Over the Arkansas river valley and through the woods; to Wakaan music festival we go. Liquid Stranger’s hidden gem of an event is preparing for its seventh year of bass music magic in the Arkansas wilderness, in the shadow of the Ozark Mountains. Mulberry Mountain is 400 acres of forest and winding trails inviting attendees to explore the grounds and interact with the many different art installations. Count on returning favorites as well as new installations. Championing independent artists is an important part of Wakaan mission statement and it extends far beyond the decks, drum machines, and DJs on stage.
Liquid Stranger is a Swedish dubstep producer that has stolen the heart of the bass scene over the years. After watching him close out Beyond Wonderland at the Gorge in the pouring rain, it’s easy to see why. Wakaan music festival is his baby, a carefully curated event that represents the best the bass community has to offer. This festival is capped at 10,000 attendees to ensure the weekend is immensely special for everyone attending. This means tickets sell fast as it’s become a destination event in the bass scene.
Wakaan Music festival takes place September 30 – October 3. General admission is $386 while VIP starts at $557. Early entry for the pre-part cost $176. If you’re camping, it starts at $100 for basic car camping and goes up from there depending on how boujie you want to get.
Travel & Camping (Prepare for Weather)
Packing for outdoor camping festivals can be tricky. You need to have outfits that both keep you comfortable in the day and warm at night. And you have to make sure your camp site is stocked with supplies for weather swings. Tarps, rain flies, rain boots, extra socks, etc. Don’t forget a hammer for your tent stakes and things like a Leatherman can come in handy if you can manage it.
Wakaan’s travel logistics are easier than some festivals. The venue is only two hours away from the Bentonville airport. There are plenty of hotels and Airbnb’s within driving distance of the venue if you don’t want to camp. Raving in rural Arkansas also has its benefits, like hotel rooms aren’t as expensive and you don’t have to worry about bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way home from the rave while you’re eyes are bleeding in the early morning desert sun. (I’m looking at you EDC.) Whenever you’re flying, prepare for delays. When you’re booking flights, look for layovers that are longer than an hour. With how often flights are delayed, longer layovers give you some forgiveness, so you don’t miss your connecting flight. A two-hour layover might save you restless night on a dirty Sea-Tac floor, using your backpack as a pillow.
Study the FAQs like the Pope Studies the Bible
Study Wakaan’s FAQ section religiously to hammer home all of the things you need to bring. Other festivals like Bass Canyon have helpful packing graphics and information on their websites that you can use a reference point if you don’t know where to start. Take out a notebook and make a massive comprehensive list of everything you might need and go from there. That’s how my Grandpa Steve started every deer hunting excursion: a hot cup of coffee, a yellow-legal pad, and a big-ass list.
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My name is Jonathan, and I'm a writer, journalist, and photographer. I've been going to concerts and music festivals since 2007 and I started covering them professionally in 2017 after I graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from CWU.
I've written for publications such as Respect My Region, the Seattle Met, and CBR.com. I've covered festivals like Bass Canyon, Bumbershoot, and Capitol Hill Block Party, and interviewed artists such as Sol, Dave B, Big Gigantic, KJ Sawka, Vampa, Jeanie, and Virtual Riot.