I’m fairly soiled with a coronary heart utterly full of affection, a head full of recent information, and bountiful reminiscences because of this 12 months’s Fireplace In The Mountains. A competition that has returned in 2025 and as soon as once more set itself aside from another expertise you’ll ever have.
I’d like to begin this evaluation with a disclaimer that Metallic Injection is certainly a proud sponsor of this competition, however for no financial worth. I merely believed within the trigger, message and impression of FITM since my first attendance in 2022, and I wished to get much more concerned in carrying their message to our viewers. Briefly, I’d prefer to share this magical occasion with you and with the very best intentions doable.
In my finest effort to recap/evaluation what transpired on the fest this 12 months, I’ll break it down by the incessantly 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 season camp experiences. The competition campgrounds are solely 5 minutes exterior of a small city with loads of facilities and lodging, however the competition web site (Pink Eagle Campground) is a picturesque and serene off the grid (and cell tower) setting I discovered myself not wanting or needing to go away for 3 entire days. It felt nice to “unplug” and remind ourselves what life is absolutely about.
The competition grounds are big with staging, distributors and aspect program places constructed into pure clearings and environment that actually improve the competition 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 every day dip within the frigid glacier lake, is just not solely the supply of bathing, however essentially the most refreshing method to break up the solar beamed afternoons. I can’t say sufficient nice issues in regards to the pure magnificence you’ll discover all around the competition grounds.
The Meals/Facilities
Myself, like many others, wound up overpacking camp-friendly meals for the occasion not realizing there could be ample meals, drink, snack, jewellery and clothes distributors on web site. That is on prime of a common retailer contained in the camp that gives any important objects you would want throughout your keep.
The competition additionally hosts a particular farm-to-table bbq throughout lunch that a lot of my buddies famous was “epic scrumptious.” The competition grounds additionally offered ample porta-toilets, hand wash stations and consuming water taps in every clearing and tenting areas.
Briefly, FITM did a terrific job at preserving everybody secure, effectively fed, and quenched of thirst even in the event 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 12 months’s competition 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 competition 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 competition” 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 massive 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 your complete competition, a reminder why we have been all right here. I’m completely happy to report the gang greater than understood, revered and outright cherished the sentiment. It’s really 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 realized 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 keep in mind without end. The partnership between FITM and Blackfoot Nation really 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 social gathering and Q&A for indigenous artist, Blackbraid, who not solely offered a profound take a look at the creation of his artwork and upcoming album III however annihilated his epic dwell efficiency that felt particularly passionate and uncooked.
The Actions
The competition did an exquisite job preserving the viewers engaged for the whole thing of the times, in a select your personal journey sort of manner. The early mornings start with yoga and meditation on two breathtaking embankments of the lake, adopted by charming 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 doable every day, getting essentially the most out of this unique first hand expertise. Because the workshops come to an in depth 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 essentially the most spectacular expertise that run the gamut of cultural folks to blasphemous black steel and nearly the whole lot darkish in between.
It felt like Roadburn with cultural function, with a number of the lesser identified artists successful over the crowds with each strum. I actually didn’t witness one dangerous 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 larger than us all.
Preserving a crowd attentive, engaged, and impressed for 16 hours a day is not any simple feat, however FITM does it in model. Don’t take care of a selected workshop or band? No downside, you’ll be able to go swimming, fishing, climbing, 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 competition. You’re extra more likely to burn out from eager to do an excessive amount of!
The No Alcohol Coverage
After they introduced that FITM was going to be a dry competition this 12 months, it seemingly turned the largest query on everybody’s thoughts. A steel competition with out its favourite lubricant? How will we survive!? Effectively, that is certainly one of 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 competition, and the craziest half is that nobody actually appeared to overlook being drunk, hungover, or really feel cheated on this wonderful expertise. I’ve personally had extra clear and current conversations than I ever had at festivals. I can keep in mind the whole lot 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 competition, it by no means felt awkward or incomplete as an expertise. The truth is, it felt nice understanding we collectively united as a gaggle to face for one thing constructive and saved that message as vivid as doable inside us. To not point out, the shortage of getting shit-faced made waking up at dawn and attending essential workshops a hell of quite a bit simpler and fulfilling every day.
Fireplace In The Mountains shifting to Pink Eagle Campground is by and enormous an entire new problem for this pioneering group that has been confronted with obstacles since its inception. Was the 2025 version excellent in each manner doable? No, however with new vigor, willpower and the proper partnership that may carry 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 competition may and ought to be shifting ahead. My deepest respects to those competition artisans, and the group of us who “went first” to discover one thing solely new. Do your self a favor and do not miss out on 2026!
