It’s that time of year again. When Buena Vista Lake, California becomes the envy of the live music world. For five glorious days, culminating on Memorial Day weekend, this humble public park in Bakersfield becomes the haven for connection, understanding, and sonic bliss; known as Lightning in A Bottle (LIB).

After attending LIB in 2014 & 2017, I’m excited to make my long overdue return to this immersive, unparalleled festival. Despite my first venture to LIB being a full decade ago, the experience is still as vivid as ever. Immediately upon entry, strangers wished me a “Happy LIB”, adorned in boisterous clothing that would make Elton John jealous. The welcoming atmosphere reverberated throughout the entire weekend. I experienced transformative moments in those past two iterations that continue to have no comparison. LIB goes beyond a typical music festival – though the lineup is reason enough to go, – its six stages are complemented by workshops, classes, and DIY installations that encourage participants to “choose their own adventure.” During my first two LiB experiences, I delved into mediation and vocal workshops, and silent discos, that helped me find an outer voice and inner peace. LIB is the rare festival experience that helps you find yourself.

That said, let’s dig into the lineup, since the workshops and other opportunities are merely icing on the cake. Given that the festival’s 2024 edition boasts incredible headlining acts such as Skrillex, Diplo, M.I.A., and Fatboy Slim, it would be easy to overlook the incredibly deep bench of talent this festival has to offer.

Found headlining the rustic Junkyard stage is the up and coming act Glass Beams. Cut from the cloth of Thievery Corporation, Beats Antique, and Ravi Shankar, this Melbourne-based trio is rooted in East Indian rhythms, surf rock structure, and tribal percussion. Shrouded in mysterious bejeweled masks, Glass Beams would fit in nicely as the house band for a seedy bar on Dune's Arrakis. The psychedelic nature of both their aesthetic and spacey musical output makes for a perfect pairing with Lightning in a Bottle. Coming off the recent release of their highly anticipated EP “Mahal” this past March, Glass Beams will leave festival goers entranced and wanting more.

Hailing from the up-and-coming Gradient Perspective Records label, Josh Teed has been confounding audiences for six years with his signature sound. What begins as an unassuming downtempo bass music set, becomes a feast for the ears and eyes as Teed breaks out his violin from behind the DJ booth. Complementing the inherent low end nature of dubstep, Teed’s strings soar overhead with his audience in tow. Teed’s March EP, “Taking It All In” explores new ethereal avenues, introducing contributions from many vocal collaborators. Teed’s growth as an artist is evident in this new offering. He has found a way to deliver a richly orchestrated sonic canvass with gravitas and depth. Check Josh Teed out as he graces The Stacks stage at LIB.

Festival go-ers find musical bliss in many forms. While some fit squarely into the flower child caricature, others find their bliss through raging on the dancefloor. Toadface is here to provide that release. Specializing in no nonsense dubstep, with trap-style percussion, Toadface has been laying waste to crowds for nearly a decade. Warping, phasing, eerie bass lines that seem to hit just the right frequency is where Toadface thrives. His 2023 collaboration EP with DMVU “It’s Dangerous To Go Alone,” has seen high praise in the bass music scene. Known to induce a mosh pit or three, attendees anticipate a slightly more raucous environment than the rest of their festival experience. It is diversity like this that makes up the rich tapestry that is Lightning in a Bottle.

My advice for any first timers going into LIB:

1. Leave your fear of missing out at the door: Wherever you end up on the festival grounds is where you are supposed to be. No need to carry anxiety around overlapping set times, and always rest when your body clearly needs it.

2. If the energy around you isn’t right, move: Don’t force a situation because you have to be on rail for your favorite artist. Always opt for the place you can take the fullest breaths.

3. Venture out of your comfort zone: Listen to artists’ sets you’ve never heard of, take a yoga class, talk to a stranger. Make these five days unforgettable.

If you’re still not sold, You can find all of the gritty details at libfestival.com. See you at the lake!

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