Same Same But Different, Desert Hearts, Northern Nights, and Joshua Tree Music Festival have united to launch the indepenDANCE pass, granting access to all four independent festivals.
The festival scene has been on quite a roller coaster ride in recent years. Promoters have been gobbled up left and right, new experiences have emerged while others have faded away, and costs have been prohibitive for many boutique events to stay afloat. While major brands might be able to absorb those challenges, independent festivals have been hit harder than ever.
That struggle hasn’t deterred four independent festival founders—Mikey Lion (Desert Hearts), Brad Sweet (Same Same But Different – SSBD), Andrew Borgelt (Northern Nights), and Barnett English (Joshua Tree Music Festival)—from continuing to press on. They recently hit the studio together for a roundtable discussion on SSBD’s Different Paths podcast to discuss their journeys, provide insight into the scene’s state, and share their struggles. That wasn’t all, as the episode doubles as the launch of the newly-minted indepenDANCE pass.
Those who purchase the indepenDANCE pass will be granted GA access to each of the four festivals participating. This includes 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 extremely limited, non-transferable passes are priced at $599, making it a slam dunk of a deal for anyone who wants to lock in multiple experiences throughout 2025.
“Independent festivals have always been about community, and now we’re taking that to the next level,” said Brad Sweet. “We pour everything we have into creating spaces where people can truly connect, dance freely, and experience something real, and now we’re uniting to create something bigger than any one festival, a collective that strengthens the entire scene and gives our community more access, more connection, and more unforgettable experiences across the festival season.”
Brad Sweet and the other founders hope to achieve more with the indepenDANCE pass than simply keeping independent festivals alive during this turbulent time. They aim to shake up the scene and allow their experiences to continue to evolve and flourish, especially considering that these events are foundational to the scene’s growth.
“Independent music festivals play a huge role as a platform for artists to hone their craft and unfurl their creations,” Barnett English shared. “Not just musicians, but visual artists as well. And on a higher level – the human interaction and deep connections made while camping outdoors for multiple days and nights (and being inspired by the music) is crucial to humanity.”
The raw, honest conversation featuring four of the West Coast’s most creative minds in the festival space can be found on YouTube. Those who want to purchase the indepenDANCE pass can visit the official website.
