October 9th - 12th, 2025
Saratoga Springs Retreat Center
10243 Saratoga Springs Road, Upper Lake, CA 95485
Māh Ze Tār is a musical fusion project by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Maz Karandish. This project was propelled by the vision of fusing traditional Eastern music with modern electronic composition as a form of cultural preservation.
Described as Ethnic Persian Electronic Fusion, Mah Ze Tar explores the ways in which musical fusion, inspired by Indian Raga music and Persian melodies based in Radif and Maqam, combined with tasteful electronic additions, could create a deeper connection with non-traditional listeners.
Mah Ze Tar appear as a trio at Hexenfest.
Listen/Watch here: https://youtu.be/47wQWCnN4xM
Visionary songstress Wendy Rule has always carved a unique and individual path. Since the release of her first album Zero in 1996, she has defied categorisation, always walking to the beat of her own drum.
Combining elements of gothic, folk, world, ambient and cabaret music, and crossing over into Pagan and New Age catagories with her many mythological, esoteric, and ritual references, Wendy is as individual as she is prolific.
A dedicated live performer, Wendy has toured extensively since her first album’s release, starting in Australia, then branching out with her first international tour in 2001. Renowned for her extraordinary voice and live shows that blur the line between music, ritual and theatre, Wendy has gained a loyal following in Australia, the USA, Europe and the UK.
From the most intimate solo house concerts, to festival gigs with her band (featuring long term musical collaborator Rachel Samuel on cello), Wendy takes her audience on anotherworldly journey of depth and passion.
With the help of her loyal fanbase Wendy continues to maintain her musical independence, unbound by the confines of the mainstream. Two hugely successful crowdfunding campaigns have helped bring both Persephone, and her previous album Black Snake (2014) to life. In the past few years she has continued to grow her audience, not only with her dedicated touring schedule, but also with her performance as ‘La Llorano’ in the 2016 feature film Boys in the Trees by director Nicholas Verso (now screening on Netflix), and with her popular monthly Full Moon Magic Iive-streamed concerts.
In 2014 Wendy relocated from Australia to the USA, and is now living in the beautiful High Desert city of Santa Fe, New Mexico - allowing her an even stronger connection to her ever-growing fan base in the US.
Watch and listen to Wendy here:
https://www.wendyrule.com/film-clips/?v=7516fd43adaa
Festival Favorites Sharon Knight and Winter are internationally touring musicians in the mythic-Celtic vein. Their penchant for combining fierce and gutsy bravado with ethereal beauty, a hearty dose of fantastical lyrics, and an obvious love of storytelling has inspired their own style, “Neofolk Romantique”. This often sound less Celtic and more “Folktales that ran away with the Faeries at the turn of the century and took cover in an old trunk bound for the circus, which was then commandeered by pirates.” This suits them fine.
They have shared stages with mythic music favorites such as Faun, Omnia, Corvus Corax, Wardruna, SJ Tucker, Tricky Pixie, Heather Dale, Wendy Rule, Stellamara, and many more.
Hear Sharon and Winter’s music on Bandcamp:
https://sharonknight.bandcamp.com
See Video:
https://sharonknight.net/video/
PHOTO CREDIT:
Full Band: Paul Nordin, EMB Films.
Close Up: PixieVision Productions