Same Same But Different returns to Lake Perris with music, art, yoga and more beach fun – Press Enterprise
Brad Sweet and Peter Eichar, co-founders of the Same Same But Different Festival, worked together as musicians for years and shared an affinity for music festivals.
The pair had participated in other major music events around the country and felt that Southern California’s massive festival scene lacked a deeper sense of community.
“We didn’t intend to put on a mega festival,” Sweet said in a recent phone interview ahead of the festival’s fourth annual run on September 8-11 at Moreno Beach in Lake Perris State Park. “We want to keep our festival intimate and a special experience in our community.”
In 2018, Sweet and Eichar decided to throw their own party and hosted a crowd of just a few hundred people, made up mostly of friends and other musicians, but it quickly grew into something bigger.
“The first few days were a lot of fun and we never expected it to grow like this,” Sweet said, as the festival now attracts a few thousand guests but remains an intimate affair. “We were surprised how many people wanted to come back.”
This year’s multi-day festival features a musical lineup that spans a variety of sounds from jam and funk bands to EDM artists. Aside from the music, Sweet said they wanted to incorporate elements they’d experienced at festivals in parts of the Midwest and included things like yoga workshops, meditation, and hula-hoop classes.
“We think it’s important to have options when you go to a music festival,” he said. “It’s just another element that makes for a lot of fun at the weekend.”
Here’s what you need to know as you head out to Same Same But Different. Visit ssbdfest.com for the latest entertainment, ticket information and more.
Don’t miss a beat
Same Same But Different will feature more than 60 musical acts including American funk band Vulfpeck, British composer and trip-hop DJ Tipper, Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo and Griz, a Michigan DJ known for Playing the saxophone to his funk and electro-soul beats.
“We tried to curate the lineup so that it flows in a direction where the energy flows from the beach party in the day, through the main stages at night, to the energy blast with the headliners, and then back to the beach parties, the running until 4 a.m. builds up.” Suess explains.
The music is also non-stop thanks to changing stages and there is no competition as the artists don’t overlap.
“Nobody needs to miss an act they’ve been looking forward to,” he added.
full moon party
On Thursday September 8th, from 6pm to 2am, there will be a pre-party on the beach for those camping at the festival, hosted by Genius Loci. No additional ticket is required for those purchasing a four-day general admission ticket.
Nightly after-parties are also held down by the lake, where guests can swim, float and cool off all day. You are encouraged to return around 1am each day after the headliners have closed the main stage. In the festival’s first year, Sweet said, there was a full moon that inspired a guest speaker and attendees to walk from the tents to the beach to enjoy the scenery, and it turned into a full moon party. This has now become an annual tradition.
“Since we don’t have noise restrictions on the lake, we approved it,” Sweet said. “People loved being on the beach late at night and coincidentally we have another full moon over the weekend of this festival.”
Practice being present
Much emphasis has been placed on the practice of meditation and mindfulness in recent years, arguably upset by the coronavirus pandemic. Same Same But Different has seamlessly integrated these practices into the festival through a variety of workshops and courses.
Some of the experiences involve different styles of yoga with breathing exercises and meditation techniques. Other workshops focus on the senses, from relaxing through sound to learning different types of massage.
“We don’t want people to feel like they need to have an experience of transformation or growth at the festival, but we do want to offer a range of different workshops or courses on topics that people might be interested in,” Sweet said.
Interactive Art
Same Same But Different will also feature things like Frick Frack Blackjack, where guests can gamble and trade for anything but money, and the Giving Tree Art Car, an art installation for fans to swing and climb on.
There’s also the But Stage, an attraction that changes theme every year. For this event it will be a circus theme and will include acrobatic and circus performances.
“There are surprises hidden around every corner of the festival,” Sweet said.
The festival will also host an art walk on Sunday 11 September to showcase the participating artists’ work, which will be available for purchase.
when you go
Same Same But Different opens for campers Thursday, September 8 at 11 a.m. and officially closes Monday, September 12 at 3 p.m. at Moreno Beach in Lake Perris State Park, 18095 Lake Perris Drive, Perris.
Four-day standing passes are $345; Three-day VIP passes cost $580; General admission tickets for one day are $135; One-day VIP passes cost $215; Various camping and park passes are available at ssbdfest.com.
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