2015: Camp-outs won the North American festival circuit

Both Desert Hearts and Dirtybird hosted stage takeovers at Symbiosis which, judging by the title, might seem like a festival full of hippies is actually a festival full of hippies; but it's not just for them anymore. The location on the reservoir is truly something unique, and the stage design is nothing short of majestic, rivaling even the major productions far-removed from the boutique festival game. The music still features a stage of psy-trance every night, and many people galloping around to wobbly artists like Griz, but even this year with bookings like Four Tet, Max Cooper, and Bob Moses signifies a shift in the scene.

This is not to say that the end of a camping festival is not sometimes rough. The pack down on a come down, the very empty aching stomach, and the brutal drive back to civilization and cell reception is really like a whirlwind journey coming to an end. A great camp-out will make you feel things. You'll feel attached to the family that forms, causing your recently transformed self to believe that you've been a part of something new. Many of these festivals are considered Burning Man spin-offs, so maybe they just exist to give you a taste of the bigger burn.

It's starting to be more apparent that young ravers are ready to ditch the parking lot raves for a more immersive, transformative festival experience. The uncomfortable police presence, 50,000 plus people, traffic jams and 11pm curfews at those monolith events is the opposite of "vibes". It's safe to say, camping festivals are here to stay in California, so grab a skin-tight leotard near you and get ready for the longest, deepest festival season you've ever experienced.

Carré Orenstein is Mixmag LA's Managing Editor, follow her on Twitter

Alex Jenkins is a freelance illustrator based in London, follow him on Instagram here

Photos: Jamie Rosenberg