A look at Shambhala’s 6 stages ahead of their 2024 edition

Each of the distinctly designed stages at Shambhala contributes its unique energy to the festival’s long-running atmosphere of diversity.

Ask anyone who has been to Shambhala Music Festival at Salmo River Ranch in British Columbia, Canada even once, and they’ll give you a strong opinion on which of the six stages are their favorites. Ask around a bit, and you’ll find that it’s hard to nail down any sort of consensus – each stage has its own die-hard cult following among Shambhala attendees, and in roughly equal proportions. Just as easily as you’ll find someone who camps out at Pagoda for most of the weekend every year and hardly ever catches a set at The Grove, you’ll find someone for whom the inverse is true.

In many ways, this equal distribution of fans’ stage preferences can be traced back to one simple fact that is fairly unique to Shambhala: there is no mainstage. When the festival’s top headliners are announced, it’s anyone’s guess which stage they’re going to be gracing – the talent is booked individually by each stage, but first revealed by the festival as one big group. This coupled with the distinctly bold design of each stage and its surrounding area leads to a wealth of different opinions on which one is king.

As the 25th anniversary edition of Shambhala approaches, let’s take a deep dive on its six stages and how each one contributes to the magic of Canada’s longest-running music festival.

AMP

The huge candy-cane striped awning of the AMP stage is one of the first things that you see as you walk into downtown Shambhala. In the shaded area underneath, crowds gather day and night in an amphitheater of tiered and inclined grass to boogie and revel in the loving community. The marvelous vibes at AMP are often enhanced by a variety of dancers and other performers at either side of the DJ decks.

AMP stage is generally known for booking DJs in the areas of trap and experimental bass, but this is far from a hard-and-fast rule. This year’s lineup certainly highlights experimental bass (G Jones, Tipper, Eprom) but also incorporates plenty of other genres (San Holo, Sammy Virji, Moore Kismet) and, of course, a collection of local DJs that frequent Shambhala (Longwalkshortdock, Skiitour). Rumor has it AMP is due for a major renovation next year, so 2024 may be fans’ last chance to experience the stage as they know it.

Fractal Forest

More than any other stage at Shambhala, Fractal Forest transports festival goers into another dimension. Walking through the iconic FF gates and into a wonderland of trees and tunes, it’s hard not to feel as though you’re on an entirely new planet, a sensation that’s reinforced by Star Wars visuals on display around the grounds. Fans encircle the stage from all sides – and can even get right up close, Boiler Room style – in an atmosphere that favors lasers, lights, bubbles, and practical art pieces over screen-based visuals.

Fractal is all about the funk, bringing in largely house DJs to preside over the party. This year’s batch is headlined by meme-worthy super DJ Dillon Francis, soul-soaked duo Chromeo, and an all-vinyl set from Anderson.Paak, but the name that is perhaps generating the most excitement in the Shambhala Reddit community is nostalgic up-and-comer Daily Bread. After undergoing renovation this offseason, fans and artists alike will be seeing a whole new side of Fractal Forest this July. 

The Grove

Tucked away in the depths of the forest, The Grove provides a hideaway from the hustle and bustle of downtown Shambhala and plays host to a wide variety of musical talent. The simple wooden stage structure engulfed by cedar trees emphasizes and celebrates the beautiful Pacific Northwest environment in which Shambhala is set. More than a music venue, attendees also make the trek to The Grove for the performance artists, the yoga and mindfulness classes, the magnificent art installations, and the mysterious secret garden.

The diverse collection of genres booked by this stage includes some down-tempo and atmospheric music, a touch of the Fractal funk, and a fair amount of experimental bass. For this year’s 25th anniversary celebration, the headliners include Bonobo, James Blake, and Nia Archives, but the loyal Grove fam will bring the same energy for the entire lineup down to the beloved local regulars.

Living Room

The Living Room stage merges the indoors and outdoors, situating couches and lampshades among the trees and the riverside beach. Daytime sets for river floaters and beach dwellers are a staple at Living Room, the only stage visible from the winding Salmo River. Besides the spectacular screens, speakers, and lasers, Living Room is well-known for its nearby relaxation area for fans to take a step away from the action, complete with amenities like a sandbox and a lampshade scavenger hunt.

Many of Shambhala’s non-electronic acts end up at Living Room, creating an oasis for sidequesters and those looking for a change of pace. This year’s crop includes R&B duo Lion Babe, hip-hop and rap artist Z-Trip, and genre-melding band Foxy Moron. But don’t worry, there will still be plenty of electronic music as well from the likes of Tipper, Wajatta, Dirt Wire, and The Glitch Mob.

Pagoda

Just outside the Fractal Forest gates in downtown Shambhala sits the enormous seven-story “house of worship” known as the Pagoda stage. The plain white structure acts as a blank canvas for each artist to transform with light projections according to their own vision. In front of the stage, a sprawling flat expanse of grass welcomes rotating crowds all night long, and even during the day for events like yoga and meditation classes.

Pagoda’s music tends to lean to the bassier end of the spectrum, but they welcome plenty of names in the house music space as well. For the 2024 lineup, bass music is represented by the likes of Clozee, LSDream, and Barclay Crenshaw while artists like Disclosure, Chris Lorenzo, and Disco Lines will draw in the house heads.

The Village

A short walk away from downtown Shambhala, you’ll find a whimsical two-story enclosure known as The Village. Fans watch both from the pit and from the intricately designed rafters as artists roll in and throw down gripping performances one after another. The impressive structure surrounding the stage lights up and changes color to fully immerse the crowd in the unique atmosphere of each set.

The Village is almost exclusively a home for bass music, bringing in artists from the worlds of dubstep, drum-and-bass, riddim, and jungle. Canada’s own Excision will perform again this year – as he does nearly every year – and will be joined by a stellar lineup that includes Subtronics, Dimension, Ganja White Night, and Friction. Multi-artist, genre-specific parties also take place at The Village earlier each festival day, with this year’s edition featuring a Jungle Rinse Out and a Ladies DNB Showcase.