Countless artists in the festival circuit and creatives in the music scene have been forthcoming about their sobriety journey and the impact substances have on the music community. Still, so many share their art and show up in ways that build connection and foster inspiration, because that’s what this community has always been about.
Founded by Mariah Chere,R!AHTFest celebrates creativity, connection, and conscious living in shared spaces. The festival brings together a vibrant community of artists, musicians, seekers, and creatives of all kinds to share transformative experiences through music, art, movement, and ceremonies.
Uniting Through Shared Experiences & Frequencies
With an intentional focus on sobriety and authentic self-expression, R!AHTFest offers a safe, welcoming setting for individuals to explore sound healing, engage in introspective workshops, dance classes, and connect through the universal languages of movement and creativity. The gathering fosters unity, inspires personal growth, and celebrates the unique gifts each participant brings to the world.
Photo by Andy John
“I felt like many festivals had become centered around headliners, production, and spectacle…which are all incredible…but sometimes the human connection gets lost. I also wanted to see more inclusivity throughout every part of an event, from the artists and workshop leaders to the production team, vendors, and volunteers.”
“It was never about building the biggest festival. It was about creating the kind of experience I always wished existed…a place where music, art, wellness, sustainability, and authentic connection all carry equal importance. I truly believe the welcoming atmosphere at R!AHTFest comes from the people themselves. It’s become this magnetic community of kind, creative humans who make everyone feel like they belong.” – Mariah Chere (R!AHTFest Founder)
I recently had the honor of attending the R!AHTFest this past year. It was on the border between Colorado and New Mexico, tucked alongside a mountain at the Tico Time River Resort. The event was an unforgettable, intimate, holistic experience, where everyone immediately felt at home and could feel the love and intention put into it all.
We danced along the water, paddle-boarded to different stages, raced down slides, got sandy, and bonded over the creative expression and unique art each of us carries. Amidst the many ceremonies, healing sessions, workshops, fashion show, live painters, and music, the festival encouraged sobriety and maintained an alcohol-free environment.
Building a Sustainable & Healthy Future in the Music Industry
In every community, people search to fill a void and use spaces for the wrong reasons. Offering holistic solutions and guidance that shed light on issues like drug abuse in the music scene can help forge conscious action that creates real change. Speak up and lead by example. If it’s harming you or the people around you, it’s time to take action.
Many festivals feature sober tents and booths that offer substance abuse education, support, and essential emergency supplies. Creating comfortable environments where the realities and risks of substance use can be discussed openly is crucial. I’ve discovered that the festival world embraces safe spaces for sobriety, proving you can fully enjoy the experience without substances. Celebrating music and community doesn’t require mind-altering agents. Meaningful, fun, and inspiring ways to connect exist while staying clearheaded and mindful.
“The festival scene is not exactly an easy place for someone newly sober, it’s full of temptations and triggers. Taking time away from festivals was detrimental for my recovery, so was cutting off many toxic friends and relationships. When finally I was ready to start working festivals again I knew the temptations would still be there but, I had evolved and I now had all the tools to cope with any situation from rehab.
“The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it’s actually connection, and I choose R!AHTFest as my first sober event because it was all about intentional, communal connection. I was able to connect to so many other sober artists which empowered me to fight even harder for my healing. We need more events like R!AHTFest, curated more towards the healing aspects of the music community rather than the substance use.”
“Sound has a unique way of connecting us, bringing everyone together to share in a collective experience. Whether it’s through a resonant drumbeat, harmonious vocals, or the simple vibration of a gong, sound dissolves barriers and creates a sense of unity. In these moments, we move as one. Each of us dances, sings, or simply listens, fully present in the moment and open to the energy around us. This shared connection reminds us that music and sound are not just entertainment, but powerful forces for healing, understanding, and fostering community.” – Stef Bucher (Stef.fx)
Health & Wellness in Shared Spaces
In recent years, the festival scene has increasingly focused on sobriety and wellness. Many events now offer sober spaces, substance abuse education, and peer support, acknowledging the need for environments where people can enjoy music and connection without the pressure to use alcohol or drugs. These intentional, alcohol-free settings empower attendees to be fully present, fostering deeper connection, authentic self-expression, and moments of true healing. Sobriety at festivals is not just about abstaining from substances but about reclaiming connection and creativity in our communities. It shows that music, movement, and shared experience are powerful enough to elevate and heal us as a collective, creating meaningful memories and transformative opportunities.
At almost every festival or music event, healing elements are present. This includes workshops that support self-reflection and wholeness. These gatherings can be a deeply healing form of expression and give others a safe, meaningful space to release. Whether that’s a sound bath, yoga class, meditation, flow workshop, dance class, group conversation, or a speaker, there are endless opportunities to learn, express intentionally, and evolve.
This bridges the music and wellness scenes together. It opens a world where people can heal their inner child with play-like wonder, offering that important balance in our busy lives. Giving people a way back into themselves and encouraging self-care, this ultimately nurtures more possibilities for innovation through health and wellness.
The Transformative Power of Sound & Movement
There’s also something healing and transcendent on a soul level: the art of flow and movement. Expressing yourself and your emotions through movement releases energy in a positive way and frees the mind and body.
The art of flow and movement offers a powerful experience that transcends the ordinary. When we allow ourselves to move, whether through dance, yoga, or intuitive, free-form motion, we unlock a channel for self-expression that words often cannot reach. Each gesture, rhythm, and breath becomes an opportunity to release pent-up emotions, transform stress into vitality, and bring awareness to the present moment.
Moving your body and staying consistent with an activity or exercise brings many physical benefits. As everything is connected, regular movement can do wonders for your mental health and emotional well-being. It’s all about nurturing the mind, body, and soul together. This creates a foundation for lasting balance, resilience, and growth.
“Flow to me is far more than just dance. It is both very physically and mentally demanding which provides great health benefits. But its also entertainment that increases the engagement of the audience alongside the music. Its community building in many senses as it provides a way for others to more naturally integrate socially through expressive movement. And I think in a festival environment where many people are in attendance, that is especially needed!”
“At the age of 37, my body has never felt better. I’ve been flowing for 7 years, and in that time all the daily aches I used to feel have completely diminished. I can sustain prolonged cardio-heavy movement when needed. And my overall flexibility has improved. Dance provides a very unique and fun workout unlike any other!”
“It’s not just physically healthy either. The mental health benefits dance provides are also rather incredible! It engages your fine motor skills to think about your movements with precision. Especially when flow is involved as the prop becomes an extension of yourself.” – Abby Rayne (Crymsin Rayne)
Through movement, we give our feelings a physical outlet, allowing energy to circulate and shift in healthy, constructive ways. This process not only relaxes the body and clears the mind but also nurtures the spirit, cultivating liberation and wholeness. As we surrender to the flow, we connect more deeply with ourselves and with others, dissolving barriers and building trust within a shared space.
Practicing movement in a communal setting amplifies these effects. When a group moves together, unity and collective joy emerge, reinforcing bonds among participants. In this way, the art of flow and movement becomes a pathway to personal healing, self-discovery, and meaningful connection with the world around us.
R!AHTFest Paves the Path Toward Systemic Change
The evolution of events like R!AHTFest signals a new era for music festivals, where wellness, creativity, and sobriety live at the heart of the experience. By prioritizing mental health, authentic connection, and intentional self-expression, these events offer more than just entertainment; they become catalysts for personal growth, healing, and community transformation.
“R!AHTFest for me, being sober, was just a huge get-together of homies and friends. I want to always show up as best as I can, and I don’t want to take any memories away from my interactions with others. I want to show up, be present, and not have anything holding me back.”
“As for the event world, I do way too much all the time, all at once. Between running/curating Keep The Dream Alive’s music lineup, running visuals at shows, running the Tubular LD Business, it’s hard to imagine life for myself under the influence of anything now compared to when I would be under the influence.”
“It’s kinda like, if I wanted to live life on hard mode, I’d choose my old life. Life’s already hard enough; why not make it easier on myself and those around me by being present and fully in the moment, ya know?” – Jacob Butler (Butl3r)
Events like these show that celebrating music and art in a safe, supportive, substance-free environment is not only possible but deeply rewarding. This broader movement can pave the way for a future where everyone is empowered to show up as their best selves, create lasting memories, and find true belonging.
Colorado is a central hotspot that attracts and influences so many different types of creatives. Unfortunately, within so many of these artistic scenes, we see the normalization of drug abuse and substance issues. Taking a step back and considering how harmful this can be to these communities is the first step. Not everyone struggles with addiction the same, and some are able to indulge and not be affected at all. It’s important not only to spread awareness of these issues but also to lead by example and support those around you who are struggling. Remind people that they’re not alone and that they have a community they can lean on.
Resources and Communities for Wellness and Recovery
We can create more inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome and comfortable being present. If you or someone you know is struggling, resources are available to help. Anyone in Colorado is welcome to attend the Circle of CAIR, a peer-supported recovery meeting for creatives. All recovery pathways are encouraged to join, and it’s completely free. Find more information and directions here.
“Our Mission is to inspire healing and connection through creative expression by providing transformative, inclusive spaces for all communities – including those impacted by substance use, mental health challenges and anyone seeking connection, creativity, or growth.” – CAiR
This is just one of countless other groups and initiatives dedicated to supporting individuals facing challenges and seeking a healthier, more conscious lifestyle. Across Colorado and beyond, organizations are working to build safe, welcoming environments where creativity, expression, and well-being can flourish and coincide.
“I think the Denver scene is craving authenticity. That is, things we can participate in that don’t feel like massive power/money grabs, events that feel like the organizers care about and are rooted in connection, cooperation, integrity, presence, safety, & belonging.”
“All of R!AHTFest, from the opening/closing ceremonies to the water activities, to the workshops to the fashion show, to the incredible production across three stages, really did follow similar formats, same premise: let’s give people something to MAKE or MOVE through, not just consume. Let’s create an atmosphere where folks feel PART of something bigger than themselves.“
“Some of what we (FCKS) does is deeply serious work. Some of it’s very unhinged, unserious work. Both are in service of the same vision, though I think: a world where, despite the dumpster fire outside, staying feral means fueling creativity and uplifting each other into actual systemic change, & better, safer dance floors. Sober or not (no judgement!) that’s the craving I keep seeing right now: somewhere built for belonging, not purely aesthetics.” – Stephanie (Feral Creatives Founder)
More than just a festival, R!AHTFest stands as a reminder of the healing power and opportunities for change found in sober, supportive spaces. Sparking important conversations like this inspires each of us to carry these values forward, nurturing our own growth and uplifting those around us.
By continuing to empower and listen to one another, we help build a culture that values unity. Together, we can reshape the narrative, making festival and event spaces not just vibrant and inspiring, but also safe and inclusive. Take a second and think about what you could do to forge new standards of connection in our scenes.
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Through living in many different cities and states throughout childhood, Liz is very familiar with adaptability and maintaining strong communication and relationship-building skills. She is organized, attentive, optimistic, and tech-savvy. Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies at Colorado State University, she developed strong writing, editing, and reporting skills, as well as expertise in video editing, filming, and production. Currently working as an A&R representative for the renowned Deep, Dark & Dangerous music label, she has developed and strengthened skills in talent scouting, promotion, marketing, biography writing, social media management, and the commercial development of artists.
Liz is also a staff editor and writer for the music publication Electric Hawk, managing and ensuring the quality of the publication's article output. She also conducts interviews and writes articles for the publication. Liz also has sales experience as a sales & brand representative for MP3 Magazine, a digital and print publication highlighting music, people, and experience. At both companies, she is responsible for planning, creating, and managing content across social media platforms to drive audience engagement through innovative and strategic campaigns. Her role has enabled her to attend numerous events nationwide as a press and media representative, where she promotes events on social channels and writes event reviews featuring artist interviews.
Liz is dedicated to working in the music industry, supporting artists in achieving their professional goals and fostering safe, creative environments where they can thrive in their craft. Her experience in writing, social media, and press has built valuable industry connections and highlights her passion for journalism. Liz’s talents and background make her a strong asset to any team.
