A new music festival, Worlds Away, is set to take place on October 12 at the historic Monterey County Fairgrounds, a site renowned for hosting the legendary Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. The event, produced by Pendulum, will feature an impressive lineup of artists, including Tiësto, The Chainsmokers, Lauv, R3HAB, Sam Feldt, Lost Kings, and Ayokay, with additional performers expected to be announced soon.
The choice of Monterey County Fairgrounds as the festival venue was no accident. Ro Sahebi, the festival’s founder, emphasized the importance of history in selecting the location. “This was a vision from Ro Sahibi, the founder, in really wanting to find a place to do the first Worlds Away that had a bunch of history,” he said. “So we chose Monterey County Fairgrounds because of the history there from the Monterey Pop Festival and the legend of it being the kickoff to what music festivals were meant to be.”
The festival aims to deliver a nostalgic experience for attendees, with a lineup curated to evoke memories from the mid-2000s. Sahebi explained, “We really just wanted to put together a really dope lineup with EDM and Electro-Pop. We wanted a little bit of variety, but we also wanted people to relive their favorite times from 2005 to 2011, you know? So, we aimed for that nostalgic kickback as well.”
Worlds Away promises to offer attendees unique technological experiences not typically found at other festivals. Thanks to a partnership with Augmento, festival-goers can participate in an augmented reality (AR) game similar to Pokémon. Participants will be able to collect planets by answering quizzes or taking photos, with points earned redeemable for various rewards such as VIP upgrades and merchandise. “That’s not something anyone else is doing right now,” Sahebi noted.
In addition to the AR game, attendees can expect a full interactive AR map on their phones, providing information on food vendors, immersive experiences, and set times for performances. Sahebi also mentioned an exclusive partnership with Normal Studio, the team behind the acclaimed Van Gogh experience, which will create unique immersive art installations for the festival.
A Movement Beyond Music
According to the festival’s announcement, Worlds Away is described as “more than just an event; it is a movement that celebrates the enduring power of art to transcend boundaries and connect people from all walks of life.” The inaugural festival aims to honor Monterey’s rich cultural legacy while paving the way for the future of festivals. “This first event is just a taste of what we have planned for the future,” Sahebi said. “We have some very serious sponsors and partners that have committed to building this out over the next few years in multiple locations.”
General admission tickets went on sale beginning August 16, with a pre-sale available from August 14. Festival-goers purchasing general admission tickets will have access to all festival activities, while those opting for GA+ will receive an exclusive merchandise package. VIP guests will have access to a private lounge and premium viewing areas for performances. A special Pendulum VIP package will offer additional perks, including an exclusive sneak peek of the venue and a special guest performance on the evening prior to the festival’s official opening.
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Anticipation Builds for a Unique Festival Experience
As excitement builds for Worlds Away, fans can look forward to a festival experience that blends cutting-edge technology with the nostalgia of beloved musical eras. The combination of a historic venue, an impressive lineup, and innovative experiences sets the stage for a groundbreaking event that aims to redefine the music festival landscape.
For those eager to catch a glimpse of what Worlds Away has to offer, Sahebi mentioned that mock-ups and previews will be revealed in the coming days, further tantalizing fans ahead of the festival’s debut. With a focus on creating a more intimate and engaging atmosphere, Worlds Away seeks to establish itself as a landmark event in the world of music festivals, echoing the pioneering spirit of the Monterey Pop Festival that started it all.
For updates and more information, festival-goers are encouraged to follow the official Worlds Away channels.
