Music festivals generally give me anxiety. Too many people. Too many bands to see. All the usual complaints that coincide with feelings of agoraphobia. But Desert Daze, the official music festival created by Moon Block Party in 2012, is beyond a music festival, and definitely worth every ounce of discomfort for the sake of music. This year – their 6th – takes us back to the Institute of Metaphysics in Joshua Tree, the oldest and largest spiritual retreat center in the western United States. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and his son, the sprawling, beautiful grounds with three outdoor stages is for real a sight to behold, and the perfect setting for an intimate yet expansive three day music schmorgesborg. Because the lineup is really what makes this festival stand out. Iggy Pop. John Cale. Spiritualized! Sleep! Thurston Moore. Ty Segall. The list goes on and on. It’s like the cool kids club for music festivals, with big headliners you’re dying to see mixed in with the more underground bands you should be dying to see. The whole thing is a win win, despite that lingering anxiety. And to get you properly prepped and pumped, we made a special “Dazed” playlist to set the mood. So listen up, and make your way out to the desert this weekend. We’ll be there, covered in desert dust, getting dazed. —Maya Eslami

For more info on Desert Daze go here