Chalked up to be one of the best weekends of the year by past attendees, Psychs Peak is an intimate music and camping festival taking place in the beautiful forests of Pine, Colorado, just an hour from the Mile High City. Happening August 27-29 over the Sturgeon full moon and a partial lunar eclipse, this rendezvous offers the ultimate curation of psychedelic rock, art, community, and the outdoors – all right outside of Denver.
I sat down with the founders and organizers of Psychs Peak, Nate Dorlac and Dave O’Donnell, to discuss this year’s rendition, and the energy behind the sixth year seems to be one of expansion. Every version since the festival’s inception has seen growth – in attendance, in production, in the lineup, in the venue – and this year is on track to be the greatest yet.
First, let’s talk about the musical billing for the weekend. While the fest brings together some of the best in the local psych-adjacent scene, the weekend also features incredible acts from across the US. Each band is specially handpicked to keep the core acts from years past, while also focusing on securing fresh sounds for attendees to discover and enjoy.
Year six comes complete with 19 new bands, including Kentucky’s self-proclaimed denim-psych outfit, Doom Gong, Oregon rockers Hippie Death Cult, and Montana’s genre-spanning cosmonauts The Gray Goo. There is no shortage of unmatchable mainstays from the Front Range, including high-powered romp-stompers Bitchflower, psych-garage oozers Rugburn, sweetheart serenaders Barbara, otherworldly desert rockers Los Toms, high plains psych dealers Moonlight Bloom, and top-notch, good-time purveyors Jesus Christ Taxi Driver.
The coolest part about the Psychs Peak 2026 musical lineup? Representation between female and male counterparts dishes out to right around 50/50. This is absolutely not the norm for the music industry in general, especially at festivals, so seeing the founders be intentional about having more women in the mix is a huge win in our book (shoutout to Book More Women).
A highlight of this year includes an extension of length with the addition of a third night. Festival goers can now arrive early on Thursday with exclusive audible stylings from Horse Bitch, Pink Lady Monster, Spliff Tank, Awaken Sleeper To Thee Dream to kick the weekend off properly.
The organizers keep the intention flowing with changes to the grounds, including upgrades to parking, camping, and an improved stage setup. With safety and environmental protection being the highest priorities, Psychs Peak strongly encourages carpooling as much as possible (you also save money this way), a new area for limited RV camping, and minimizing ecosystem degradation with updated vehicle management.
As far as staging and production, this year’s offerings will provide more late-night vibes with an official after-hours area for happenings such as vinyl-only DJ sets and electronic-based dance parties, as well as longer band programming on the infamous lounge stage. Saturday will also showcase another epic disc golf tournament hosted by Denver’s Another Round. We heard there may even be a limited run of custom Psychs Peak discs for the most dedicated of slangers.
Psychs Peak is a festival by the people, for the people. It features the best of the local, regional, and national psych rock bands, while also bringing in incredible vendors, DIY art installations, and a completely avant-garde gathering with the main goal to let your freak flag fly. The gathering provides a safe, inclusive and badass space to let yourself play while also nurturing and growing a true community.
Want to be a hands-on part of Psychs Peak in a few weeks? Consider volunteering! The festival is actively seeking more hands and hearts for the volunteer crew. Gain free admission by putting in a few hours of purposeful work to support the magic-making of this unforgettable weekend.
Those who allow themselves to experience the magic of this late summer weekend among the pines are guaranteed not to regret a single moment. Get your tickets and learn more here.
