There鈥檚 a certain magic that hits when the days get longer, the air feels lighter, and the soundtrack shifts to something more sun-soaked and whimsical.

For us at 国产吃瓜黑料, the 聽is the official place to kick off that summer vibe in Denver, May 31-June 1. With live music, world-class speakers, gear demos, outdoor clinics, and a community of adventurers ready to celebrate all things outside, the festival is the ultimate signal that summer is on.

As school lets out and mornings are made for trail runs, the evening stretches on endlessly with time for mountain bike rides, dinner outside, and catching the sun set around a campfire. It’s the season of s’mores, sleeping under the stars, and road trips.

This summer, get ready to take a long walk down a winding trail with this 聽from none other than , the indie-pop duo known for weaving electronic pulses with organic emotion. Their live shows are electric鈥攊ntrospective and ecstatic all at once. And their music is the perfect bridge between the natural and the modern.

This playlist聽is sure to set the mood for summer. It鈥檚 uniquely introspective and earthy. These tracks blend ambient soundscapes, folk, and meditative rhythms鈥攑erfect for slowing down and tuning in as you wander.

Track List:

1. eiko ishibashi – deer blood
2. tenzin choegyal – mountain
3. walt mcclements – a painted ship
4. hans reichel – could be nice too
5. m煤m – green grass of tunnel
6. cool maritime – temporal dryft
7. jeremiah chiu – seawater swell
8. autechre – altibzz
9. carlos ni帽o & photay – c u r r e n t
10. sam amidon – never
11. phil cook – i made a lover’s prayer
12. mary margaret o’hara – when you know why you’re happy

So get ready to get outside鈥攕ummer鈥檚 here. And if you’re in Denver, you can join us for the 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival in Civic Center Park May 31-June 1 where you can catch Sylvan Esso playing alongside headliner , , and Tickets are available .

The post 12 Songs to Wander in the Woods to This Summer from Sylvan Esso appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This summer, returns to Denver with an electric mix of music, adventure, and storytelling that鈥檚 poised to become a cultural touchstone for lovers of the outdoors and the artists who soundtrack their journeys. Held June 1鈥�2, 2025, at Civic Center Park and the Denver Art Museum campus, the two-day event blends live music with panel discussions, immersive experiences, and a community of curious, creative minds.

With headliners like psychedelic soul trio and indie rock darlings , the festival is built for those who find their rhythm as easily in alpine air as on a city street. But beyond the big stages, 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival is also a launchpad for rising voices in music鈥攁rtists like , whose introspective lyrics and mellow grooves are gaining momentum across continents.

We caught up with Hazlett for a deeper look into the music and memories hat shaped the music, and the rituals that keep them grounded. Here鈥檚 his take, in his own words.

Artist Profile: Hazlett

Hazlett:
Blood Bank by Bon Iver
It鈥檚 Too Late by Carole King
I Try by Macy Gray
Milk by Kings of Leon
Dancing In The Dark by Bruce Springsteen

What is your greatest Festival flashback. A festival moment you may never forget?聽

Hazlett: Actually the whole reason that I got into music was from a festival. I think I was about 14 and snuck into a festival back home in Australia. Kings of Leon were playing the afternoon set, I walked in and the very first thing I saw was as they erupted into the song 鈥淔ans鈥�. I think my jaw was on the floor and I just thought it was one of the coolest things I鈥檇 ever seen. I remember thinking to myself right then and there 鈥渢his is what I want to do one day.鈥�

What do you do just before hitting the stage? Any nerves, rituals, and must-haves?

Hazlett:
Play Spirit In The Sky by Norman Greenbaum
Eat a handful of blueberries
Take a swig of coconut water
Blow hot air into my hands to warm up
Pour a glass of wine
Hug someone before walking out

The Weirdest Thing on your tour rider 鈥� and the story behind it?

Hazlett: I personally don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 that weird but I鈥檇 say blueberries. I try to stay as healthy as possible on the road and they鈥檙e full of antioxidants. Plus I just really like them. But now it鈥檚 turned into a bit of a thing and I get random photos sent to me of me walking around outside every show eating my little punnet of blueberries.

What鈥檚 in your bag: Festival Edition 鈥� a peek into go-to tour essentials.

Hazlett:
Toothbrush and tooth paste (fresh breath is a confidence booster before singing)
Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones (good noise cancelling to get some quiet time)
Coconut Water (hydration is key)
A Cap (I usually travel with about 4 in my rotation)
Room Spray (A nice person at an Aesop store gave me room spray once and now it鈥檚 become helpful to have familiar smell when being far from home so much)

Catch Hazlett’s set at 2025 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival on Sunday, June 1. The is out now. Join us in Denver鈥檚 Civic Center Park for two days of amazing music, a thrilling program, plus hear from global adventure icons and inspiring storytellers on the聽 stage, and all kinds of outdoor fun.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the . Tickets start at $79.

The post 5 Songs That Changed Everything鈥揟he Tracks That Shaped Hazlett鈥檚 Path appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Conjure for a moment the feeling of a perfect summer day. The trees are fully leafed out. The western sky is filled with changing light. Your friends and neighbors are gathering on the great green lawn of your town park, where communal tables await. A favorite band is playing while kids run around and their parents take a long moment to feel the breeze coming in off the mountains.

After a long winter and rainy spring, it鈥檚 easy to forget how good it feels to be outside with friends, unleashed from our devices and our four walls. The music fills our bodies, its rhythm melding with a deeper-time cycle of day-to-night, seasons changing, the imperceptible warble of a planet spinning gently on its axis. That feeling is calling us.

It鈥檚 hard to explain why the trifecta of nature, music, and community is even more happy-making than the sum of its parts, though science offers some clues. The 19th century sociologist Emile Durkheim coined the term 鈥渃ollective effervescence,鈥� which sounds like a denture cleaner but is really about the heightened state of social energy, a sense of sacredness and like rituals and celebrations. Recent studies have found that listening to live music with others fosters unity and joy, leading to

Similarly, spending time outside makes us less focused on ourselves and more in tune with others and the natural world. that when we enjoy 鈥渘earby nature,鈥� the kind we find in city parks, we鈥檙e more likely to feel happy, improve our attention spans, fend off depression and anxiety, and forge the bonds that support us and help us regain a bit of social optimism. Not surprisingly, there鈥檚 a dose curve to this kind of medicine. People who spend more time in nature are more likely to report increased satisfaction with their lives. The message is clear: time outside makes us healthier and happier, while also making us kinder to each other.

But in many ways, getting outside is harder than ever. Our obligations and distractions keep us inside, and with so many of us at our desks or on our couches, it鈥檚 not as much fun out there as it used to be. Back in his day, our perceptive friend Durkheim, the sociologist, described a growing purposelessness that people felt in the wake of industrialism, which pulled us off the land and into factories. Today, our digital lifestyles led former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to declare a in 2023. Our species has never lived a life quite like this before: often separated from each other, burrowed inside away from sunsets, wild animals, and the brilliant night sky. We鈥檙e living in the middle of the largest mass migration in human history鈥攖he migration indoors.

No wonder our need for fresh air and social connection has . Our brains and bodies yearn for collective effervescence. We want lives filled with meaning, purpose, and the kind of adventures we find when we put down the screens. Interest in outdoor culture, sports, travel, and concern about nature鈥檚 resiliency is at a record high.

Feeling joy in the outdoors is a fundamental human right. Helping people get there is 国产吃瓜黑料 and and passion. And in this moment, finding community and belonging in nature is more important than ever.

That鈥檚 why 国产吃瓜黑料 partnered with REI Co-op and Capital One to create the second annual this coming May 31 to June 1 in Denver鈥檚 Civic Center Park. Here鈥檚 what you鈥檒l find there: incredible bands like Khraungbin and Lord Heron performing on a stage framed by the Colorado Rocky Mountains; inspiring conversations with elite outdoor athletes, activists, and change makers; riveting adventure (and misadventure) films; climbing walls; health and wellness activities like yoga and cold plunges; games for kids and grownups; demos of the best new outdoor gear; an entire village of travel experts ready to help you plan your next journey; amazing food, and鈥攎ost importantly鈥攖housands of people like you, delighted to be outside together under the western sky.

So let鈥檚 do it. Let鈥檚 listen to that feeling that鈥檚 calling us. Let鈥檚 fall in love again with living things and with each other. Let鈥檚 orient toward the rhythms of music and nature and celebrate the happy fizz of togetherness, outside.

The post Why You Love Music Festivals, According to Science appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Neal Francis makes the kind of music that feels both timeless and intensely personal. Weaving in his own hard-won perspective following addiction and upheaval, the singer, songwriter, and pianist draws on the grooves of New Orleans funk and ’70s soul in a solo career that鈥檚 earned him a growing national audience and a much-anticipated recent album release, . But only after finding his footing through sobriety and self-reflection was he able to experience what he considers a strong connection to self, spirit, and sound.

In a recent conversation with Yoga Journal, Francis opens up about mindfulness in the creative process, the spiritual roots of soul music, and how ritual shows up in his life as a performer. You can also catch Neal Francis live on Saturday, May 31, at this year鈥檚 in Denver. .

Yoga Journal: You’ve talked about how iconic soul and funk artists like and influenced you. What was it about their music and spirit that pulled you in?

Neal Francis: I first fell in love with Dr. John鈥檚 music because I liked his piano playing and flamboyant style of dress. I was probably six when I remember hearing him for the first time. My parents bought me a couple of his albums, and I tried to emulate his playing style.

As I matured, I became aware of , the artist/producer behind several of Dr. John鈥檚 records, and the band , the session musicians on those recordings. My first record contains a lot of influence from all three of those artists. I fell in love with Sly in middle school. A friend of mine got their greatest hits on CD [], and I thought it was wonderful. His music is rock, funk, soul, gospel, and pop mixed into one sound. I also really loved his organ playing.

YJ: Blues and soul music are so full of feeling. They demand a presence that almost feels meditative. Do you think mindfulness plays a role in how you connect with your music when you鈥檙e playing?

NF: I think mindfulness is part of my performance now. But for most of my life as a performer, I had no awareness or practice to connect with music spiritually or mindfully. There were moments of divine inspiration, but they were fleeting. Sometimes there鈥檚 a moment of fear or distraction on stage, and I take a split second to feel my hands on the keys, and drop back into my body. If I think too hard about what I鈥檓 playing, my performance seems to suffer. Meditation is an important part of my daily practice today, and I try to keep returning to it, especially when I鈥檓 agitated.

YJ: You’ve been open about your journey with sobriety, especially around the time you made . I thought it was so interesting when you once wrote in a blog post, “Drinking held my music in a half-cocked slingshot.” That鈥檚 powerful, and kind of runs counter to the common myth that substances fuel creativity. Can you talk about how sobriety changed your creative process?

NF: I think they did fuel my creativity for a while, perhaps in terms of generating ideas, but quickly, they worked against me. Fundamentally, I don鈥檛 like to be uncomfortable. So whenever I encountered resistance, it was easier for me to use alcohol or drugs to escape that feeling rather than push through or wait out the discomfort. That led to a lot of unrequited dreams and unfinished projects.

I鈥檝e slowly become better at being present and working through problems, artistic and otherwise. My creative process is always changing. It is never linear.

YJ: You were already playing with Chicago blues legends as a teenager, and people often call you a prodigy. In yoga, we talk about “dharma”鈥� finding the work you were born to do. What would you say to artists still trying to find their path?

NF: I would say to a younger musician鈥揳nd admonish myself鈥搕hat they should pursue what interests them, to the furthest limit, and divorce themselves from the outcome. I spent a lot of time wondering how a certain piece of work would be received or using my music as a means to an end in achieving material goals. More and more, I can say gratefully that all I care about is the process of creation and my interest in seeing what is possible.

YJ: You once described yourself as a “spiritual agnostic.” Is that still how you would describe your relationship to spirituality today? Has it changed at all over the years?

NF: I have become interested in Buddhism in the last few years, and want to delve deeper. The tenets of Buddhism link elegantly with recovery. I read a lot of philosophical and spiritual writing. I鈥檒l probably be forever searching. My concept of spirituality is pretty nebulous, and I think that鈥檚 a good thing, because I can keep the door open to learning from different faith traditions.

YJ: Many musicians and performers have little pre-show rituals to help them get centered. Do you have any routines or practices that help you get in the right headspace before you play?

NF: After soundcheck, I usually commit about an hour to my spiritual practice and make sure to get out of the venue. It helps clear my head, and gives the guys and me a chance to have space from each other. I may do a formal meditation, but usually that鈥檚 just in the morning. Lately, we鈥檝e been meditating as a band for ten minutes before the show. I always do a vocal warmup and ideally have some funny conversation or dance a little backstage to get my spirits up.

YJ: What does your morning meditation consist of? Are you doing any specific styles or breathwork practices?

NF: I typically do a guided 20-minute meditation based on the practice. I also do longer meditations in the van or on airplanes, and lately have been listening to meditations and dharma talks on the .

YJ: You鈥檒l be playing at in Denver this May. I鈥檓 curious鈥攈ow does the energy of a big outdoor festival compare to playing smaller, more intimate shows? Does it change the way you approach the performance at all?

NF: The crowd can play a big role in my performance. The energy I receive from them can invigorate me and lead me to some wild places. We just played a big festival in Australia, and the crowds there were electric. That was part of the reason we played such great shows there. Conversely, if I start getting in my head that the crowd isn鈥檛 meeting my expectations somehow, that鈥檚 my cue to go back to the breath and connect with my body. I can鈥檛 control the environment. When I鈥檓 more present and engaged, the audience invariably responds positively, which encourages me to push even further.

YJ: Do you prefer one setting over the other鈥攂ig outdoor stages or smaller club gigs鈥攐r do they each have their kind of magic?

NF: All venues have pros and cons, but I try to let go and have a blast wherever I am performing.

YJ: Last one鈥攚hat鈥檚 lighting you up creatively these days? Anything new you鈥檙e excited about?

NF: I鈥檓 writing and drawing a lot, and I have lots of old demos that I want to finish up. I have been feeling a huge wave of creativity, and I鈥檓 excited to get back to recording and new video projects later this year. Our recent trip to Japan was very spiritual and filled my cup creatively. I鈥檓 excited to see how that manifests in future work as well.

This article was originally published on .

The post Musician Neal Francis Talks Sobriety, Meditation, and Creativity appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

In 1941, Swiss engineer George de Mestral was hunting in the Alps with his dog, when he noticed burrs stuck to his jacket, pants, hat, and his pup. Being the egghead that he was, de Mestral examined the burrs under a microscope. He discovered their 鈥渟tickiness鈥� was due to tiny hooks and loops. This discovery dominated the next decade of de Mestral’s life as he burrowed his intellect into recreating burrs鈥� 鈥済rab-ability鈥� with synthetic materials. And on one magical day, Presto Chango!, the world has Velcro.

This is probably the most famous example of 鈥渂iomimicry,鈥� the imitation of nature’s strategies to solve human design challenges. Now, a less well-known example but a much more intriguing one (sorry, de Mestral) is the life and music of 鈥淟and of 10,000 Lakes鈥� local Dave Simonett, founder and lead singer of Trampled By Turtles.

Simonett grew up in Mankato, Minnesota, about 80-miles southwest of the Twin Cities at the confluence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth rivers. Like the rest of the state, winters there are bitterly cold, summers are hot, muggy, and buggy. And as is ever the Minnesotan way, Simonett spent his youth loving that unloveable weather. No matter Mother Nature’s temperament, Simonett was in the woods. When he formed Trampled By Turtles in Duluth in 2003, Simonett’s lifelong connection to nature鈥攈iking, skiing, fishing鈥攃ombined in his music with other influences, like his love of the in-your-face tempo of punk and grunge bands and the songwriting of legendary fellow Minnesotan, Bob Dylan.

In the runup to the in Denver (where Trampled By Turtles will create a booty-shaking ruckus on June 1), I interviewed Simonett for an episode of the 国产吃瓜黑料 Podcast, which you can listen to here. Here are some excerpts from our conversation that highlight Simonett鈥檚 decades-long love affair with Minnesota and its lasting influence on his music.

A MINNESOTAN SURPRISE

国产吃瓜黑料: If somebody stopped you on the street and said, 鈥淗ey, who are you? What do you like to do?鈥� Would you say, outdoorsman? Would you say, conservationist? Would you say, hunter?

Simonett: Yeah, I’d probably start with those.

国产吃瓜黑料: Oh, before musician?

Simonett: Well, it depends on what point in life I guess I’d be asked. I think right now, at this point, even though music still takes up more of my time than anything else, my passions are split a little bit more equally nowadays. It’s more like a life’s work.

国产吃瓜黑料: You are an outdoorsy guy. You were a scout as a kid. You grew up in Minnesota, which though incredibly maligned like the rest of the Midwest, is double stuffed with frothing outdoor folks and adventures. What makes outdoor adventure in Minnesota unique and inspiring?

Simonett: Well, the natural beauty here is not as obvious. I like to say humble, but聽 it’s not of its own volition. It’s just the way the land is. We have our prairies and our hardwood forest in the southern part of the state, and then the northern parts are boreal and a lot of pine birch, kind of reminiscent of maybe what people would think of as Maine. What people think of here is lakes. And that’s something we have a lot of.聽 The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is probably our crown jewel of a landscape that’s still left to be a wild place. It’s pretty far out and I’d put a sunrise there up against any sunrise anywhere.

DEAR BOUNDARY WATERS, DAVE LOVES YOU

国产吃瓜黑料: For folks who have not been exposed to the beauty of the Boundary Waters, give me your 30-second elevator pitch on it to those who might be like, 鈥淎hhhh, Minnesota, c’mon!鈥�

Simonett: Right? It sounds buggy.

国产吃瓜黑料: Well, the mosquito is the state bird of Minnesota.

Simonett: And you won’t find any more of them than in the Boundary Waters if you go at a certain time of year, ha! But the Boundary Waters is a little over a million acres of woods and mainly lakes, thousands of lakes interconnected by portages. It’s part of the Superior National Forest and it’s named the Boundary Waters because it’s on the boundary of Minnesota and Canada. When you get a couple lakes into that wilderness, you might as well be in 1849 or something. It gets pretty far out and you can go deep as you want.

When I was young, a little bit of an initiation in that place was to paddle out to the middle of a lake, dip your cup in the lake, and drink the cup of water. That鈥檚 just as an example of what a bastion of clean water it is. And so I do a lot of work now on that place. If I’m gonna spend my time involved in something, this is where I get the most meaning in these places. I’m gonna work on protecting that.

THE JOY OF COLDER THAN HELL WINTERS

Simonett: I like winter. Half the stuff I like to do outside is when it’s snowing.

国产吃瓜黑料: I love winter too. But winter in Minnesota is a different animal altogether.

Simonett: It’s a good time to write songs, ha!

国产吃瓜黑料: Exactly. You’ve said that Northern Minnesota winters have inspired your music. And I think, in regard to the Midwest鈥檚 unfair poo-pooed-ness, the bitter cold winters have a lot to do with that. What do you think is the most unappreciated part of Minnesota winters?

Simonett: It gets dark at 4:30 here and I crave my little writing studio and a guitar. And that’s when my psyche wants to do it the most. And I try to honor that. There’s lots I want to do outside in the winter too, but it’s kind of a time where you can give yourself the leniency to look inside and try to make something. That’s what I’ve always used that time for. And that is the thing I look forward to, writing

国产吃瓜黑料: Do you think that because of that, you are writing slower laments or are you writing dancier, more uptempo tunes?

Simonett: Like trying to overcorrect?

国产吃瓜黑料: Yeah.

Simonett: It’s hard to say, but I think that kind of stuff is more phase of life for me or reactions to creative whims. I think the weather in the wintertime will give me a space to do it. But I don’t know if that’s like, 鈥淥h, I’m gonna write sad songs ’cause it’s cold outside.鈥� That being said, look at reggae music and where that comes from. That’s a lot of happy stuff. Maybe I’m completely wrong about that. Hahaha!

DIRT-FOOTED HOOTENANNY VS. MELLOW INSTRUMENTAL

国产吃瓜黑料: I know that you don’t like labeling your music or boxing it into a specific genre, but I will say, Roots music, Bluegrass, Americana, Trampled By Turtles could fall under these if someone were to box you guys in. Ha!

Simonett: Haha! Yeah, if you wanted to limit us. Ha!

国产吃瓜黑料: Those genres very often present a frenetic dancey pace. They create a dirt-footed hootenanny. For instance, 鈥淲ait So Long鈥� and 鈥淐odeine.鈥� Those tunes of yours are incredibly aggressive. Where does that edge come from and does your time outside inspire it? Ease it? Do both?

Simonett: Both those songs are like 15 years old. When I was younger, I had a lot of punk rock left over. When I was a teenager, that’s what I was into. And I was a young man then. I had a lot of energy.

国产吃瓜黑料: Oh, so it was like angry young man music?

Simonett: Yeah, and you feel things real big and loud. I did anyway. It’s been a while since I’ve written a song like that. To be honest with you, I’m really trying, especially in music, but generally in life, as a husband, as a father, to grow older gracefully.

国产吃瓜黑料: Does that mean softer?

Simonett: I think it just means being true to where you are at the time. If I were to try to write a song like 鈥淐odeine鈥� now, I would be lying. It would be me trying to reach for something that’s not there.

国产吃瓜黑料: On the other end of the tempo spectrum is a song like 鈥淟utsen.鈥� That’s nearly a10-minute beautiful, mellow instrumental. So where does that energy come from?

Simonett: That’s easier for me to point at. Lutsen is a little ski town in northern Minnesota on Lake Superior.

国产吃瓜黑料: Love Lutsen. It鈥檚 the first place I skied in Minnesota where I didn鈥檛 hear my turn. I love Lutsen.

Dave: Ha, yeah!. It鈥檚 as close as we get to real mountain skiing in the Midwest. I’d been spending a lot of time up there. It’s incredibly beautiful. I was doing some skiing, but also just hanging in the area by Lake Superior. It’s kind of our version of an ocean up there, with the same kind of gravitational pull on the people around it. It’s cold,聽 it’s harsh. You go down to the lake and it’s like a nightmare sometimes. Like if you could turn a nightmare into water. So many ships have sunk in that nasty body of water. It reminds you real fast about where you are in the pecking order of things. And at the same time, you might wake up the next morning and it’s glass, and the sun’s coming up, it’s beautiful. That 鈥淟utsen鈥� song was that. That’s what I was trying to capture, comprehending where I was.

MY VELCRO IS YOUR VELCRO

国产吃瓜黑料: In regard to your time outside, your conservation efforts, and your love of Minnesota, if you were to take one of those things away, could you still write and perform the way that you do?

Dave: It sounds kind of self-important or something, but to me those are just little different parts of who I am. We’re all a product of space and time, right? I’m a product of where I live, what’s going on with me at this moment. And so you’d have to put me in somewhere real hard to escape for me not to find my space outdoors. I mean, I sometimes use touring to find new places to hunt and fish, which has been great. Last year and last summer, we went out to Montana. And both of those times I ended up on some really great fly fishing days with some buddies out there. When I’m home, I wouldn’t pop out to Montana and go fly fishing.

国产吃瓜黑料: The greatest work boondoggle of all time, ha! The music is whatever, but really what I’m trying to do is land a giant rainbow.

Dave: Haha! Yeah! I think for me, I really just hope an audience feels like we did the best we could. I hope they thought that their time was well spent.

I can write a hundred songs in this room and never play ’em for anybody. They’d still be songs and they’d still be mine. But there’s an interesting relationship that happens when you open that up to the world and I try to remain mystified by that. It’s scary and beautiful. I do enjoy that part of it. I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 like a 鈥渋f a tree falls in the forest鈥澛� kind of a thing, where it鈥檚, 鈥淐an a song exist if nobody hears it?鈥� I don’t know.

国产吃瓜黑料: I feel like there needs to be a bumper sticker that reads, 鈥淧eak Minnesota: Juicy Lucy, Tater Tot Hotdish, Trampled By Turtles,鈥� not necessarily in that order.

Dave: It’s a lot of responsibility, but we’ll take it.

You could win a trip to the 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival and meet Trampled By Turtles backstage!

Donate to Save the Boundary Waters at and you鈥檒l be entered to win round-trip travel, 3-night hotel stay, VIP passes to 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival, a signed Deering banjo, and even a Colorado adventure picked by the band. Enjoy VIP perks like private lounges, bars, and shaded seating while catching sets from Trampled By Turtles, Lord Huron, Khruangbin, and more.

NO PURCHASE OR DONATION IS NECESSARY TO ENTER TO WIN. A PURCHASE OR DONATION WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.聽TO ENTER WITHOUT DONATING CLICK聽.

See the聽听补苍诲听聽for more details.

The post Trampled by Turtles鈥� Songs Were Born in the Wilds of Minnesota appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

When I was younger I had a high-adrenaline running playlist that I carefully curated: Arctic Monkeys, Jay-Z, Rage Against the Machine. It got my heart rate up, the same way drinking a lot of coffee made me more productive. As podcasts became a thing鈥攁nd I decided a more moderate heart rate has its upsides鈥擨 seized the chance to explore ideas while trying to hit my weekly mile goals. What remained constant was my appreciation for the evolution of earbuds, from wired to wireless, from basic to loaded, with features like active noise cancellation, and always toward better and better sound. So it is a delight to be able to test and select the best-performing sport earbuds on the market.

Update March 2025: We’ve tested and selected new sport earbud models in six categories, including a new best overall pick of the Bose QuietComfort.

The Hottest Trend in Sport Earbuds

This year鈥檚 hottest trend is open earbuds, which allow you to hear far more of what鈥檚 going on around you, and I can鈥檛 say I鈥檝e been sold on them. There鈥檚 no doubt that they make a lot of sense for people who run along the roadside or, even more so, cyclists who go anywhere near cars鈥攇enerally a very bad time to be canceling the noise around you. Open earbuds work in one of two ways: either with the transmitter positioned near your ear canal but not in it (see the VERIO 200 in our reviews below) or through bone conduction (found in the H2O Audio TRI 2 Pro below), which bypasses your eardrum, sending sound directly to your inner ear by way of your skull bones.

Since I live in the desert and rarely pass another living soul on the trails, I don鈥檛 need to hear what鈥檚 going on around me, and open earbuds will always be challenged to sound as good, or as loud, when they鈥檙e handicapped by having to reach your hearing by alternative methods. So for music, they鈥檙e not my favorite; for the spoken word, I鈥檓 learning to like them.

During this year鈥檚 tests, one of my fellow reviewers said he appreciated that the open design allowed him to hear not just passing cars but songbirds. Which sent me into a brief panic: Am I missing all the birdsongs? Sadly, there aren鈥檛 a lot of birds on my trail, but next summer when I鈥檓 hiking up at 10,000 feet and the dark-eyed juncos are chirping in the high branches, I鈥檒l put that theory to the test.

In the meantime, many closed-ear models these days (see Bose and Bowers & Wilkins below) let you employ a transparency (or awareness) mode that enhances ambient sound. This can be a nice in-between solution if your need for awareness isn鈥檛 so much life-and-death as it is a courtesy to the runner or biker 鈥渙n your left.鈥�

As our tests demonstrated, there鈥檚 a wide array of applications for those little pieces of tech we鈥檙e so fond of popping into our ears. We tried out a variety of models designed to optimize listening for every type of activity. Here are the seven we liked best in a range of scenarios: indoors or out, on land or in the water, on city sidewalks or remote trails where you can block out the noise and be in your own sound tunnel鈥攁s long as your remote trail doesn鈥檛 pass through bear country.

At a Glance

• Best All-Around:
• Best High-Fidelity:
• Best for Runners:
• Best Open-Ear:
• Killer Value:
• Best for Water:
• Most Innovative:
• How to Choose Earbuds
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Tester

Best All-Around

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

Pros and Cons
鈯� That reliable Bose sound
鈯� Excellent noise cancellation
鈯� Case feels a bit cheap

The most surprising thing about the new iteration of the QuietComfort Earbuds is the price, which has dropped from $280 in the first generation to $180. Bose also offers a premium model called the QuietComfort Ultra, which goes for $300. Surely the new economy model is lacking something those other versions had? Not a whole lot, as far as we could tell.

The new model is anchored on what Bose is best known for: smooth, warm sound that鈥檚 well balanced, with no overblown bass-iness and nothing too tinny on the high end. The QC II also comes with active noise cancellation that performed well, for example, when running on a windy day. With various sizes of fins that help you find a secure fit, they proved above average as workout earbuds, although parkour practitioners will probably experience slippage. The charging case has a slightly cheap plastic feel but is perfectly adequate.

The QC IIs come with their own app, which testers found easy to use; one 鈥済reatly appreciated being able to modify the touch controls, which I tend to dislike in earbuds, via the app.鈥� If you鈥檙e one of those people, you鈥檒l like the options for voice control, which let you pause, answer calls, and even take a selfie just by saying so. The battery life is very good, at 8.5 hours on medium volume with ANC turned on, and the charging case supplies 2.5 extra charges. With IPX4 water resistance, they repel splashing water but won鈥檛 be happy if submerged. And Bluetooth Multipoint means you can connect a phone and a laptop at the same time, without needing to fuss with Bluetooth settings every time you make the transition.

There鈥檚 nothing unexpected here鈥攁side from the low price鈥攁nd that鈥檚 a good thing. The QuietComfort II performed like a champ and had a just-right feel, and it鈥檚 always nice to pick up some excellent Bose tech and still afford to take your partner to dinner on Friday.

Best for Audiophiles

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds

Pros and Cons
鈯� Pristine sound quality
鈯� Non-frustrating touch controls
鈯� Not cheap

鈥淭he most audiophile worthy of all the earbuds I鈥檝e tested,鈥� one of our veteran reviewers gushed after a month with the Pi8s. Through hours of listening sessions on planes, on trails, on couches, and on city sidewalks, this was the pair that invariably impressed everyone on our test team, with their 鈥渋ncredibly balanced and musical鈥� sound quality.

The $400 price鈥�$150 above Apple鈥檚 ubiquitous AirPod Pros and $100 north of the Bose QuietComfort Ultras鈥攎eans you have to be serious about your music, and about taking good care of them. They鈥檙e IP54-rated, able to handle sweat and a misty rain, but are not the pair you want to bring to the gym each day. While the four sizes of ear tips help them sit pretty securely and comfortably, they will fall out on occasion. All the same, we won鈥檛 discourage you from ever bringing them on a run on a sunny day, where their high-fidelity clarity is sure to put a little more oomph in your step.

The active noise cancellation on the Pi8s is excellent, similar to that on the Bose QCII, with touch controls for toggling between on, off, and transparency mode. The touch controls work better than in most earbuds we鈥檝e seen, with a satisfying light noise that鈥檚 akin to a mouse click. We also love the pearlescent finish on the outer surface of the Pi8s, which come in four colors. A robust companion app lets you turn off the touch controls and has a five-band equalizer so you can tweak the sound profile to your liking. Battery life here is an average 6.5 hours, and the charging case holds two additional charges (13.5 hours).

Another nice feature is something called retransmission. This allows you to use the included USB-C-to-3.5mm cord to plug the unit鈥檚 charging case into an external device like an in-flight entertainment system and the case will send the signal into the buds, so you鈥檙e not stuck listening on that plastic-wrapped pair the flight attendants hand out with the peanuts.

One reviewer reported, 鈥淚 listened to an album with two double basses鈥斺�淏ut Who鈥檚 Gonna Play the Melody?鈥� by Christian McBride and Edgar Meyer鈥攁nd I could hear their fingers and the pull of the bow on the strings in ways I hadn鈥檛 before.鈥� That鈥檚 a good example of what makes these shine like few have before them.

Best for Runners

SoundPeats Q35 HD+ Neckband Headphones

Pros and Cons
鈯� Impossible to lose
鈯� Lightweight
鈯� Struggles with heavy bass
鈯� Cord can annoy some

If impressive sound coupled with a secure fit is what you鈥檙e after, this is the model for you. The Q35 HD+s are held firmly in place by semi-rigid fins that position them snugly鈥攕omething we鈥檙e surprised more earbuds don鈥檛 come with鈥攚hile a barely there cord wraps behind your neck. If you drop and do push-ups and gravity pops the buds out, the cord makes it impossible for one to roll away into the shrubbery to be lost forever. It鈥檚 a satisfying package: light but with a sturdy build, and easy to spool into your pocket when you stop for coffee.

It鈥檚 a form factor that鈥檚 been around for years and, as one tester who runs routinely notes, has been perennially dependable. What we didn鈥檛 expect, for the bargain price, is something that sounds this good. The sound is not as detailed or as robust in the low end as the Bose or B&W models, but you鈥檙e certainly getting more than you paid for. For a heart-pumping track like the Who鈥檚 鈥淏aba O鈥橰iley,鈥� they sound good enough for hours on the trail.

And time on the trail is another thing they鈥檝e got covered: The company rates them at 17 hours on a charge, after which they get plugged back in鈥攏o backup power in the carrying case, which is flimsy but does fine at protecting the device and keeping the cord from tangling with the other stuff in your backpack.

IPX5 water resistance means they鈥檒l have no problem with a light rain and should not be impacted by moisture on a long, sweaty day on the trail. And the mic built into the inline control module means the Q35 HD+ handles phone calls well鈥攚ith the proximity to your mouth arguably capturing your voice better than the mic on a wireless earbud can. It鈥檚 an impressive piece of gear that could have just as easily slotted into our Killer Value category.

Best Open Ear

Beyerdynamic VERIO 200

Pros and Cons
鈯� Best-sounding open-ear model
鈯� No discomfort inside your ears
鈯� Ear hooks can be uncomfortable

Cycling on a city street while dialing in to the all-hands meeting? Hiking with a buddy and wanting to switch between conversation and catching up on your podcasts? Knocking out two chapters of Moby-Dick on Audible on your daily run? All these use cases have their perfect companion in the VERIO 200.

And this is leaving out music, which historically (in our test team鈥檚 estimation) has sounded too weak and tinny in the open-ear design but now, at last, is starting to approach the real thing. Rock 鈥檔鈥� roll will probably never shine with this form factor, but it鈥檚 never come closer than this. Thanks to the wizards at Beyerdynamic, classical and jazz came through with a clarity that one tester called 鈥渂etter sounding and generally more sophisticated than previous attempts at open ear.鈥�

The VERIO 200s play for eight hours on a charge and have a well-designed case that provides 27 more hours. (Some found the case a little large, but others appreciated that the earpieces slide in so seamlessly, without the multiple repositioning attempts required with some brands that use a smaller case.) The dual mics make them very effective for calls, and an IP54 rating makes them suitable for runs and walks in a light rain鈥攐r for a sweaty CrossFit workout, where they鈥檇 do a good job of staying in place thanks to an effective wraparound design. (Some reviewers, however, found them uncomfortable after an hour or so.)

Of course, safety is the main motivator for going to an open-ear design, and even at full volume the VERIO allowed the sound of fellow bikers and pedestrians to be heard. Returning home, we loved being able to leave them on for hours more, listening to the news or a ballgame while being able to chat with family, with no pausing or bud removal required.

Killer Value

Mixx StreamBuds Custom 1

Pros and Cons
鈯� Compact
鈯� Surprisingly loud and clear
鈯� Small size means easy to lose
鈯� No IP rating

The Custom 1, from UK-based Mixx, delivers a really impressive sound at a great price. Out of the box, the first thing that charmed us was the size of the case, small enough to close your hand around. The earbuds themselves are small too鈥攁 fact that made them coveted by my wife, who can鈥檛 deal with anything too bulky sitting in her ears.

That tiny case is also tough, made of zinc alloy that looks sleek and can handle being dropped, stepped on (we tried it out), and generally tormented. Said case charges the Custom 1s for six hours of playtime and carries three extra six-hour charges: pretty impressive for such a wee thing.

But it鈥檚 the Custom 1鈥檚 well-detailed acoustic quality that won us over: 鈥淢usic sounded warm, with good lows, though sometimes a bit muffled,鈥� said one tester. Others also echoed the word 鈥渨arm鈥濃�攖hey seem to offer a certain rich quality that makes orchestral music shine through.

The Custom 1s sounded great on runs but are definitely not the most secure, and at their size, you鈥檒l be nervous about losing them. 鈥淚 preferred them for walking rather than more active running or hiking,鈥� one tester remarked. Nor do they come with any IP rating for water or dust resistance; this doesn鈥檛 mean they can鈥檛 handle moisture, but apparently the company didn鈥檛 do that testing. If you鈥檙e a fan of compactness, if you have smaller ears, or if you simply like discovering hidden gems at a bargain price, however, this is one to add to the mix.

Best for Water

H2O Audio TRI 2 Pro

Pros and Cons
鈯� Totally waterproof
鈯� Onboard memory
鈯� Song transfer is slow
鈯� Can cause tickling

Have you harbored dreams of funneling techno into your auditory nerve while windsurfing on San Francisco Bay, then voice-commanding to switch over to an incoming business call? One member of our review crew put three models of waterproof earbuds through this very test and, while the process stands to be improved through future innovations, it worked fairly well, with the TRI 2 Pro coming out on top.

H2O Audio has been selling good products for swimmers and the like for years鈥攊t takes a special approach, not least because they need to be IPX8, able to go 12 feet underwater for as long as you want them to鈥攍ike this model can. And, of course, a Bluetooth signal won鈥檛 travel under the waves with you, so tracks need to be stored locally, either on a waterproof MP3 player or an even better solution, like this unit鈥檚 8GB of onboard memory that can store 130 hours of tracks. (It can move your own mp3 files over or 鈥渞ecord鈥� music from a streaming service like Spotify, though this is a slow process.)

The TRI 2 Pros employ bone conduction technology, which makes them great for podcasts while out on a run or bike ride, but a little less ideal when trying to rock out in said open-air activities: Then they can start to tickle. Still, H2O Audio and other companies are making these units sound better every year. And it鈥檚 underwater that they really shine: When you use the included earplugs to neutralize the water noise in your ears, it鈥檚 surprising how smooth music sounds, and at much more moderate volumes. They鈥檙e a minor godsend for lap swimmers, snorkelers, and triathletes (presumably the core audience for the Tri line) who like to enhance their life aquatic by playing their favorite symphony or devouring an audiobook. The headset will play for up to nine hours in Bluetooth mode and six hours in memory mode and comes with a zip case (which is rather bulky) that provides two and a half refills.

Back to our windsurfer: The TRI 2 Pro worked under a helmet (and this success was replicated on the ski slopes), which also secured them in the event of a fall. Playing tunes when the wind was low was enjoyable, but in high wind it was a challenge: 鈥淚 could hear the music, but the output of the headphones had to compete with the roar of wind in my ear canals. It鈥檚 simply a matter of physics.鈥� This also meant the tester鈥檚 hopes of 鈥渢urning sales meetings into sails meetings鈥� by joining conference calls were largely dashed. Listening worked fine, but the microphone couldn鈥檛 pick up his voice from deep inside his helmet. Maybe one day.

Most Innovative

Denon PerL True Wireless Earbuds

Pros and Cons
鈯� Rich, dynamic sound
鈯� Impressive app
鈯� Customizable sound profile
鈯� Chunky size

鈥淓ach product is hand-tuned by our sound master,鈥� Denon says of the PerLs, and while we don鈥檛 know exactly what that means, it speaks to the Japanese DNA in these premium-sounding buds. Take the accompanying software, for instance: The first thing you do with these wireless buds is download an app that streams a series of sounds and frequencies into your ears to measure how you hear, then creates a personalized profile that transforms how good music sounds. It鈥檚 one of the best uses of a headphone app we鈥檝e seen.

The PerLs came across as lively but not piercing on the high end, with realism and verve. There鈥檚 even a high-gain option on the app that boosts volume for quiet recordings, which one tester called 鈥渁 welcome feature that I would love to see in a lot of sometimes anemic Bluetooth earbuds.鈥� These capabilities are made possible by a series of ultra-sensitive microphones, which probably explains their rather enormous size鈥攐ne reviewer called them 鈥渟harp-edged Alka-Seltzer tablet earbud bodies鈥� and noted, 鈥淚 had to remove the supplied fin attachment before these felt okay.鈥�

Others liked the fit and found them great for running, where they kept the adrenaline flowing with some of the best full-on rocking-out sound in the test. 鈥淪t. Vincent and Spoon sounded like I was listening to vinyl,鈥� one tester said. The active noise cancellation is decent, the six hours of battery is average (with two more charges from the case), and an IPX4 rating means they can handle a light rain. Given the quality and attention to detail, we consider these a true bargain at $139 or less.

How to Choose Earbuds

Earbuds are more like shoes than most other gear categories: so much depends on the right fit. What comfortably fits one person鈥檚 ears may not suit another鈥檚, and there鈥檚 more to it than size. The internal anatomy of the ear makes certain designs actually sound better to one person than the next. If you can鈥檛 try them out at a store or borrow them from a friend, it may be best to buy them from a retailer with a good return policy. Once you have them in hand, do some real-world tests with the different tip sizes, and trade them in if you aren鈥檛 in love.

If you want to get serious about the perfect fit, consider aftermarket foam eartips, like . In addition to helping with a more secure fit, they provide passive noise isolation, which can improve the experience with both ANC-equipped and ANC-less earbuds. Should fit issues persist, consider a model with behind-the-ear hooks like the .

Also give some thought to which features do it for you: Some people like sleek touch controls, others prefer old-school push buttons; some like to tap for quick pausing, others would rather forgo that feature and pull out one bud to ask for directions, so as to avoid the annoyance of unwanted pauses every time your fingers go near them. And if you live in a rainy climate, be sure to choose ones with an ending in 4 or higher (as all the models here do).

Finally, be aware that there are more specialized designs emerging and getting better each year鈥搇ike these earbuds for , others for , and for those who want to stay more tuned in to their surroundings.

How We Test Sport Earbuds

• Hours of Testing: 246
• Test Environments: Running, hiking, dog walking, cycling, windsurfing, skiing, rock climbing, yardwork, car camping, conference calls, video streaming, noisy coffee shops
• Highest Elevation: 10,152 feet, Leadville, Colorado
• Lowest Elevation: 5 feet underwater in Lake Pleasant, Arizona
• Most Listened-To Tracks: Childish Gambino: 鈥淟ithonia,鈥� The Cure: 鈥淎lone,鈥� Drugdealer and Kim Bollinger: 鈥淧ictures of You,鈥� Fontaines D.C.: 鈥淔avourite,鈥� J Dilla: 鈥淲orkinonit,鈥� Kenya Grace: 鈥淪trangers,鈥� Magdalena Bay: 鈥淚mage,鈥� Slowthai ft. James Blake and Mount Kimbie: 鈥淔eel Away,鈥� Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross: 鈥淐hallengers鈥�

The first thing we do with any earbuds, headphones, or speakers is attempt to pair them with our phones without consulting the user manual: the quicker, more intuitive, and easier the Bluetooth setup, the more points scored. Then we put them through rigorous hours of testing doing the kinds of things 国产吃瓜黑料 readers do鈥攆rom dog walks to HIIT workouts, from fireside listening to our day jobs, which for one of us is at the local woodworking shop. Our testers, who range in location from Alaska to Berkeley to Santa Fe to New York City, spent hours in them, bouncing up and down on trails, treadmills, and trains.

Our team turns in reports on each product tested, providing a score from 1 to 10 for five different measures: sound quality, pairing and connectivity, fit and comfort, rain and drop protection, and user friendliness. Scores are averaged, with more weight given to sound quality and (knowing our audience) how well they stand up to the elements. Note: Battery life estimates in these reviews are based on manufacturer specs; it鈥檚 difficult to confirm those numbers, given the time involved and variances among user habits (different volumes, different uses, different functions enabled). Actual results may be 10 to 20 percent lower, judging from averages experienced in general testing.

Meet Our Lead Tester

Will Palmer has been testing gear for 21 years for 国产吃瓜黑料, where he was managing editor and copy chief for nine years. Based in Santa Fe, he has been a runner since 1984, and while the mile counts have decreased over the years, he鈥檚 kept motivated to head out the door on the hottest, coldest, and wettest days by the opportunity to test the best new products鈥攁nd to commune with the junipers and pi帽ons.

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Some of the biggest names in the outdoor industry will convene in Denver for the 2025 国产吃瓜黑料 Summit, a multi-day networking and thought leadership event that begins in late May and rolls into the , a massive celebration of outdoor culture and community.

Featured speakers at the Summit include a diverse range of celebrated pioneers and rising stars. Among them are Co-Founder of and CEO of Reed Hastings, Global Brand President ofCaroline Brown, National Geographic and TV Host Albert Lin, Founder of Alyssa Ravasio, President and CEO of Carrie Besnette Hauser, President of the Kent Ebersole, Multidisciplinary Designer , Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, and Founder of Joey Montoya. The full lineup, which will continue to expand in the coming weeks, can be explored at .

The Summit brings together key stakeholders, career veterans, and emerging talents to set a vision for the future of the industry. Programming begins on Thursday, May 29, with a job fair hosted in partnership with , along with networking opportunities, then continues on Friday with a full day of talks, panels, and workshops, followed by evening festivities.

Over the weekend, Summit badge holders will have ticket holder access to the 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival presented by and , which takes place in Denver鈥檚 Civic Center Park and features musical performances by and among other major national acts, an adventure film series co-curated by Mountainfilm, conversations with iconic athletes, and an eclectic mix of outdoor experiences. Summit badge holders will also be invited to join exclusive Saturday and Sunday activities and gatherings, and gain entry to an 国产吃瓜黑料 Summit lounge on the Festival grounds.

Last year鈥檚 国产吃瓜黑料 Summit saw 35 speakers, 27 panel discussions, and a sold-out gathering of more than 500 attendees. In 2025, the program will expand to a dedicated campus adjacent to Civic Center Park, with sessions taking place at the Denver Art Museum and newly renovated spaces within the Denver Public Library. The program will focus on entrepreneurship, storytelling, access, and sustainability, and will include a pitch competition for industry startups.

鈥淭he Summit is an embodiment of our mission at 国产吃瓜黑料 and serves the larger vision behind the 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival,鈥� said Robin Thurston, founder & CEO of 国产吃瓜黑料 Interactive Inc., who will also be speaking at the Summit. 鈥淟ast year鈥檚 inaugural Summit brought together changemakers from across the outdoor industry to spark important conversations about the future of our businesses. Our 2025 speaker lineup will continue building on last year’s success with an inspiring group of individuals who will empower more people to enjoy, discover, and protect the outdoors. I’m eager to hear their valuable insights.鈥�

The complete schedule will be released early in the spring. Industry professionals interested in attending are encouraged to secure their spot today. A limited number of for students, those who work in education and government, nonprofits, and smaller brands or startups. 国产吃瓜黑料+ members receive a special discount on Summit badges, and group discounts are also available.

The post Major Figures in the Outdoor Industry to Headline the 2025 国产吃瓜黑料 Summit appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Yoga classes these days are as diverse as the personalities drawn to them. And in recent years, one of the most polarizing topics among teachers and students everywhere is the use of music in yoga. Should classes boast banging soundtracks or should the room be as silent as a temple?

Spoiler: There is no universally right answer. Whether you鈥檙e a teacher or a practitioner, you need to search for your 鈥渨hy.鈥� Once you understand that, you can more easily unpack the pros and cons of music in yoga class by balancing collective experience with personal growth.

Should There be Music or No Music in Yoga Class?

Ultimately, whether you practice to silence or let beats set the tone, you want to approach your decision with purpose and recognize both the magic and the challenges that each approach brings.

Yes to Music in Yoga: It Sets the Tone and Energy

There鈥檚 no doubt that a well-curated playlist can transform the energy in a room. Music creates a vibe, infusing the space with emotion and guiding practitioners into a shared rhythm. Moving together in sync with music can feel like a collective heartbeat, a unifying pulse that connects everyone in the room and creates an atmosphere where bodies and minds align almost effortlessly.

In dynamic classes, such as vinyasa flow or power yoga, music can fuel the intensity. That uptempo track might encourage students to find strength in their poses or push through challenging sequences.

On the other end of the scale, in more gentle or peace-and-love style classes, music can also unify the participants under the umbrella of a particular emotional state.

Music doesn鈥檛 just fill silence鈥攊t sets the mood.

No to Music in Yoga: Distractions Disrupt Self-Inquiry

Similar to how music can manipulate the vibe, it can just as easily pull our focus elsewhere. Yoga is ultimately a practice of self-inquiry. It encourages practitioners to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment or commentary. It鈥檚 a place where, to quote Mary Oliver, 鈥渢o pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.鈥� For some, music becomes yet another external stimulus鈥攁 distraction that makes it more difficult to tune inward.

Think about meditation. Most practitioners wouldn鈥檛 pop on the radio or TV while sitting in stillness, although it would undoubtedly make the practice easier and more pleasurable. Instead, we seek out a space with as few distractions for the mind and senses as possible.

Asana, or the physical practice of yoga, is an opportunity for mindful observation. Silence can amplify that experience. When you strip away external noise, students might find themselves more attuned to the breath, the physical sensations, and the subtle workings of the mind.

Yes to Music in Yoga: Anchors the Mind

On the flip side, music can serve as a powerful tool for grounding. As we all know, the mind loves to wander, especially in moments of stillness and quiet. For some, silence can feel deafening with its infinite space for spiraling thoughts and emotional discomfort.

In these instances, music can act as a life jacket by helping wandering minds remain relatively present without getting pulled away by the undercurrent. A steady beat, gentle melody, or familiar lyrics can become an anchor鈥攁 point of focus that helps practitioners stay engaged with their movement and resistant to ruminations. This is especially true for beginners to yoga. Familiar music can ease the transition into a practice that might otherwise feel intimidating or overwhelming.

No to Music in Yoga: Emotional Interference

The very same qualities that make music so powerful in everyday life can make it challenging in a yoga class. Music evokes memories, emotions, and associations that can send you tumbling into an entirely different time and headspace. Have you ever been flowing through a vinyasa class when the playlist includes a song that unexpectedly dragged you back in time to the first dance at your wedding, a brutal breakup, memories of your late parent, or a hilarious instagram reel?

Yoga asks us to be present鈥攖o let go of distractions and cultivate awareness. Silence, while stark, offers a clean slate for the mind. Without the influence of music chosen by a teacher,聽 students may find it easier to access a state of calm observation, free from emotional interference.

(Teachers, come clean: Have you ever tried to influence someone鈥檚 emotions with music? A little tear-inducing in Savasana, perhaps?)

Yes to Music in Yoga: Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere

For many, silence can feel intimidating and unfamiliar, especially in a group setting. A quiet studio might come across as uninviting, particularly for newer students. Music, even just a gentle piano soundscape, softens the edges and creates warmth and approachability.

Music also acts as a buffer against noises from the outside world; emergency vehicle sirens, local bars, the gym floor music or the very audibly enthusiastic front desk team. In doing so, music creates a cocoon of sound and an escape from life off the mat鈥攁 safe container where students can focus on their practice without interruption.

No to Music in Yoga: A Place of Fun or Learning?

Sure, adding music to class can make the whole experience more fun, but is fun what we are seeking? Life offers us countless opportunities for entertainment, but few places where we can experience a聽 deeply introspective journey鈥攁 sacred space to sit with our thoughts, face discomfort, and invite growth.

The spiritual and philosophical roots of yoga emphasise stillness, awareness, and connection with the self. In asana, we鈥檙e using our physical bodies as a vehicle of self-inquiry to then ultimately transcend the physical.

By removing external distractions, we can fully embrace the discomfort and transformation that come with facing ourselves on the mat. Self-development and challenge go hand in hand.

The Answer? It Depends.

There is no universal 鈥渞ight鈥� or 鈥渨rong鈥� when it comes to the music question in yoga. The answer is unique and personal to each of us. And that comes back to your intention. You want to make certain you鈥檙e asking yourself questions and not just doing what everyone around you is doing.

For teachers, this means considering the kind of experience you want to offer students. Are you cultivating a lighthearted, playful vibe where music can uplift and energize? Or are you prioritizing introspection and needing silence to encourage enhanced self-awareness?

Let yourself be liberated by the fact that you don鈥檛 have to be everything to everyone, but also be aware that one decision may be more commercially successful than the other, meaning you鈥檙e probably going to draw more students if you bring the tunes. But if you base your decisions solely on chasing money or fame, you鈥檒l lose your integrity.

For practitioners, it鈥檚 about noticing what resonates with you. Do you feel more grounded with music as your anchor or does silence provide the clarity you need? Are you choosing one simply because it鈥檚 the route of least resistance? Even if so, that could be perfectly fine if simply showing up to your yoga mat requires lots of will power.

In case you鈥檙e curious, I prefer to soften the edges of an intimidatingly quiet space to make it welcoming for as many people as possible. I rely on chilled-out, low-volume piano melodies with songs almost blending into the next when I teach public classes. But I don鈥檛 want music to interfere with the practice. No one would recognize these tunes. When I lead a teacher training, I typically teach in silence.

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The 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival is back.

A year after the inaugural gathering brought some 18,000 people together for a rousing weekend of music and joy in the outdoors, the with presenting sponsors and will return to downtown Denver鈥檚 Civic Center Park, May 31-June 1, 2025. The just-announced lineup of musical headliners includes , , , , , , , and .

The two-day event will also feature conversations with iconic athletes, renowned storytellers, and inspiring changemakers, plus an adventure films series and a diverse mix of outdoor experiences.

The 国产吃瓜黑料 Summit, a precursor to the Festival and the outdoor industry鈥檚 premier networking event, which was attended by over 500 influential leaders in its first year, will return on Thursday, May 29. The Summit includes a full day of programming on Friday, May 30, plus exclusive gatherings during the Festival weekend.

The 2024 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival and Summit was hailed as that created a new model for a national outdoor community gathering. Building off that momentum, organizers have expanded the Festival grounds to include Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park in order to accommodate an anticipated 25,000-plus attendees. Activities include climbing experiences, yoga classes, skills workshops, gear demos, a kids鈥� zone, exciting food options, and a variety of immersive brand engagements. Films and talks will take place at spaces inside the Denver Art Museum and the newly renovated Denver Public Library.

国产吃瓜黑料 Festival presenting sponsor Capital One is running an exclusive Capital One cardholder presale, giving eligible cardholders鈥攊ncluding 聽customers鈥�48-hour early access to tickets beginning Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. MT, and ending at 10 a.m. MT on Friday, Dec. 13, or until the last ticket is sold. Supplies are limited. Those trying to access the Capital One Cardholder Presale must use an eligible Capital One Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card to purchase presale tickets. Excludes Capital One issued private label cards. Tickets start at $99 for the full weekend.

Immediately following the Capital One cardholder presale, all tickets will be released to the general public at 10 a.m. MT on Friday, December 13. VIP packages will start at $150 for a single day and $275 for the full weekend, with access to a premium VIP viewing area, exclusive food vendors, private bar access, expedited entry, and more.

国产吃瓜黑料+ members have access to early-bird pricing throughout the entire sales window on single-day general admission tickets and all VIP ticket types, plus members have the opportunity to purchase GA+ tier tickets at general admission pricing. Two-day GA+ tickets start at $175 and include perks like express entry, private bathrooms, additional food and beverage options, and access to the 国产吃瓜黑料+ Lounge. Children ages 12 and under enter free.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the .

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December 8, 2024, marks the day that Taylor Swift ends her record-shattering Eras Tour. It lasted 22 months, spanned over five continents, and earned more money than any tour that had ever come before it, grossing more than $1 billion in its first year alone.

At 国产吃瓜黑料, we wanted to pay homage to Swift鈥檚 Eras achievements through the lens of distance traveled, which, we realized, must also be superlative. And to be clear, we aren鈥檛 referencing the controversies surrounding her . We wanted to know: How聽much ground did Swift鈥攈erself鈥攃over over the course of her 149 performances?

To get an answer, we devised a nifty method to calculate how many steps she might have taken at each of her shows. We reviewed three different concerts from the tour, one from its , , and . Within each of the selected concerts, we watched ten randomly chosen one-minute intervals, and counted聽the number of steps taken each minute. This allowed us to calculate her average steps per show and to create a rough total of steps across all her performances.

An average Eras Tour concert runs for about 3.5 hours, which is 210 minutes. We based our numbers on that average show length.

Taylor Swift鈥檚 Eras Tour by the Numbers

Here鈥檚 where we landed on Swift鈥檚 Eras Tour distance.

Miles Covered

Between dancing and walking across the stage, Swift took somewhere in the neighborhood of 657,090 steps throughout the duration聽of the Eras Tour. That鈥檚 the equivalent of 329 miles walked across the stage.

Races Completed

It also equates to roughly 12.5 regular-length marathons, 6.5 50-mile ultramarathons, and 3.3 100-mile .

Calories Burned

Using the average number of calories burned per mile walked (which is 100), Swift expended something like 32,900 calories鈥攋ust in steps. That number is to say nothing of the other dancing, squatting, gyrating, and guitar-holding she did onstage, which burned additional calories, too.

Distance Traveled

Let鈥檚 put her steps on a map. Looking at the globe, Swift walked a distance longer than the length of Scotland or the state of Massachusetts. She completed the extent of the John Muir Trail, plus an extra 100 miles.

And she did most of it in thigh-high-heeled boots.

Our guess is that Swift is probably more impressed with the fiscal records she shattered during Eras or the meaningful interactions she’s had with her legions of fans. But we鈥檙e not going to lie, 6.5 ultramarathons are pretty cool, too.

Ryleigh Nucilli is not a self-described Swiftie, but she’ll admit to listening to “The Man” on repeat. When she’s not calculating musical superstars’ step counts, she’s reading, writing, and consulting for digital brands.

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