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Festies

Festies

By: Sunny Balopole Vanessa Gutierrez Clark Lawson
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Festie (noun): A music-loving adventurer who flourishes in the vibrant energy of festivals. Known for dancing to any beat, making new friends at every stage, and offering unwavering support to fellow festies in their crew. A true festie views every festival as a fresh opportunity to immerse in the moment and create lasting memories.

Festies isn’t just a podcast—it’s our backstage pass to the wonderful world of music festivals! We’re Vanessa and Sunny, lifelong besties with 20+ festivals under our belts (14 of those together), and we’re here to be your go-to source for festival stories, tips, and all the glittery chaos in between.


Think of us as your festival spirit guides. We share advice, chat with the coolest folks in the industry, and spotlight hidden gem festivals you need to know about.

From reggae to rock, EDM to indie, and hip-hop to country, we dive into the music, vibes, and people who make festivals magical. We also highlight innovative products and festival hacks crafted by the community because the best ideas always come from fellow festies.


Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, we’ve got your back. So grab your hydration pack, lace up your comfiest shoes, and tune in—because the festival adventure doesn’t stop when the music does.


Let’s keep the vibe alive, one episode at a time!

© 2025 Festies Art Music Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Ep. 25 Getting In, Getting Out: The Festival Commute

    Ep. 25 Getting In, Getting Out: The Festival Commute
    Jul 25 2025

    Festival transportation can seriously shape your weekend, especially when it comes to getting in and out.

    In this episode, we’re talking about how to plan your arrival and exit so you’re not stuck in a sea of people, lost in a parking lot, or paying $90 for an Uber that never shows up. We cover what to consider before you go, how to keep your Festie's crew connected, and why just a little planning can save a lot of stress.

    We’ve made the mistakes so you don’t have to.

    Follow us @festiespodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more Festie's content!

    Sunny's Festival Corner:

    Outside Lands Music Festival

    Gathering of the Juggalos

    Ultra Japan
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    25 mins
  • Ep. 24 Festies Recap: Bonnaroo 2025

    Ep. 24 Festies Recap: Bonnaroo 2025
    Jul 18 2025

    Vanessa's fiancé Ed makes his Festies debut to recap their wild ride at Bonnaroo 2025 - all one day of it! They talk travel mishaps, glamping, the EIGHT performances they saw on Thursday, and even meeting some of their podcast heroes. The weekend started out STRONG...until Friday's rain shut it all down.

    With Roo cancelled, they pivoted to a Nashville weekend with their Festie, Alex. They explore the behind-the-scenes challenges that led to cancellation, the community's mixed reactions, and how the "Bonnaroovian spirit" shined through despite the circumstances. The episode offers fascinating insights into festival operations, weather contingencies, and finding joy in unexpected situations.

    Have you ever had a festival experience cut short? We'd love to hear your story in the reviews!

    Note: This episode was recorded before Bonnaroo announced it will return next year, June 11-14, 2026! YAY!

    Artists we saw:

    The Droptines Kitchen Dwellers Wilderado The Lemon Twigs Marcus King Luke Combs Daniel Donato Insane Clown Posse

    Sunny's Festival Corner:

    Splash House

    Guster's on the Ocean Weekend

    SUNANDBASS
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    58 mins
  • Ep. 23 Festies Recap: SF Jazz Festival and Stern Grove 2025

    Ep. 23 Festies Recap: SF Jazz Festival and Stern Grove 2025
    Jul 11 2025

    This one’s for our Bay Area Festies! We’re recapping two totally different but equally iconic San Francisco summer festivals: the San Francisco Jazz Festival and Stern Grove Festival.

    From legendary jazz sets in the city to blanket dancing in the trees, we’re sharing the full behind-the-scenes of our weekend. Sunny and Clark hit up SF Jazz Fest on Friday and Saturday, and Sunny went back on Sunday to celebrate Father’s Day. Meanwhile, Clark kept the music going at Stern Grove with friends. We’ve got stories, standout moments, and all the little things that made this a classic Bay Area festival weekend.

    Artists we saw:

    Mark Lettieri Salami Rose Joe Louis Kassa Overall Charles Lloyd Jahari Stampley Trio Somi Theo Crocker Ms. Lisa Fischer Stanley Clarke & Gonzalo Rubalcaba Brandon Woody's Upendo Tyreek McDole Orrin Evans Dave Holland & Lionel Loueke Patrice Rushen The Dip California Honey Drops

    Sunny's Festival Corner:

    Hinterland Music Festival

    Neon Nights Country Music Festival

    Rhyme Fest
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    33 mins
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