Lightning in a Bottle took their name from a private birthday party in 2000. From 2000 to 2003, the birthday celebration recurred each July as a private event. In 2004, Lightning in a Bottle Music and Art Festival was born. In 2004, the event's co-founders and producers, who now called themselves The Do LaB, hosted Lightning in a Bottle at Gold Creek Ranch in the Angeles National Forest. After a one-year hiatus, they revived the festival in July 2006 at Live Oak Camp in Santa Barbara, California, and returned each May thereafter through 2008. However, after this eighth festival The Do LaB decided to relocate Lightning in a Bottle to accommodate the increasing attendance. Another one-year hiatus passed, and in 2010 they brought the festival to Oak Canyon Ranch in Silverado, California. In 2013, the event was moved to in Winchester, California. For the first time, the event has been relocated outside of Southern California, with the 2014 festival taking place at San Antonio Reservoir Recreation Area in Bradley. in the following years of 2015 and 2016, the attendees returned to San Antonio Reservoir Recreation Area in Bradley, California. In 2019 the Kern County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Lightning in a Bottle music festival.
About the festival
Lightning in a Bottle is a mix of music, art, and culture. In addition to music performances, the festival also features guest speakers, visual and interactive art installations, yoga classes, group meditation, and other attractions. Many attendees camp on-site. There are many opportunities available for volunteering at the event such as participating as a performing artist in the DoArt Foundation's Lightning in a Paintcan. Lightning in a Bottle has won the "Outstanding Award" from A Greener Festival annually between 2011 and 2014. In 2017, Lightning in a Bottle was nominated for Festival of the Year at the Electronic Music Awards.
, Bonobo, Rüfüs Du Sol, Kaytranada, Bob Moses, Jhené Aiko, Bomba Estéreo, Big Wild, Weval, NoMBe, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Nicola Cruz, Brasstracks, Wafia, Vallis Alps, Wildlight, Imaginary Herbal Flows, Two Feet, Climbing Poetree, The Seshen, Madame Gandhi, El Papachango, Jeremy Sole, Ad-Lib Jam, Demo Taped, Richie Hawtin, Nic Fanciulli, Hernan Cattaneo, Stephan Bodzin, Leon Vynehall, tINI, Guy J, Christian Smith, Robag Wruhme, Eagles & Butterflies, Lauren Lane, Adam Port, Satori, Monolink, Julia Govor, Kotelett&Zadak, Kmln, Mark Slee, Marques Wyatt, Fleetwood Smack, Masha, Troyboi, Paper Diamond, Perfect Stranger, Machinedrum, edIT, Sam Gellaitry, Calyx & Teebee, Fakear, Kalya Scintilla & Eve Olution, Barclay Crenshaw, Diamond Saints, iLL.Gates, Stephan Jacobs, The Range, Ivy Lab, Psymbionic, Stélouse, Headphone Activist, Hedflux, Elohim, Asadi, Frameworks, Cri, Erica Dee, Plantrae, Jade Cicada, Joss Jaffe, Priya Deepika, Charlesthefirst, Maddy O'Neal, spacegeishA, Magic Moments
2016
Lineup
, Cashmere Cat, Lucent Dossier Experience, Grimes, Four Tet, PANTyRAiD, Tokimonsta, Big Gigantic, The Polish Ambassador, Guy Gerber, Lee Burridge, Mr. Carmack, Minnesota, G Jones, Mija, Crying Over Porcelain, Ibeyi, Emancipator Ensemble, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Tourist, Alina Baraz, Haywyre, Hayden James, Desert Dwellers, Thriftworks, Ekali, Diamond Saints, Marian Hill, Hundred Waters, Rubblebucket, William Close & The Earth Harp Collective, Elderbrook, Dirtwire, Pimps of Joytime, Vokab Company, Lafa Taylor, NoMBe, Whilk & Miskey, Fungineers, Eprom, Autograf, Bleep Bloop, Funk Hunters, The Librarian, CloZee, David Starfire, Gilligan Moss, Space Jesus, Ataya, Häana, Michael Manahan, Henry Pope, Josh Wink, Magda, andHim, Steve Bug, &Me, Just Be, Monkey Safari, Lane 8, Francesca Lombardo, Justin Jay, Jonas Rathsman, Shall Ocin, Guido Schneider, Sabo & Goldcap, Sacha Robotti, David Scuba, Jamie Schwabl, MAGIC GIANT
, Nicolas Jaar, Rusko, Lucent Dossier Experience, Paper Diamond, PANTyRAiD, Tycho, Emancipator, Eskmo, GRiZ, Aaron Snapes, Acid Pauli, Andreilien, A.Skillz, Black 22s, Blackbird Blackbird, Blockhead, Cameron Angeli, Cari Lekebusch, ChrisB., Christian Martin, Crywolf, Desert Dwellers, Eduardo Castillo, EPROM, GIGAMESH, Giraffage, gLAdiator, Gladkill, Goldroom, Haywyre, Herbert Bail Orchestra, Herobust, Idiot Savant, ill-esha, Jason Bentley, jOBOT, Joel Mull, Joplin, Kalya Scintilla, Kaminanda, Kastle, Lee Burridge, LowRIDERz, Lusine, Marques Wyatt, Matt Xavier, Maxi Storrs, Miguel Migs, niCo luMinouS, ODESZA, Oscure, Papadosio, Patricio, Phutureprimitive, Psychemagik, Pumpkin, Random Rab, Sammy Bliss, Sex Pixels, SORNE, The Polish Ambassador, Thugfucker, Tim Green, Vokab Kompany, Worthy
2012
Lineup
, Alexi Delano, An-Ten-Nae, Android Cartel, Anton Tumas, Apparat, Bassnectar, Big Gigantic, Bluetech, Derek Marin, El Papachango, Eoto, Fungineers, Gaudi, Goldrush, Govinda, Gramatik, Grant Kaye, Gravity, Hopscotch, Idiot Savant, J. Phlip, Janover, Jeremy Sole, Jesse Rose, Jupit3r, Justin Levi, Justin Martin, Kayla Scintilla, Karsh Kale, Lafa Taylor, Lee Burridge, Lila Rose, Lucent Dossier Experience, Lynx, Malarky, Marley Carroll, Michael Menert, Mikey Lion, Minnesota, Nick Warren, Nit Grit, Opiuo, Pumpkin, R/D, Random Rab, Red Sonya, Russ Liquid, Salva, Sammy Bliss, Saqi Ensemble, Shpongle, Sidecar Tommy, Star Slinger, Subaqueous, Sugarpill, The Glitch Mob, The Human Experience, Thriftworks, Tim Herrlein, Tipper, Zach Moore
2011
Lineup
, Mimosa, Nick Warren, PANTyRAiD, Random Rab and the Infinidroid, Claude Vonstroke, Dub Kirtan Allstars, The Malah, Emancipator, The Great Mundane, Stephan Jacobs, NastyNasty, Duckbutter, Flook, Mark Zabala, Kaminanda, Mav3n, Metal Mother, The Mowglis, J. Cush, Pretty Lights, Beats Antique, Kraddy, Eskmo, Jay Tripwire, Virtual Boy, Lowriderz, Y La Bamba, Android Cartel, Sammy Bliss, Octopus Nebula, Cohen, Heyoka, Jupit3r, ill-esha, DJ Maggie, Gladkill, Wobs, Lulacruza, Joe Rodriguez, Melanie Moore, RLS, Phutureprimitive, Desert Dwellers, Joplin, Thievery Corporation, Bonobo, Lee Burridge, Paper Diamond, Fools Gold, John Kelley, Baths, Inspired Fight, Invisible Allies, Idiot Savant, Lynx, Love & Light, Syd Gris, El Papachango, Pumpkin, Shawna, Brad Moontribe, Dela Moontribe, Love in the Circus, Matt Xavier, Goldrush, Brutus, Pussy Monster.