EP325 Patrick Brink on Launching Mojave Experience Festival + Building a Desert Rock Destination

Tom sits down with Patrick Brink of Volume to talk about launching the inaugural Mojave Experience Music Festival, a two-day desert rock and psych gathering set for March 20–21 in Joshua Tree, California.Rather than performing with his own band this year, Patrick made the deliberate decision to step back and focus entirely on producing the best possible experience for fans, artists, and volunteers. His goal isn’t just another concert — it’s a destination event that captures the spirit of the desert itself.Friday kicks off at Mojave Gold with a 16-band pre-party featuring acts like Rubber Snake Charmers, The Freeks, Arthur Seay and the Riff Killers, and more. Saturday moves outdoors into Joshua Tree with heavy hitters Earthless, Dead Meadow, John Garcia, Yawning Man, Ecstatic Vision, Howling Giant, Early Moods, plus vendors, art, and immersive experiences designed to make the weekend feel bigger than just music.Patrick breaks down what it really takes to build a festival from scratch: permits, county approvals, artist contracts, scheduling conflicts, and the logistical chess match of balancing band expectations with production realities. Drawing on decades of DIY booking experience dating back to the ’90s punk and stoner rock scenes, he’s applying old-school community values to a modern event.The conversation also dives into Patrick’s musical roots — discovering bands through mail order and SST Records, the thrill of pre-internet music discovery, and how that passion still fuels his drive to spotlight both legends and emerging acts.Long-term, Mojave Experience isn’t chasing massive corporate scale. Patrick envisions a 5,000-person boutique festival over the next 5–8 years — something intimate, curated, and uniquely tied to the landscape, blending desert rock, psych, and heavy underground artists while preserving the vibe that makes Joshua Tree special.It’s a labor of love built by fans, for fans.Mojave Experience debuts March 20–21 in Joshua TreeFriday pre-party at Mojave Gold with 6 bandsSaturday outdoor event headlined by Earthless, Dead Meadow, and John Garcia12+ vendors, art, and immersive desert activities includedPatrick stepped away from performing with Volume to focus on productionExtensive permits, contracts, and logistics behind the scenesInspired by DIY booking roots and pre-internet music discovery cultureGoal: grow thoughtfully to ~5,000 attendees without losing intimacyDesigned as a destination festival, not just a show#MojaveExperience#PatrickBrink#VolumeBand#DesertRock#StonerRock#JoshuaTree#HeavyMusic#MusicFestival#AndNowTheBand