Four US indie festivals reveal joint ticket offer

Four independent California music festivals have unveiled a joint ticket for their 2025 editions, allowing holders to visit all four events.

For US$599, individuals can purchase one of a limited number of IndepenDANCE Passes, granting general admission entry to Joshua Tree Music Festival in May or October, Desert Hearts in early July, Northern Nights Music Festival in mid-July, and Same Same But Different in September. The pass has a notional value of more than $2,000.

“Independent festivals have always been about community, and now we’re taking that to the next level,” said Brad Sweet, Same Same But Different co-founder and CEO, in a roundtable discussion about the passes.

“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.”

“With collaboration and supporting one another, we can really make a difference”

As the festival sector faces sustained challenges — mounting costs, rising artist fees, and the ‘festivalisation of concerts’ being a key concern as highlighted during this year’s International Live Music Conference — independent events are disproportionately affected.

“Most independent festivals do not come from deep pockets […] None of us are in it to get rich, we know that’s not the case of what this business is, but I think that with collaboration and supporting one another, we can really make a difference in this world,” said Desert Hearts’ Mikey Lion.

Last year, more than 100 Dutch festivals and dozens of UK festivals were cancelled or discontinued. Australia has had several notable cancellations in recent years, most recently with Groovin The Moo for its second consecutive year.

In response to the crisis, the Australian state of Victoria is offering grants of up to AU$ 50,000 to local festival organisers.

Other innovations have seen German event network Höme offer refundable tickets to 120 events, while Iowa-based Hinterland has introduced a 90 Degree Guarantee, which allows ticket holders to request a refund if the forecast predicts 90 degrees or higher. Last year, Slovakian festival Pohoda shifted 500 lifetime passes priced at €999 each.

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