This past weekend (August 5-7), the picturesque mountain valley of Cottonwood Meadows in Buena Vista, CO was graced with the debut of Vertex. This highly-anticipated festival fulfilled all positive expectations, thanks to not only the masterminds at Madison House Presents and AEG Live Rocky Mountains, but also the phenomenal festival staff and killer attendees.
The inaugural festival’s jaw-dropping bill included huge names such as ODESZA, Gramatik, Alabama Shakes, Trey Anastasio Band, Duke Dumont, Emancipator Ensemble, Dopapod, Graham Nash, The Lennon Claypool Delirium, RÜFÜS DU SOL, and Seven Lions. Other artists such as Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Big Wild, The Revivalists, Jai Wolf, and Fruition also brought the party in a colorful, energetic fashion.
On top of the stellar musical acts, the festival environment was a dream. Thanks to the folks at Madison House Presents, the intimate festival, with around 8,000 attendees, hinted at a mini Electric Forest. Upon walking into the tree-soaked festival grounds, there were tiny houses galore, trippy lounge spots, and plenty of places to let your mind get a little lost.
The smaller La Hacienda stage was nestled in the mini forest, providing the perfect chill spot during those lazy afternoons. At night, the forest transformed into a brightly lit wonderland, full of whimsy and as always, a little bit of crazy. There were two more stages just outside the forest walkthrough: the Cottonwood Parlor and the main Princeton Garden stage. Festival curators also ensured that attendees wouldn’t miss a single show by preventing any overlapping sets.
There are a few features that made Vertex stand out among so many other festivals:
First, the scenery was breathtaking. Buena Vista’s views are enough to bring a tear to even the most cold-hearted fools, and having the campgrounds nestled within a 360 degree view of the mountains was heavenly. Having the mountains greet you every morning is something everyone should experience at least once in their life.
Second, there was the Bee Vee Beach Club, which held daily beach parties from 11am-2pm, and was open 24 hours a day. By day, the beach was filled with floats, hammocks, bumping music, and even a slackline set up over the water. By night, the placid water and festival-provided hammocks offered up the perfect wind down zone, where you could still hear the music at the main stage.
Third, the daytime excursions really kicked it up a notch, offering attendees the option to go white water rafting, hiking, frisbee golfing, or exploring downtown Buena Vista. For the space nerds out there, there was also a massive 800 magnification telescope located right near the Tree Line VIP entrance. Clear sky willing, attendees could look at Saturn, Mars, numerous stars, and even had the chance to hold a meteorite.
Fourth, the festival staff was unbelievable. Every day, a smiling staff member would stop by tents and pick up any filled garbage bags left at tents. This helped immensely at the end of the festival, because the mounds of garbage were nowhere to be seen. Every staff member at the festival was incredibly friendly and helpful, which in turn, urged attendees to share the love and take care of the space just as well.
Lastly, the attendees were oozing positive vibes. Again, there was a symbiotic relationship between staff and attendees. Perhaps it was the intimate nature of the festival, or the vast age groups, ranging from young children, to twenty-somethings, to folks in their late 60’s. No matter the location, there was a relaxed atmosphere of people who were there to listen to great music.
All in all, Vertex Festival definitely set the bar high. Between the amazing music, numerous off-site excursions, delicious food vendors, friendly staff, and community feel, this is a festival that is sure to grow in size. So be sure to get in on the action early next year – you don’t want to miss out!
Photos by Sage Thomas. Full Gallery:
