We Came, We Partied, We Camped, We Loved: 72 Hours With Desert Hearts
Hippies and hipsters alike descended on Los Coyotes Indian Reservation last weekend for 72 hours of self-exploration known as the Desert Hearts Two Year Anniversary Festival. For me, the weekend brought a sense of freedom previously unattainable at any other music event. It was a place where people could truly leave their inhibitions behind. An all-encompassing experience, Desert Hearts showed the true beauty that a large gathering of different yet open-minded people could attain. And it was awesome.
It was not easy going for our group in the beginning. Our plague-filled journey to the reservation included backing our massive van into a wall, getting stuck behind a high-speed car chase on the 210, and stopping off at not one but two Walmarts straight out of the Walking Dead. We did not get to the venue until sunrise on Saturday, but rather appropriately, this only served to bring us closer together as a group.
Nestled in a valley in the high desert, the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation is a beautiful location to host the event. Wasting no time with responsible things like setting up camp or figuring out logistics, we headed straight to the dancefloor to groove to the sultry sounds of Deep Jesus. It quickly became apparent that this weekend would be like no other I had ever experienced. People spared no expense in showcasing their inner creativity, and the weekend seemed more about expressing oneself than the beats coming from the Function One sound system.
At the core of this festival is a strong community deeply rooted in love and kindness. It’s weird in all the right ways. I wanted to be best friends with everyone I met over those 72 hours, and I cannot begin to describe all the amazing conversations I had. How many events have you been to with a complimentary bar staffed by volunteers all weekend? Or a tearoom offering free tea and an area where you could, as a group, continue painting a picture left by previous explorers? How about a camp where topless pirates make you French toast? It was eye-opening and reassuring—all these amazing people there, doing all these things to better the community.
Where Desert Hearts differs from larger events, such as Burning Man or Lightning in a Bottle, is their one-stage, one-vibe mentality, which is a godsend. It creates a closer-knit community and makes it extremely easy to find your friends, new and old. Talking to one of the founders of Desert Hearts, Mikey Lion, it becomes apparent that this is really one of their focal points. It’s hard not to feel the positivity radiating from his body when he discusses his creation.
“Size-wise, I feel like we are at the sweet spot this weekend,” Lion says over tea. “Any bigger, and I feel like we would lose the sense of community that makes Desert Hearts so special.”
While Desert Hearts is built on the mantra of house and techno, a three-minute tribal whale song was never too far off in the distance. Breaks and garage even got some shout-outs, and at times I did not even know what I was listening to, which is a good thing. Berlin’s own Tiefschwarz played some dark, intense techno that went on to the wee hours of the morning. Grandfather of the scene Lee Reynolds—who might actually be Jesus Christ—defied age with one of the most forward-thinking performances of the weekend. Not a bad set was to be had, which goes to show how much of an ear to the ground Lion has.
I lost myself in the grandness of the weekend. Hours were spent in an elevated adult playpen filled with pillows. I participated in a group painting, even though I got a C in high school art. I learned about the healing powers of crystals. I watched the most incredible girl hula-hoop for what seemed like three hours. I slept for maybe six hours. I ingested more dirt than I have in my whole life. It was an amazing time.
I stepped outside of my comfort zone and did something that I ultimately never thought I would do, and it paid out dividends. I gained a new level of respect and trust for those who think outside the box and live a different way of life. Desert Hearts, I can’t wait to journey to your next event.
All photos by Galen Oakes
