This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
WOODWARD — Another World Music Festival returns Sept. 12–14 with three days of music, camping and community on the rolling fields of a fifth-generation farm in Woodward.
Organizers Eric Dash and his wife, Jill Howard, say the festival was born from an idea that’s as simple as it is necessary: step out of the daily grind, listen deeply and reconnect with each other and the land.
“We wanted a place where people could come together and almost renew their energy and feed their souls,” Dash said. “When we’d go to a festival, we realized we were renewed and could carry on knowing there was something to look forward to the next year.”
The couple bought the historic Winkelblech farm at auction in September 2022, choosing preservation and art over potential industrial development. They have since turned it into a home for music and makers.
This year’s edition features 29 bands across three stages, with a lineup that bridges Americana, roots, funk, reggae, hip-hop and rock. Performers include Donna the Buffalo, Jimkata, Sim Redmond Band, Maddy Walsh & The Blind Spots, The Jaded Lips, Caledonia and more. Organizers lean toward artists whose lyrics carry some weight and who can move a field full of strangers into a shared groove.
Another World’s mission is printed right on the festival website: to foster human connection through “music, nature, culture, peace, love and happiness.”
“We don’t ever want to be that big,” Howard said, nodding to larger festivals that inspired them. “We’re trying to keep it intimate… to share more nature and generate kindred spirits.”
The setting helps.
The festival has acres of open sky and farm roads, with communal campfires, space to wander and an easy rhythm between stages, vendors and campsites.
Maddy Walsh, frontwoman of Maddy Walsh & The Blind Spots, has watched the festival evolve from a dream into a destination.
“I’m just really, really proud of them,” she said of Dash and Howard. “They have such big hopes for it, and I’ve watched it grow. Those mission statements — what a festival can do and be — they’re accomplishing it and I hope that they see a real surge in attendance this year.”
Her band calls their sound “moxie rock,” a sparkly, dance-ready blend of indie pop, glam and new wave. “We don’t shy away from getting political if we feel inspired,” Walsh said, “but it’s mostly about party and joining people together to dance.”
The Jaded Lips say Another World feels different.
“It isn’t a kegger in the woods,” bassist Hunter Karns said with a laugh. “It’s a legit music festival. Well organized, friendly, with a lot of different styles and a community vibe. Music is one of the things that brings people together, and this kind of festival becomes a hub for that.”
The couple behind the festival have engineered the weekend to be as accessible as possible. There are three stages, hand-picked food and drink, and a mix of art and activities that invite you to explore beyond the main field. Expect returning favorites like Belly Busters, Elk Creek, Valley Kettle Corn and more, along with craft and artisan vendors.
“We try to take the best of what we knew from other festivals and keep it intimate,” Howard said. “It can be your own private festival. Drift, camp in a group if you want. A lot of folks sit around their tents, make food, talk and let the music be the soundtrack.”
For first-timers, Dash hopes the experience starts the moment their tires hit the lane.
“When you pull into the farm, you’ll feel the energy of the place,” he said. “So many people have said that when they come up here, they actually feel something.” The farm’s history is folded into the design with trails, memorial spots and the kind of thoughtful touches that come from people who live on the land they share.
Three years in, Another World still feels like a dare to live a little more intentionally and to choose connection, local art and open air over chaos and hurry.
“We’re trying to remind folks there’s a part of them that’s connected spiritually to the universe,” Dash said. “If we have more empathy and love for one another, it’s already a better place.”
Tickets are available as single-day and weekend packages, with optional camping add-ons; the festival website lists location, schedule and FAQs, including camping details. The organizers also encourage people to sample the bands directly from the website which has a sample track from each featured artist.
For more information visit anotherworldmusicfestival.org.
