We had the good fortune of connecting with Barnett English, Founder / Organizer of the Joshua Tree Music Festival, and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Barnett, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
The Joshua Tree Music Festivals (held twice a year) are community-centric, life-affirming gatherings; renewing and solidifying the bonds that hold a community together. There’s a joyful euphoria felt during a shared experience, and an incommunicable thrill of a group deliberately united in exaltation. It’s a potent mix of connectedness, communal emotion, and a sensation of sacredness that happens when we are a part of something bigger than us. Music is power, and community is crucial. It’s what we are all about.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What’s most inspiring (to me), is that the festivals themselves are a platform for wildly talented musicians, painters, makers, and creators to share their outrageous goodness with others. In such a vibrant communal setting, musicians and artists rise up to create at a whole new level, further inspiring one another. Cultivating creativity. Inspiring others to be inspired. Creativity begets creativity. And so on.

Personally, I believe challenges can only be overcome if the belief in what you do runs deep. The festivals have such a positive, life-changing impact on so many – and that’s a highly motivating force when navigating the myriad of roadblocks that arise.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Exploring, camping, hiking, and bouldering in the 800,000 acres of the Joshua Tree National Park could consume your entire week ! Outside the park – The Noah Purifoy Museum is a site to behold. The Sky Village Open Air marketplace on Saturdays. La Copine for a one of kind fine dine. Find an Airbnb outside of town centers (joshua tree, yucca valley, 29 palms), that has a hot tub, and soak up the warm waters whilst staring at the stars.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The Joshua Tree Music Festivals (37 so far) are a living, breathing organism, each one created, nurtured, and brought to life by hundreds of wildly talented musicians, artists, makers, organizers, builders, food and beverage craftspeople, circus freaks, lighting mavens, campground hosts, volunteers, audio techs, charismatic improvisers and wild hearts. The phrase ‘it takes a village’ comes to mind. From day one (our inaugural fest was April 9-11, 2003), SOOO many wild hearts have been part of the grueling solution, making it all happen. This is most definitely a collaborative creation, and it’s a great joy to be along for the ride, and to witness the magic.

Website: www.joshuatreemusicfestival.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatreemusicfestival/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatreemusicfestival

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.