recycle aluminum and plastic.  Place trash in the trash cans and not on the ground.  Littering is frowned upon so spread the word.”

“Don’t be a Party Pooper – We’ve all been around “that guy.”  If something is bothering you, or you’re not having a good time, don’t bring everyone else down around you.  Try heading back to camp and taking a nap.  Many times, feeling refreshed can help you start spreading Good Vibes again.”

“We’re All Friends Here – Watch out for others, be kind, and help one another.  Whether you know someone or not, we’re all friends at Backwoods.”

“It’s a Life Style – Spread the message of the Backwoods Way beyond the festival. Live true to the Backwoods way long after you leave. We’re all here together on this earth to live, love, and enjoy life.”

Having covered our fair share of festivals, this is the only time I’ve come across one that makes it a point to let us know they value and respect the same things the attendees do. They truly want us to leave Backwoods feeling revitalized and centered after an amazing weekend with good people (all around – including the staff) and good music.

“Complemented by natural attractions, such as the refreshing Mulberry River, a 50 mile river that is claimed to be one of the most extravagant rivers in the Ozark’s, the one-of-a-kind ambiance provides a unique festival journey. Bringing you 3 days of non-stop music, interactive experiences, camping, art, and so much more; Backwoods on Mulberry Mountain will be nothing less of cosmic.”