Visitors are now able to access Esalen as well as other businesses and trails in northern Big Sur via twice-daily convoys on Highway 1 operated by Caltrans.
Convoys run only at 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day. These are the only opportunities to travel into and out of Big Sur, so visitors must plan accordingly.
Welcome to Summer Groove, an exhilarating celebration of sound, creativity, and movement nestled amidst the breathtaking beauty of Esalen Institute. Immerse yourself in a transformative experience that transcends the boundaries of conventional festivals, inviting you to explore the depths of your inner self while connecting with a vibrant, intimate community of like-minded seekers.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Esalen, perched on the rugged cliffs of Big Sur, California, Summer Groove unfolds as a harmonious blend of nature's splendor and artistic expression. The festival is a testament to the belief that the synthesis of sound, creativity, and movement has the power to awaken the spirit and foster a sense of unity among participants.
The heartbeat of Summer Groove is its diverse and eclectic lineup of musicians, artists, and movement facilitators, each carefully curated to provide a multisensory experience that resonates.
Earthtones is a multi-faceted musician/DJ, who crosses cultures in electronic music from Ambient to House, and Cumbia to Hip Hop. As a DJ and international vinyl collector, Earthtones has been one of the forces behind acclaimed global rhythm parties such as International Sunshine and ambient hi-fi events such as The Listening Garden.
Lavender Diamond is the LA-based indie pop, folk rock band fronted by the mesmerizing, soft spoken operatic soprano, Becky Stark. Most recognized for their second album, Incorruptible Heart, they have shared stages with The Decemberists, She & Him, The Living Sisters and actor John C Reilly.
Radiant Human is the roving, fully adaptable aura photography laboratory of New York-based visual artist Christina Lonsdale. Her personalized aura portraits foster the ephemeral and make the metaphysical tangible, emboldening participants to open themselves to the ineffable.
Hrishi is an Indian songwriter and artist based out of Washington, DC. Trained in South Indian classical music (Carnatic music) for over 10 years, he blends his cultural influences with his love for pop. His mission is to bring representation to Indian music and musicians through his passion for bridging his two musical worlds.
Guillermo Martinez is an artist who has been handcrafting Native American and Mesoamerican instruments in Southern California for more than 35 years. His custom instruments promote healing and awareness to honor Indigenous traditions and those who continue to steward the land.
Amy Secada is a multi-disciplinary visionary artist of the Monacan Indian Nation. Known for her tribal bass soundscapes, Capoeira infused dance style, and otherworldly costumes, she specializes in neo-ritual audiovisual works and performance art to spread awareness of environmental injustice and Indigenous cultural and social rights.
Nala Sinephro is a Caribbean-Belgian composer, producer and musician living in London. Her music fuses meditative sounds, jazz sensibilities, folk and field recordings. Her musical practice is rooted in the study of frequency and geometry and guided by the premise that sound moves matter.
Secular Sabbath is an ambient music-centered experience that brings people together in community through the sensory self. Based on the founder's upbringing at Esalen Institute, Secular Sabbath incorporates sensory experiences such as bodywork, breathwork, tea ceremony, and more to bring our whole body/mind/spirit online.
Day pass access is from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Some elements of the schedule may be subject to change.
Monday
2:30 PM - 5:00 PM Beats Without Borders: DJ Set by Earthtones
5:00 PM - 6:15 PM How to Drop Into Esalen: Groove Edition
8:00 PM - 9:30 PM Opening Ceremony with Secular Sabbath
9:30 PM - 10:30 PM Sound Ceremony at the Baths with Micha Merrick and Friends
Tuesday
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Music for Morning Pages
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM Pathways to Groove with JJ Jeffries
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Dance of the Chakras with Amy Secada
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Harmonic Convergence: A Journey Into Carnatic Pop with HRISHI
2:15 PM - 3:45 PM Herbal Bundle Making with Micha Merrick
2:15 PM - 3:45 PM Visionary Convergence I: AI and the Awakening of Creative Potential with Sam Stern
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Secular Sabbath
8:00 PM - 9:30 PM Live at Esalen: Nala Sinephro
10:00 PM Secular Sabbath at the Baths
Wednesday
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Music for Morning Pages
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM Moja Flow with Megan Cassamas
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Dance of the Chakras with Amy Secada
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Harmonic Convergence: A Journey Into Carnatic Pop with HRISHI
2:15 PM - 3:45 PM Frequency Modulation: Rhythmic Breathwork with Sadia Bruce
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Secular Sabbath
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Performance by Guillermo Martinez
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Live at Esalen: HRISHI
9:30 PM - 10:30 PM Sound Ceremony at the Baths with Micha Merrick and Friends
Thursday
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Music for Morning Pages
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM Pranotthan Yoga with Jovinna Chan
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Dance of the Chakras with Amy Secada
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Harmonic Convergence: A Journey Into Carnatic Pop with HRISHI
2:15 PM - 3:45 PM Visionary Convergence II: AI and the Awakening of Creative Potential with Sam Stern
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Secular Sabbath
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Movement Alchemy: A Dance Celebration with Amy Secada
10:00 PM Secular Sabbath at the Baths
Friday
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM Music for Morning Pages
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM Forest Yoga: Balance & Celebrate with Rahshaana Green
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Closing Ceremony with Secular Sabbath
Expect an array of musical genres, from soul-stirring live performances to pulsating electronic beats, ensuring that every festival-goer finds their own unique rhythm. The stages, strategically placed to capture the magic of the surroundings, become portals to otherworldly dimensions, where the music becomes a conduit for self-discovery and communal celebration.
Interactive art installations, workshops, and collaborative projects dot the festival grounds and add to the musical tapestry. Engage your senses in a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and mediums as you wander through the artistic wonderland that awaits. Whether you're a seasoned artist or someone looking to unlock their creative potential, the festival provides a space where inspiration flows freely, and the boundaries between artist and observer blur.
Explore the physicality through yoga, dance, and somatic practices. Guided by experienced facilitators, these movement sessions serve as a gateway to self-discovery, allowing festival-goers to tap into the innate wisdom of their bodies. Whether you find yourself in a sunrise yoga session overlooking the Pacific or engaging in a spontaneous dance under the starlit sky, movement at Summer Groove is a celebration of the body's capacity for expression and joy.
During Esalen's signature summer series, our own faculty will be joined by very special guests to add amazing and delightful programming to each week and weekend.
Savor three hearty, healthy meals per day. Our kitchen draws on global culinary traditions, using the fruits of the Esalen Farm & Garden and other local Big Sur providers to create delicious meals that support holistic health — for you and for the earth.
Esalen’s beloved mineral hot springs perch dramatically over the Pacific Ocean, a juxtaposition of intimate and infinite. A core part of Esalen from its inception, the baths and tubs are an ideal place to reflect, find clarity, and set new intentions.
Combining her expertise in breath-centered, therapeutic yoga, her reverence for ecology, her energetic gifts and an understanding of practice as ritual and portal, Sadia guides you to and through a quietly electrifying experience of your own embodiment that frees your energy and ignites your spirit.
Jovinna Chan, E-RYT 500, YACEP, is a trained personal transformational facilitator, yoga teacher trainer, conscious dance teacher, and performing artist. Through an alchemical combination of movement, spiritual inquiry, nature, and sound healing, she leads transformational programs around the world.
Cara is a Hatha Yoga RYT certified yoga teacher, Yoga Nidra certified, has a bachelor's in Film & Television studies and a master's in Psychology. She spent over a decade working in the TV industry, helping storytellers find their voice and share authentic stories. Her unique teaching style blends storytelling, movement, and connection with the intuitive voice.
JJ Jeffries is an elder at Esalen — Mentor, Gestalt and Embodied Awareness practitioner, musician, and memory-keeper. Though being is his preferred state, he is intensely curious about all things doing leading to being.
Micha shares vibrational ritual and embodied herbalism as a heartfelt communion with our living ecosystem. Through personal mentorship with shamanic Lahu medicine women of Thailand and spiritual midwives in Bali, Micha currently facilitates the Herbal Clearing Ritual at Esalen, an energetic healing practice combining sound, touch, herbs, and intention. Micha offers sanctuary and grounding in connection with the earth.
Sam is the host of the Voices of Esalen podcast, a deep-dive interview program focused on Human Potential, with over 1 million downloads to date. He is a graduate of Brown University and received an MFA in Critical Studies and Integrated Media from CalArts. His greatest pleasure is spending time with his wife Candice and daughter Roxy.
Photo: Ali Kaukas.
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org
