Same Same But Different, Desert Hearts, Northern Nights, and Joshua Tree Music Festival have come together to introduce the indepenDANCE pass, providing access to all four independent festivals.
The festival landscape has faced significant challenges in recent years. With promoters being acquired frequently, new experiences rising while others diminish, and escalating costs making it difficult for many boutique events to thrive, the independent festival sector has been particularly hard-hit.
Despite these hurdles, four visionary festival founders—Mikey Lion (Desert Hearts), Brad Sweet (Same Same But Different – SSBD), Andrew Borgelt (Northern Nights), and Barnett English (Joshua Tree Music Festival)—are determined to persevere. Recently, they gathered for a roundtable discussion on SSBD’s Different Paths podcast, where they shared their personal journeys, insights into the current state of the festival scene, and the challenges they face. This episode also marks the exciting launch of the new indepenDANCE pass.
The indepenDANCE pass grants general admission access to all four participating festivals: Desert Hearts (July 3-7), Northern Nights (July 18-20), Same Same But Different (September 26-28), and Joshua Tree Music Festival (May 15-18 or October 9-12). These exclusive, non-transferable passes are available for $599, offering an incredible opportunity for festival enthusiasts to experience multiple events throughout 2025.
“Independent festivals have always been about community, and we’re elevating that spirit,” stated Brad Sweet. “We dedicate ourselves to creating environments where individuals can connect, dance authentically, and experience something genuine. Now, we’re collaborating to create a collective that enhances the entire scene and offers our community greater access, deeper connections, and memorable experiences throughout the festival season.”
With the indepenDANCE pass, the founders aspire to do more than just sustain independent festivals during these turbulent times. They seek to transform the festival landscape, ensuring these vital events continue to evolve and thrive, as they are essential for the growth of the overall music scene.
“Independent music festivals serve as crucial platforms for artists to develop their craft and showcase their work,” Barnett English remarked. “This applies not only to musicians but also to visual artists. Furthermore, the profound human interactions and connections forged while camping outdoors for several days, inspired by the music, are essential to our humanity.”
The open and candid discussion featuring four of the West Coast’s most innovative festival leaders can be viewed on YouTube. For those interested in securing the indepenDANCE pass, visit the official website.
