Homegrown Talent Showcased at What The Festival

What The Festival began five years ago, when organizers wanted to bring the transformative experience of Burning Man to the Pacific Northwest, eventually settling into a permanent home at Wolf Run Ranch in Oregon. The event is hidden away, near the edge of Mount Hood National Park, offering a more boutique experience than what’s found in Burning Man’s Black Rock City.

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When I say boutique, I’m referring to crowd size. The four-day festival has an attendance of 5,000 people, enough for a party, but not so much it becomes stressful. There are also eight stages spread around the grounds more intimate than your typical festival set-up. What The Festival is also a camping event. While RV space and tents are available, the organizers emphasize the communal and environmental aspect of the festival.

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The festival draws a great lineup from around the world, in addition to providing an outlet for homegrown talent. The Pacific Northwest isn’t really a clubbing capital, but there’s a vibrant electronic music scene that breaks out of the traditional underground club template.

This year’s home team will be represented by Mr. Moo, Tyler Tastemaker, Yak Attack, Eastghost, Mr. Wu and Octaban, with diverse sounds ranging from bass music (a regional specialty) to underground dance to live electronica.