There's not much quite like AURA Music & Arts Festival. Though in its sixth incarnation, for the past three years, this celebration of all things art, sound, mind, and body has returned to Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida. It's a time and place where you can catch forty diverse jam acts whose styles range from the innocent and melodic to trippy and nasty. It's also a spot where folks can come together and exercise their inner yogis or buy some one-of-a-kind artwork.
The fest starts on March 6 and runs through the 8th. Whether it's camping in the woods or pimping out an RV, the AURA experience is all about what you make of it. On the fence about embarking on the trek to Northern Florida? There's all kinds of reasons you should pack up your car and cruise out, and here are ten of the finest.
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Joining the pre-party hoopla
Regulars of AURA have always scheduled in that early night of rage before the annual shindig. For some of us, this means kicking off the weekend one day early. But, it's well worth it to have an extra night at this frolic in the forest. This year's pre-bash is stacked with different types of talent, from Dopapod to the Motet to Ghost Owl; three cacophonic excuses to call in sick on Friday morning -- from your tent in the woods, of course.
Grooving into your downward-facing dog
As the festival has grown, so has its dedication to mind and body discovery. This year, the Yoga & Healing Arts Program at AURA will offer more than 20 whopping opps to improve your inner self. From BoomYoga's Shake Your Asana to the Crystal Bowl and Song Sound Healing, you can twist, turn and chant mantras until your chakras ooze rainbows!
Relishing the jamtastic headliners
One reason we love AURA is because of the festival's dedication to presenting burgeoning talent and up-and-coming acts. But, the truth is, you can't mess with the classics. For the first year ever, AURA will welcome two iconic jam bands, both with more than 20 years of mind-melting under their collective belts. Come Friday, Moe. will treat the crowd to an adventurous ride with plenty of tricks and turns into melodic bliss and rhythmic territory, all thanks to an exceptional musical chemistry.
On Saturday night, the godfathers of jamtronica, the Disco Biscuits, will douse the AURA sea in a nonstop dirty dance party. With the skillful marriage of instrumental evolution and spicy tech effects, the band will transport minds and bodies.
