The Phases of the Moon Festival truly was an entity of its own. From the moment we entered the Kennekuk County Park in Danville, IL, the radiating vibe certainly was “we are all in this experience together.”

At the start of the 4-day music and arts festival, “we were all in it together” as the inaugural Phases of the Moon dealt with a speed bump…..everybody wanted to start rocking Phases at the same time! Although heavy traffic put festival opportunities to a halt for those outside the gate, the Phases of the Moon magic found its way to those anxiously waiting in line. We were all in it together as the Rumpke Mountain Boys (who also played a late night show with David Gans), immersed themselves into the traffic and the rain, setting up a tent and performing an impromptu bluegrass jam! Thank you Boys! The Phases family was already rising!

Once in the gate the healing abilities of the music, arts and beyond were unveiled and graciously embraced all those involved. The creative food vendors, a local farmer’s stand, and the wide variety of passionate craft vendors, all provided loyal customer relations and extremely affordable products.

Camping was ample, whether in General Admission or deep in the Forest Upgrade camping, the experience was of community and shared growth.  What a treat it was to be enjoying a cold brew in Forest Upgrade camping and clearly hearing main stage get their boogie on!

Diving deeper into the magic of the venue; Sanctuary awaited us, with Tibetan Singing bowls, bells, chimes, sitar (sp) and gongs. The sound therapy, massages, and herbal gardens provided communal space for deeper awareness and creativity. Whether immersed in yoga ritual or simply taking in the aura of Sanctuary, there was empowerment to be grasped by all.

 Beyond Sanctuary the four stages awaited, beckoning us to come rock out, whether it was 10 am or the wee hours before sunrise. All were easily accessible and sounded amazing! The main stage (Full Moon) presented us with a beautiful variety of musicians, and the bands seemed to feed off the creative energy of the venue,  playing their finest and dazzling us with their eccentric light shows! A (personal) big shout out to Railroad Earth for their Sunday night performance on the New Moon Stage! Their lights and energy radiated through the crowd and beyond, and gave us true meaning to one of their performed songs…. “When The Sun Gets In Your Blood.”   

Widespread Panic on the main stage to follow got everyone rocking from the start, and although a fan made bad choices during the show and attempted to get onstage during the set, they still went out with a bang, with a first time played Rolling Stones cover, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” From a more encompassing perspective the music agenda was well thought out and it was much appreciated by musicians and attendees that the main stage bands never overlapped, each performer had their own time to shine.

The Harvest Moon stage turned every head as the performance artists channeled the imagination to new and thrilling spaces! Last but certainly not least, the mighty  Town Square stage, set amongst the dancing trees, lived up to its name as the Phases community would come together each night for the final boogie sessions of the day.

Phases of the Moon Festival provided an inspiring setting for us all to keep on growing!  The inventive expressions demonstrated through the music, visual and performing arts guided many of us towards sincere personal and communal healing. Thank you to the passionate and gifted creators of Phases of the Moon Festival, until next year we patiently wait just a “moonlight mile down the road.”