I Survived the Shambhala Music Festival

I finally went to the Shambhala Music Festival in 2024 at the ripe old age of 50.. find out what happened to me! Lots of great stage video/audio samples scattered throughout for your enjoyment. Happy Shambs!
a video by Clinton Waller of www.starbelt.ca

[@dj_namaste]

Been to Shambhala 7 times, 3 as a Shambassador (info booth) although I did not go this year so I will go over your vid and give my comments. Free parking is in Sunshine area. You could have camped in Meta, as well, although if you got there late (ie Thursday or later) it would have been a tight fit to find a place but probably okay if just you alone with your tent. Just haul your stuff and keep going down meta until you find a spot. As far as search goes, the later you arrive (only 3 or 4 cars in front says you got there late!) then the search is more intense. If you get in for early entry, the lineup will be SO LONG they will get you in alot quicker. Definitely looking for alcohol. Keeps the vibe (Shambalove) very pure. They will let you keep personal amounts of most drugs. And yes. No glass. Lots of people in bare feet. WAGON 100%. Yes you will walk! ... Meta is great. No METH parties wtf?? Its been a couple years but I think you only have to pay to camp there if you are bringing your car in. Gotta double check on that. You can camp anywhere except crew camping. ... Yes... just confirmed that on the Shambhala Website. River really great place to hang out especially in the day. Lol dude... I am 47. We are NOT too old for Shambhala!!! Hope you stick with sobriety. I've been 6 years sober now. You definitely figured out Shambhala quickly, my friend! Just keep the vibe going if you don't like what you are hearing and then enjoy the switch as you try and go from one beat to the next! And if you hit all the stages, by the time you get back around the horn, it will be a different artist. The Shambhala gods will guide you! The ticket is a bit pricy, but remember it is 6 stages over 3 full nights (Pagoda, Village, Fractal Forest, Amp, Grove and Living Room) plus the music goes well into the morning! I went to Fvded in the park this year. Literally ends by 11p. And I know Tomorrowland, EDC, Ultra, etc. all end early. If you want to go again, consider going as a volunteer. Free ticket (first time you have to pay a deposit but you get that back a couple months later if you do your duties, and you can do pre-show if you want, so you dont miss the show), free meal every shift, free showers, crew camping (quiet!), and early entry with easy security screening --- they will still take your booze, though). I am surprised you didn't get a video of the Shamwave and talk about that! Glad you had a good time! Keep spreading that Shambhalove, brother!

[@ClintonWaller]

wow, what a great comment! great tips, thanks so much. ❤️

[@garyquack19]

@@ClintonWaller- great comment. Love hearing from other older ravers that have embraced sobriety. Yeah, the late late nights of music well into the mornings is such a good feature! A lot of people tap out around 3AM, making the 3 to 7 AM mornings sessions fun and not overly crowded. Hope that yallzz make it back again in the coming years. Thank you for the vlog brother. Respect!

[@kurlfunk]

Dude that sounds like you had an amazing time for your first year! Ive been going to shambhala since 2008 and have been camping in meta every year. It actually made me tear up when you said you didnt want to film any of the people in meta and that you feel its what the old shambhala was like. Good job man and I hope to see you there next year!

[@ClintonWaller]

happy you enjoyed watching my first time shambhala experience.. thx for your comment and maybe i'll see you in metta next year!

[@landsofsevenlakes8208]

Cheers bro, ride that non alcohol high. True expansion of consciousness. Have an awesome summer 🌏🌈☮️

[@ClintonWaller]

thx, still sober!

[@omegaman2439]

I am 53 years old, been going to Shambhala every year since 2001. Will be going next year too.

[@ClintonWaller]

haha that's awesome, you give me hope! maybe i'll go to shambhala again..

[@Basscouch]

I was there in 2001... Tipper, Freqnasty n such. Was a great party before cell phones ruled the planet.

[@Basscouch]

I hope to find new fresh festivals that are not invaded by social media influencers yet.. Like this.

[@ClintonWaller]

sounds like you had a good time at shambhala! there were cell phones but not too many, service was one bar or offline most of the time, so most people left their phones at camp. this video was respectfully filmed using a GoPro HERO11 Black.

[@ClintonWaller]

oh wow.. didn't realize i was a social media influencer with 609 subs, lol. signs and wonders, friend.. maybe you could start a new fresh festival and confiscate all cameras? but you'd have to create something first i guess.

[@kevincowan9414]

Right on man, this was my first year as well, at 31 years old. Ive been saying id go for over a decade and it made me wish id been going the entire time Fantastic festival.

[@ClintonWaller]

glad you had a good time, maybe i'll see you next year for shambhala 2025..

[@AstralSam999]

Great video! From start to finish. Happy you liked it and had the chance to experience such an event that most people never will😜😜

[@ClintonWaller]

thx for your comment, glad you enjoyed my shambhala video.. stay tuned, wicked woods is coming soon!

[@carbo19]

This looks awesome. I want to go now!

[@ClintonWaller]

let's do it!

[@Dunkaroos240]

Hell yeah 👍🏻

[@ClintonWaller]

glad you enjoyed watching me talk about my first time at shambhala, thx for your comment!

[@Dunkaroos240]

@@ClintonWaller 🙏🏼

[@kevincameron192]

you look great for 50 mate! awesome video

[@ClintonWaller]

you are kind, thank-you!

[@soniclab-cnc]

I work on site for 2 months... for like 24 years now. I survived. mostly...

[@ClintonWaller]

wow, that's true dedication! what kind of work do you perform on site at shambhala for two months every year?

[@soniclab-cnc]

@@ClintonWaller Living Room stage. I used to work pre show doing site tech. Then audio tech during show time. Now I just design and build stuff and don"t "work" during the show.

[@ClintonWaller]

@@soniclab-cnc very cool, i really liked the vibe and detail of the living room stage.. thx for helping to make shambhala awesome!

[@soniclab-cnc]

@@ClintonWaller aw, thanks. appreciate that

[@plutoplatters]

no alcohol but every other drug on the spectrum.

[@ClintonWaller]

well yes.. but still better vibe than just a bunch of drunks, imho.

[@HenryWolstencroft]

Thank yousi much, watched your entire video. Approaching 50 so can relate to your vibe. I think I'm sold 😂

[@ClintonWaller]

you are welcome, maybe i'll see you at shambhala next year!

[@saocuad4]

Who's Jason Schwartzman trying to fool?

[@ClintonWaller]

lol! shhhhhh!

[@DerekBowman-q7e]

First time for everything, good times goodnight tunes

[@ClintonWaller]

great music at shambhala!

[@pumpkin1escobar]

Good review. I went to shambs in 2012 and 2013 and was thinking about going again but didn't realize it sells out so fast so I missed it. It's insane to see how huge it's gotten since I've been. Thanks info on the camping setups and what they're like, with how big it's gotten this was the info I was interested in as I'm now 30 and my group as a guy in his 40s which doesn't really want to rough it too hard with fest camping. WE usually hit the gorge for fests and camp there so he likes having his own space haha. Glad you liked it but yeah, very expensive now.

[@ClintonWaller]

happy you enjoyed this shambhala review, thx for your comment!

[@copperginja7859]

Fuck yeah...so good and hilarious 🎉

[@ClintonWaller]

haha, glad you enjoyed hearing about my shambhala experience!

[@regortex3364]

To be amongst that many people with no alcohol seems like going to hell. No thanks, would never even consider going. Bass Coast for me.

[@ClintonWaller]

fair enough, it's not for everyone.. although here i am three weeks sober and feeling great which probably would not have happened if i didn't go to shambhala and get a four day alcohol dry-out. never heard of bass coast, i'll have to check that out. thx for watching, and for your comment!

[@regortex3364]

@@ClintonWaller - yeah check out Bass Coast, it’s near Merrit I believe. I wish I could lay off alcohol but I enjoy it too much, I keep it moderate and in check, I’m a “responsible” drinker, like an “adult”. I enjoyed your video and am not judging anyone’s actions, only my own. Cheers

[@katyalvr666]

How does one meet people who also go to sham? I get a lot about not going alone, I’d rather not go alone. just wondering thank you sm!! -new subscriberrrr

[@ClintonWaller]

good question.. you could try the reddit threads, or join the shambhala facebook community groups. thx for the sub, i really appreciate that! ❤️

[@orderflowdojo]

🔥

[@ClintonWaller]

shambhala WAS fire!

[@guslu6962]

I would strongly encourage you to splurge for Shambhalodging campsite only. When you take the cost of early entry and parking (although you did free parking), it’s not much more and the quality of sleep and the reduced time of setting up your camp it’s an absolute no-brainer.

[@ClintonWaller]

yep, i think you're right.. too bad shambhala lodging is already sold out for shambhala 2025 but perhaps something will turn up later.

[@TrapLordBreadWinner]

I noticed entirely too many people drinking out in the open as well. I even noticed that somebody working at the burger vendor was drinking while he was taking peoples orders. There was a couple that was walking through downtown just chugging a bottle of fireball out in the open and nobody gave a fuck. Definitely don’t think the no alcohol vibe is the same as it was years past.

[@ClintonWaller]

this was my first time going to shambhala so i cannot speak to years past.. there was a bit of alcohol around but still nothing like going to a nightclub where everyone is loaded.

[@hillbillyherb]

Great review, lots of good info. Each to their own, like the idea of alcohol free though...

[@ClintonWaller]

glad you enjoyed my shambhala review! yep, the lack of alcohol made for a great chill vibe, i really enjoyed it.

[@garyquack19]

I am glad to see that you had a good time! Doing a vlog for your first time at Shambhala took some discipline - well done! As you become more familiar with the layout and logistics, things can go more smooth than ones first time. Congratulations on rolling with the sobriety afterwards. For me, once i learned that partying without alcohol is way more fun, i basically quit drinking altogether. That was in 2018. This was my 5'th Shambhala, and i went alone this year. I chose to purchase Shambhalodging, and i highly recommend it. i chose to make a 15 minute vlog this year, displaying my journey. It is on my KZbin channel 'Gary Quakenbush', and is titled: "Shambhala 2024 Vlog by Gary". Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2qQiGSOp6x4oNEsi=0BiWpGbtZYnUuiJH

[@ClintonWaller]

glad to hear you had a great time at shambhala, nice work on your vlog.

[@Mysticcycles]

Respect! Thank you for knowing what not to show on KZbin!

[@ClintonWaller]

haha.. not everything from shambhala needs to end up on youtube. thx for your comment!

[@ZombieJig]

How long did it take you to get in?

[@ClintonWaller]

we got there around 9a on Friday morning, drove right to the admission gate and got thru admissions in about 15 mins, but then the search gate was about an hour more until we got in to shambhala.

[@nigel4776]

I'm retiring next year, am I too old to go in '25?

[@angiestewart8177]

Not at all! Music has no age limit

[@ClintonWaller]

up to you, there were a few retired folks at shambhala so you would be in good company

[@TrapLordBreadWinner]

I met 2 men there that were 72 and one 73. You are all good my man

[@kimnelissen7427]

What a nightmare having to listen to that crap when on psychedelics

[@ClintonWaller]

haha.. not everyone's cup of tea, thx for sharing your opinion.

[@kimnelissen7427]

@@ClintonWaller dont get me wrong, its a great set up, love the vibe art etc but that music is nauseating, what happened to the, old school Goa, breaks, the Orb for chillout etc

[@ClintonWaller]

you may have enjoyed the grove stage, lots of psy-goa there.

[@trevorross9576]

@@kimnelissen7427there’s plenty of each of those genres at Shambhala. No need to jump to conclusions and yuck others yums