“It’s not something that starts with festivals. We want to work with venues, we want to work with industry leaders and artists and songwriters,” she added. “We just want to help build a bigger tent for anyone who’s interested.”
Allaan Sword, left, and Julie Swan, both of San Francisco, hang out at the 1 Million Strong Wellness Retreat at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Mocktails Strawberry Sundance, left, and Grapefruit Fresca are available at the 1 Million Strong Wellness Retreat at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Saturday, April 29, 2023. The tent at Stagecoach includes a bar serving two mocktails for $12, Strawberry Sundance and Grapefruit Fresca; couches, poufs and coffee tables on cowhide-patterned carpet; and a 360 photo booth with country music props for fans to pose with.
“Typically if you are in recovery and you go to a festival and say, hey, I need a space, they’re going to consider that an emergency,” she said. “They’re going to take you outside the event. They’re going to take you to an isolated place that maybe has a folding table and some chairs. It’s away from the music. It’s away from the people. What we’re trying to do is say, if you need a space like that, we’re not going to send you away. We’re not going to put you all alone.