Katy Moncada

There’s a world that exists just beyond the gridlines of the city ; a world of offgrid ravers who gather under the desert sky. Why do we come here? The sunburns down so hard it blinds your eyes.The heat presses into your skin until you start questioning why you came at all. But then the sun begins to drop. The sky bleeds pink and gold. The air softens. And somewhere out there, through the twilight, a bassline starts to call you home.

And isn’t that what we’re all chasing out here freedom? The journey toward whatever freedom looks like for each of us. Dancing in the middle of nowhere, building a civilization from the dust. We sleep in tents. We set up makeshift kitchens. We circle around the fire at 3 or 4AM, swapping stories and passing water bottles like offerings. Out here, away from everything we think we have to be, we can become anything we want.

Jackson Tree isn’t a festival you stumble across. It’s something you seek out, a rite of passage more than a party. Born from a circle of friends with a shared love for music, it’s a place built on creative freedom, real connection, and a simple mission: to dance, to belong, and to make something beautiful together under an endless desert sky.

As Jackson Tree has grown, so has the community around it’s stitched together by late nights, open arms, and a shared love for the simple joy of being here. Out in the desert, it’s never just about the music. It’s about the conversations that stretch until sunrise, the strangers who turn into family, and the rare feeling of being seen without needing to explain yourself.

But desert magic doesn’t just appear, it’s built. “Going to a desert party can be pretty intimidating,” shares Daisy P, one of the core organizers. “You never know what to expect. My first few, I wasn’t prepared at all — not for the weather, the food, even the shoes. You learn fast that survival comes first. Once those basic needs are met, then you can start thinking: how can I contribute? What can I create?” The preparation, contribution, community has shaped Jackson Tree from the beginning. Each stage, each moment, is pieced together with care. From logistics like power and permits to ensuring safety and setting the vibe, it’s a labor of love. “We’re not some huge production like Coachella,” Daisy explains.

Still, with every year, new faces arrive.Balancing that growth while protecting the spirit of the gathering isn’t easy.“We want to keep it intimate, but also invite more people in,” she says. “When someone joins the lineup, they bring their own crew. They feel welcome and want to share it with others. That’s how it should be —an open space that still feels sacred.”

Jackson Tree isn’t just a festival, it’s a portal to another dimension. They curate a lineup that feels less like a roster and more like a love letter to the underground. Artists likeTechno Tupac, Camillionaire, Frythm, Alex Blänq, Dehm, and Seyaa, just a few of the many standouts, each bring a unique frequency to the desert floor. From hypnotic house grooves to gritty techno pulses and the untamed rush of drum and bass, every set feels rooted in something ancient yet urgent, stitched into the very heartbeat of the land. No two artists echo the same energy, but together, they weave a sonic spell that pulls you deeper into the rhythm of the night.

But Jackson Tree’s magic doesn’t stop at the speakers. The festival becomes a living gallery an immersive dreamspace where creativity spills in every direction. Collectives like Camp Juicy transform the desert into an open-air playground, their vibrant art installations Wandering from camp to camp, you might stumble upon a hidden trippy play room or burlesque show each discovery are a reminder that you’re part of a living, breathing ecosystem of creation. And when the music fades for a moment, it’s the fire and flow artists who take the stage, dancers wielding flame, and movement, painting stories in the dark. Their presence adds another layer to the ritual, a heartbeat of visual poetry that ties it all together.

Jackson Tree is a space where unity, respect, love, and radical self-expression aren’t just welcomed, they’re woven into the the experience. It’s a desert gathering that remind you what it feels like to be wild, connected, and completely free.