I’m fairly soiled with a coronary heart utterly full of affection, a head full of latest data, and bountiful recollections because of this yr’s Fireplace In The Mountains. A pageant that has returned in 2025 and as soon as once more set itself other than some other expertise you’ll ever have.
I’d like to begin this evaluate with a disclaimer that Steel Injection is certainly a proud sponsor of this pageant, however for no financial worth. I merely believed within the trigger, message and impression of FITM since my first attendance in 2022, and I needed to get much more concerned in carrying their message to our viewers. Briefly, I’d wish to share this magical occasion with you and with the most effective intentions attainable.
In my finest effort to recap/evaluate what transpired on the fest this yr, I’ll break it down by the continuously most questions I have been requested regarding FITM. My hope is to restrict any issues or confusion, and allow you to in on this must-feel expertise for your self!
The Setting
In a manner, FITM jogged my memory of my Boy Scouts week-long summer time camp experiences. The pageant campgrounds are solely 5 minutes outdoors of a small city with loads of facilities and lodging, however the pageant website (Crimson Eagle Campground) is a picturesque and serene off the grid (and cell tower) setting I discovered myself not wanting or needing to depart for 3 entire days. It felt nice to “unplug” and remind ourselves what life is de facto about.
The pageant grounds are enormous with staging, distributors and facet program areas constructed into pure clearings and environment that actually improve the pageant expertise. Strolling to the lake entrance from the stage bowl space the primary time is one thing you received’t neglect, it’s a shocking view that retains getting with every step nearer.
Taking a day by day dip within the frigid glacier lake, is just not solely the supply of bathing, however probably the most refreshing approach to break up the solar beamed afternoons. I can’t say sufficient nice issues in regards to the pure magnificence you’ll discover everywhere in the pageant grounds.
The Meals/Facilities
Myself, like many others, wound up overpacking camp-friendly meals for the occasion not realizing there can be ample meals, drink, snack, jewellery and clothes distributors on website. That is on high of a normal retailer contained in the camp that gives any important gadgets you may want throughout your keep.
The pageant additionally hosts a particular farm-to-table bbq throughout lunch that a lot of my buddies famous was “epic scrumptious.” The pageant grounds additionally supplied ample porta-toilets, hand wash stations and consuming water taps in every clearing and tenting areas.
Briefly, FITM did an important job at preserving everybody protected, nicely fed, and quenched of thirst even when you confirmed up empty handed. This was greater than I anticipated, and pleasantly shocked at how simple it was to seize something you want.
The Love
With this yr’s pageant apex being the assembly of Norwegian (By Norse Music) and American Native communities (Blackfeet Nation) coming collectively to interrupt bread, sweat, and drumsticks with us in attendance, proved to be a cultural expertise that was bigger than a steel pageant and felt extra like a significant authorities and social paradigm shift that I couldn’t be happier to witness. Calling this years FITM “a steel pageant” would possibly even be a disservice to what unfolded in entrance of us.
Watching the pre-fest Blackfoot ceremony was hours lengthy and highly effective, significant and introduced many to tears because the tribe donned their conventional dressing and blessings to the big viewers of mature and open-minded attendees.
Watching Einar Selvik of Wardruna maintain again tears as he accepted the tribe’s providing, a painted animal cranium, was uncooked and emotional to say the least.
The presence of the Blackfoot Nation Council was prevalent by means of out the whole pageant, a reminder why we had been all right here. I’m pleased to report the gang greater than understood, revered and outright cherished the sentiment. It’s actually an honor to be invited by the natives on their land, obtain a first-hand studying about their tradition, language, historical past, struggles and what our consideration to those issues imply to them. It was eye opening, coronary heart warming, gratitude at work and deeply emotional.
The reality is, I’ve discovered extra about our natives by means of FITM in a single weekend, than I ever have in any e book or documentary. It’s one thing I’ll take with me, and bear in mind eternally. The partnership between FITM and Blackfoot Nation actually brings the earth and humanities collectively in a manner I’ve actually by no means skilled anyplace in my life.
I used to be additionally lucky to host the official listening celebration and Q&A for indigenous artist, Blackbraid, who not solely supplied a profound have a look at the creation of his artwork and upcoming album III however annihilated his epic reside efficiency that felt particularly passionate and uncooked.
The Actions
The pageant did a beautiful job preserving the viewers engaged for the whole thing of the times, in a select your individual journey form of manner. The early mornings start with yoga and meditation on two breathtaking embankments of the lake, adopted by fascinating and insightful workshops in regards to the native indigenous tribe in addition to many about Viking tradition.
I selected to attend as many workshops as attainable every day, getting probably the most out of this unique first hand expertise. Because the workshops come to a detailed for the day, the stage bowl space comes alive beginning with a ceremonial blessing from the natives. Efficiency after efficiency we’re met with a slew of probably the most spectacular expertise that run the gamut of cultural folks to blasphemous black steel and nearly every thing darkish in between.
It felt like Roadburn with cultural goal, with among the lesser identified artists profitable over the crowds with each strum. I actually didn’t witness one unhealthy set, or one I walked away from. Each artist that hit the stage felt like household, diversely expressive, and on a mission to be a part of one thing better than us all.
Retaining a crowd attentive, engaged, and impressed for 16 hours a day is not any simple feat, however FITM does it in model. Don’t look after a selected workshop or band? No downside, you’ll be able to go swimming, fishing, mountaineering, rafting, kayaking, paddle boarding, or simply bask within the magnificence when you wait. IMO it’s seemingly unattainable to have a nasty time at this pageant. You’re extra more likely to burn out from eager to do an excessive amount of!
The No Alcohol Coverage
Once they introduced that FITM was going to be a dry pageant this yr, it seemingly turned the largest query on everybody’s thoughts. A steel pageant with out its favourite lubricant? How will we survive!? Effectively, that is one in all a number of methods FITM utterly re-wrote what a steel fest is able to!
FITM’s dry run was made in effort to again suicide prevention and the psychological welfare of natives on the reservation. This was understood and revered by the patrons of the pageant, and the craziest half is that nobody actually appeared to overlook being drunk, hungover, or really feel cheated on this superb expertise. I’ve personally had extra clear and current conversations than I ever had at festivals. I can bear in mind every thing that occurred. It felt nice to attach with different individuals and be extra current by taking the time and endurance to take action with no haste.
Since everybody in attendance was equally dry all through the pageant, it by no means felt awkward or incomplete as an expertise. In reality, it felt nice understanding we collectively united as a gaggle to face for one thing optimistic and stored that message as vivid as attainable inside us. To not point out, the dearth of getting shit-faced made waking up at dawn and attending vital workshops a hell of rather a lot simpler and fulfilling every day.
Fireplace In The Mountains transferring to Crimson Eagle Campground is by and huge a complete new problem for this pioneering group that has been confronted with obstacles since its inception. Was the 2025 version good in each manner attainable? No, however with new vigor, willpower and the proper partnership that may convey the message of nature meets artwork, eco sustainability, human rights, and cultural studying to the forefront, I’ve no doubts that Fireplace In The Mountains has simply rewrote the script on what a heavy music pageant might and must be transferring ahead. My deepest respects to those pageant artisans, and the group of us who “went first” to discover one thing fully new. Do your self a favor and do not miss out on 2026!
