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‘Be more mushroom’ – Nine things we learnt at Shambala 2024
As Shambala say, it’s ‘purposeful hedonism’. But the joy of it is, barely anyone would notice. The festival has hit the sweet spot between social action and unadulterated joy. And it’s given us a sugar rush.
It’s agreed pretty much across the board that Shambala is one of a kind. This August bank holiday weekender conceived by Bristol’s Kambe Events has won a special place in the hearts of many for the magic it forges with creativity, community and – above all – playfulness.
The lineup is different and exciting but it’s not just about the music. This year’s ‘wild and free’ theme summed up the festival’s spirit, and was embraced by attendees who clamour to compete in the infamous Shambolympics, go in hard on the dressing up, and indulge in collective site-wide wolf howls.
is needed now More than ever
A couple of zebra heads enjoying the ‘wild and free’ theme at this year’s Shambala – photo: Ursula Billington
Shambala is fiercely independent, with environmental sustainability at its core – running on 100 per cent renewables, banning meat and eradicating single use plastics entirely.
Over a third of attendees use eco-travel packages, and compost from the festival’s food waste is used to grow produce locally. And their ‘share the love’ pay-it-forward scheme will cover the costs of low-income attendees next year.
Using a festival as a vehicle for positive behavioural change is the working of some kind of wicked genius: bundling together environmental and social justice with dodgeball, cocktails, fireworks and hedonistic freedom creates a kind of collective conscience that vibrates to a joyful degree. Basically, it’s the highest order of vibes. The kind which resonate.
This year we focused on the stacks of environmental talks, shows and workshops on offer. Here are a few of the lessons learnt at what was, yet again, the best weekend of the summer.
Bristol trio Aellin gave a breathtaking performance at the People’s Front Room – photo: Ursula Billington
1. ACTIVISM HAS MANY FORMS
Sarah Smout and her cello, Bernard (one of three seen that day – the others, fronting Bristol’s mesmerising Aellin and accompanying Dominie Hooper’s Kurt Vile-esque country folk) interweave spirit, passion and purpose.
Dedicating a song to the peaceful environmental protesters being arrested for the cause, she points out that activism simply means using your voice to tell the truth.
Her songs – heartfelt odes to the natural world inscribed in sound with looped strings and vocal harmonies – are her activism.
We can lean into our own comfort zone, skillset and creative expression, to use our voice for activism.
Case in point: oud player Saied Silbak, whose first instrumental Voices for Gaza was delivered to a pin-drop audience and met with a roaring standing ovation.
Saied Silbak caused a stir on the Sankofa stage with his powerful instrumental piece dedicated to the people of Gaza – photo: Ursula Billington
2. COMMUNITY IS KEY
We feel it at Shambala when we look out across a sea of pink on Flamingo Friday, join a bunch of strangers belting out a sea shanty, or bathe, after-hours, in Omega Nebula’s dub at the Roots Yard.
We feel it in punk venue Rebel Soul when two women impacted by the ‘spycops’ infiltration share their story. The scandal saw undercover policeman joining eco groups, conducting relationships under false identities, becoming pivotal in environmental organising and ultimately dismantling events – the Big Green Gathering for example – from the inside.
Despite the resulting disarray, they picked up and started again – forging Rebel Soul from Big Green’s ashes.
Without solid communities – and perseverance – the movement would not have survived, and we wouldn’t have been sitting there. Now activists are learning from each other and building on those foundations.
Pink Flamingo Friday was embraced wholeheartedly by Shambalans who love getting into the spirit with a bit of dress up – photo: George Harrison
3. BE MORE MUSHROOM
That’s the advice of Nina Marianne Scott, a performer and educator imparting the lessons fungi can teach us about power, identity and society. Turns out, there are quite a few. Question everything, for a start: who made the rules? What was their agenda? How did they see the world?
Queerness, says Scott, means taking agency, rather than passively accepting the categories, binaries and rules you are presented with. Queer is a verb, just as mycelium is not a thing but a process.
Scott’s eye-opening talk was delivered to a rapt crowd at the Rebel Soul tent – photo: Ursula Billington
Mushrooms represent a natural system so complex even mycologists don’t understand it yet. Fungi cannot be categorised in a binary or gendered way: take, for example, the Split Gill mushroom and its 23,000 different sexual permutations.
Heteronormativity perpetuates a hierarchical view of the world and separates people from nature, making it easier for us to exploit the non-human.
Queerness enjoys being in the margins where it can observe and take an active stance on what it sees, rather than passively accepting the system it is immersed in.
Mya-Rose Craig told the story of how she became BirdGirl and delivered several nuggets of advice for environmental activists – photo: Ursula Billington
4. OPTIMISM IS A RADICAL ACT
“Despair is how they get you,” says Mya-Rose Craig, aka BirdGirl, who told her life story – packed far too full of world-firsts, Arctic expeditions and books authored for a 22-year-old – to a supine-yet-riveted Sunday lunchtime crowd at Shambala’s thinking shop The Imaginarium.
Perhaps it was youthful naivete that enabled Craig to forge ahead with her ambitions without doubt. But, she says, fear and pessimism can be quashed with hope. In a world of climate doomsaying, positivity is all too rare and, ultimately, empowering.
A few more nuggets from Craig: the birds in the UK aren’t boring, you just aren’t looking hard enough; don’t blame the older generations, blame the corporations; choose ethical banking to make a real difference; and don’t be afraid to be annoying.
Someone got the ‘be more mushroom’ memo… – photo: Ursula Billington
5. LAUGH ABOUT IT
Comic Stuart Goldsmith says we need to learn to talk about environmental issues without being a w*nker. Well, it’s easier said than done – though he certainly managed it.
His show My Big Fat Climate Crisis – delivered to an audience delighted not only because they were safe out of Saturday’s torrential rain, but also because it was quite surprisingly funny – relied on a ton of self-awareness, debasement and confessions to make the everyday struggle of living an ethical life a humorously relatable one.
The Imaginarium dome was packed out for Stuart Goldsmith’s climate comedy show – and not only because it was raining – photo: Ursula Billington
Laughing about this stuff brings us together, helps us to connect and share; it relieves anxiety, promotes awareness and understanding, and opens up honest conversation.
Witnessing the Arseless Chaps pummelling the competition in the Shambolympics dance-off – their human pyramid finalé rather risqué, depending on your viewpoint; screaming for the booty-shaking shenanigans of Moonchild Sanelly and her vogueing DJ; minds blown by the incredible Puuluup, an Estonian duo combining hypnotic sounds with hilarious between-song patter: it all fuels the fire to get up and do it again tomorrow.
Puuluup combine the traditional bowed talharpa, looped vocals and electronic elements to powerful effect – photo: Hauke Moxon-Riedlin
6. THE FACTS MATTER
The environmental crisis is overwhelming. Trying to focus on the big picture can be like staring at the sun for too long.
While one way to combat the inertia caused by contemplating the vast weight and enormity of the problem is to go local, another way is to magnify the pertinent facts.
Remembering that, according to Mya-Rose Craig, over 75 per cent of emissions are caused by less than 100 global companies, helps us keep laser-sharp focus on where responsibility should lie.
Stuart Goldsmith’s assertion that you only have to change 20 per cent of minds in a room – the fabulously named ‘theory of the radical flank’ – makes it all seem much more possible.
And the fact that some mushrooms have an erotic connection with the wind blows open our imagination in all manner of provocative, thrilling and freeing sorts of ways…
Shambala provides a welcome opportunity to switch off from the big issues, relax and recharge; the festival’s new Solasta stage was like stepping into a different world for a while – photo: Lindsay Melbourne
7. WHAT MAKES IT REAL FOR YOU?
For BirdGirl, it was birds first, followed by a family connection with Bangladesh, that motivated her to speak up.
Picking your battles – the thing you feel connected to or passionate about – and knowing you can win. Find your thing, know you can make a difference, use your unique skills and go for it.
The festival welcomes families as well as partyheads, and has lots for children to enjoy – photo: Ursula Billington
8. THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
A festival with an ever-burning fire representing the interests of children (of all beings) to the 7th generation is one that takes its impact, responsibilities and legacy seriously.
We can learn from the kids too. Like Bea, a young member of Bob Vylan’s audience who got onstage and smashed out the vocals to their anti-macho anthem He’s A Man, to the frontman’s utter astonishment. Her message for friends and family in the crowd? “Slay.”
The festival’s closing ceremony induced childlike awe, with a breathtaking light-drone display and dazzling fireworks provoking gasps that rippled audibly through the crowd.
At all turns Shambala encourages us to embrace our inner child: to leave our worries at the gate and recharge the batteries by capering about like kids at playtime.
Little Bea stole Bob Vylan’s show with her impromptu performance which saw the crowd go wild – photo: George Harrison
9. CELEBRATE THE WINS
Focus on the good stuff. Yes, there’s still tons to be done. But there’s also so much to celebrate: the proliferation of compost toilets now seen at events all over the country; Glastonbury festival’s long-standing permaculture garden that has sprouted many festival community growing spaces; Shambala as a figurehead, reducing its carbon footprint by 90 per cent and, undoubtedly, striving to go further and better next year.
Community is where we celebrate together. There we were, over 20,000 people gathered under the banner of a festival that wears its eco-credentials on its sleeve – knowing that the good life and a good time go hand in hand.
Reggae legends the Congos closed the festival on Sunday night – photo: Lindsay Melbourne
“Shambala isn’t a product or a brand. It’s got a life of its own, it’s a community of thousands coming together to explore, connect and dance until dawn. Shambalans kept the vibes sky high each and every day,” said director Becka Whiteley.
“Long live independent festivals – long live communing in a field, befriending strangers, getting silly, watching cracking live music and dancing under the stars.”
The closing ceremony, which took place on Saturday this year due to high winds predicted on Sunday, featured a breathtaking drone display and spectacular fireworks – photo: Lindsay Melbourne
To sum up: talking is good. Anger is justified and may be helpful but laughter is better. Playtime is essential. Music and dancing are the oil that keeps the wheels in motion.
And we can wrap all this up in a beautiful gathering where we celebrate with community – with optional twerking, cottagecore spoon carving, Back to the Future puppets, power ballad yoga and late night lakeside confessions.
All this and more Shambala gives us. Next year let’s see who can be most mushroom.
Main image: Megan LP
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