Rancho La Puerta’s 3rd Annual Folk Festival

Amber Rubarth and Carissa Stolting are teaming up again to bring an unforgettable week to Rancho La Puerta this summer—the Folk Festival Retreat, happening June 14–21, 2025. With Amber’s beautiful singer song writer approach and Carissa’s knack for creating unforgettable experiences, this weeklong event is all about celebrating music, connection, and the beauty of The Ranch. They share what makes this festival so unique, how it came together, and why Rancho La Puerta is the perfect place to unplug, recharge, and let the music move you.
We’re going into the 3rd annual Rancho La Puerta Folk Fest & Artist Retreat – can you tell us what was your first experience at the Ranch and how did this event come into being?
Amber: I was first introduced to the Ranch in 2018 after our film “American Folk” came out – we were on a non-stop tour performing concerts and doing film screenings and Q&As all across the U.S. and in Asia. I finished my last concert at midnight Friday night in Kansas City at Folk Alliance and hopped on the 6 a.m. flight to join as a guest of my dear friend Jen who was showing me what a “vacation” was, ha! I couldn’t believe my eyes, I didn’t know anything like this existed! My guitar was with meme, and I played some songs in the Library Lounge and very fortunately Victoria and Barry were there from the Ranch and invited me to come back as an artist. It has changed my life so much and expanded my vision of how creativity can be woven into wellness. It’s so common for touring artists to deplete themselves with grueling schedules and so much inconsistency. Getting to experience Rancho La Puerta and the thoughtfulness they put into every part of the experience of wellness – mind, body and spirit, was a revelation that has stayed with me and continues to become integrated with my life.
In 2022, I got a note inviting me to curate a week of folk artists at the Ranch. The Chamber Music week was a great success, and they were interested in a similar one focused around folk musicians. I was thrilled and immediately knew Carissa Stolting would be the dream partner to curate with – she’s a true thought leader on how the music business can work in a more sustainable way that elevates artists to create their best work. Getting the opportunity to share this week and the beauty of the Ranch with other artists – especially ones who work so hard on the road and have so much healing to offer through their music and essence – has truly been a dream.
What are you hoping artists are able to experience during this week?
Carissa: The artists we invite to Rancho La Puerta work tirelessly to encourage a more loving and compassionate world. They are celebrated and beloved worldwide – and tour internationally. They give so much to others through their music and passionate drive to help people connect with each other – this time at Rancho La Puerta is a week where artists can rest and allow themselves to be taken care of. Artist Mary Gauthier had a profound experience at Rancho La Puerta, because it was one of the first times she allowed herself to slow down and assess where and how she was investing her time and energy. During folk week, artists are guests at the Ranch too, and that’s what makes the week so special – there is no divide between musician and attendee. Everyone is held by the beauty and care of the Ranch.
What have guests loved most about the Rancho La Puerta Folk Fest?
Amber: There’s a magic that happens when music and storytelling is shared in groups; it’s ancient and harkens back to the simplicity of gathering around campfires, oral storytelling, the roots of folk music not belonging to anyone but rather moving and changing through communities. The Ranch is such a powerful space for transformation and music deepens this. Many guests have commented on how healing the music and stories are and are amazed at who is all there! They love the interactive songwriting workshops, recording sessions, all the incredible evenings of music and collaboration, and surprise Random Acts of Music, like Valerie June reading a poem in a flower crown on Summer Solstice at the Bazaar del Sol. The spirit of folk truly takes over the week and is woven into the full experience!
Any favorite moments of the past two years?
Carissa: During Folk Week we have surprise musical moments woven into the daily fabric of the Ranch– we call them “random acts of music”. As an example, you might hear an artist perform unexpectedly on a morning hike or during a yoga class. One of my favorite moments from the past two years was watching Amber Rubarth perform a “random act of music” at the labyrinth. Her song cast a spell over everyone – she was singing and slowly walking the labyrinth, and I remember hearing the wind in the trees and a soft wind chime twinkling. It was natural and magical like a dream. It feels to me like the song still hangs in the air when I pass by the labyrinth. This is the kind of moment that could only happen at Rancho La Puerta.
Why is folk songwriter music such a natural fit with Rancho La Puerta?
Carissa: Folk music focuses on storytelling – this music is a way to share the universal human story of what it means to be alive. Folk songs document love, grief, beauty, suffering, resilience and transcendence. By doing so, this music shows our common shared humanity, connects us with each other in the present and across time. Listening to folk music in a room full of people who are on their own journeys of exploration, self-discovery and restoration – like many attendees at the Ranch– is such a powerful experience. A profound exchange of energy is present between the singer and receiver of the song- flowing back and forth like a wave. I’ve been to so many concerts and the musical exchange between attendees and artists at Rancho during folk week is so unique.
What can guests look forward to at this year’s Rancho La Puerta Folk Fest & Artist Retreat June 14 – 21, 2025?
Amber: Each year is unique, and this one coming up is such a stunning mix of some of our favorite past performers plus new artists who have yet to experience the Ranch! We’ll be rolling out the artist line-up over these next couple months, and as they say at the Ranch, “Siempre Mejor!”
Join us for the 3rd annual Rancho La Puerta Folk Fest & Artist Retreat June 14-21.