As presenting partner, A New Earth Project joined artists, fans, and organizers in Park City’s City Park for a weekend that put mental health, connection, and conversation at center stage.
There’s a special kind of electricity that happens when a community chooses intention over spectacle. This year’s Park City Song Summit delivered exactly that and Rolling Stone took notice. Their on-the-ground recap highlights how the Summit returned to the heart of Park City and doubled down on its founding purpose: meaningful dialogue around wellness in music, surrounded by unforgettable performances. As presenting partner, A New Earth Project was honored to support a gathering that prioritizes people first.
Music + Mental Health
Goose headlined a weekend that balanced ferocious sets with open conversations about mental and physical health. In interviews, PCSS founder Ben Anderson spoke about creating an environment where attendees leave “10-percent happier,” while Goose’s Rick Mitarotonda pointed to communication as the lifeblood of a healthy band. Dawes teamed up with Duane Betts for a set that nodded to family and legacy, and Eric Krasno reflected on navigating the industry in a more mindful way as his career evolves.
The programming stretched well beyond the stage. A Summit Supper Club dinner curated by Andrew Zimmern with Marcus King set a tone of hospitality and heritage, followed by a second-line parade up Main Street with the Trombone Shorty Foundation Alumni Band that led into late-night collaborations at The Marquis.
Throughout the day, Summit Labs brought artists together to wrestle with big questions, from the future of the American rock band to the realities of touring life and the supports musicians need to thrive. But the conversations didn’t stop with music. Mental health emerged as a throughline across disciplines.
In the Soul Kitchen Lab, chef and TV personality Andrew Zimmern opened up about the hospitality industry’s own struggles with burnout and addiction, drawing parallels between kitchens and tour buses as high-pressure environments where wellness often takes a back seat. His message was clear: creating sustainable careers means building systems of care, no matter the field.
The Nature’s Song Lab, hosted by A New Earth Project, brought a different lens. Founder Wes Carter joined snowboarder Elena Hight and artist Chris Benchetler to explore how time in nature can restore balance and creativity. Their dialogue underscored the idea that mental health isn’t just about treatment, it’s about connection: to the outdoors, to community, and to purpose.
Other Labs pushed into cultural and ethical terrain. "Where’s the Line: Inspiration vs. Infringement" sparked debate on artistic integrity in the age of sampling and AI, while “Dance, Music, and Activism” examined how rhythm and resistance have always been intertwined. “The Eternal Life of the Grateful Dead” unpacked the band’s enduring influence, and “The Havana–New Orleans Connection” traced the deep roots of Afro-Caribbean rhythms in American music.
Together, these sessions expanded the Summit’s storytelling scope, proving that wellness, creativity, and cultural dialogue aren’t separate tracks, they’re part of the same song.
Event organizer and founder, Ben Anderson, said this about the Summit: “Park City Song Summit is an exchange of ideas. It’s a summit of wellness, a summit of mindfulness, where community connection is the great healer. We have an epidemic of isolation in this country… so if by doing this event I can help one person feel less alone, that’s worth everything.”
Nature's Song
One standout conversation for us was the Nature’s Song Summit Lab, presented by A New Earth Project. Founder Wes Carter joined forces with A New Earth Project Advocates - multidisciplinary artist Chris Benchetler and professional snowboarder Elena Hight - to explore the intersection of creativity, sustainability, and outdoor culture. The trio discussed how art, sport, and environmental stewardship can inspire systemic change, underscoring the shared responsibility to protect the natural spaces that fuel both adventure and artistry.
Healthy People, Healthy Planet
At A New Earth Project, we talk a lot about the connection between human wellbeing and a healthy planet. The Summit’s focus on mental health, recovery, and community mirrors our belief that better systems - whether in packaging, culture, or business - start with caring for people and the places we love. Our partnership with PCSS is about more than a logo on a poster, it’s about amplifying a model where conversation, collaboration, and care are the headliners.
Highlights we’ll be carrying forward
- Wellness as infrastructure. Morning movement, open dialogue, and accessible resources weren’t side activities, they were part of the festival’s core design. Artists like Krasno spoke to how vital that scaffolding is for a sustainable life in music.
- Collaboration over ego. From Dawes with Duane Betts to cross-pollinated Labs featuring members of Goose and Dawes, the Summit modeled the kind of partnership that makes communities stronger onstage and off.
- Place-based storytelling. Main Street second-lines and City Park sunsets reminded us that context matters. Bringing the Summit back to the city center made the whole weekend feel like a love letter to Park City itself.
Looking ahead
We’re grateful to the entire PCSS team for creating space where artistry and wellbeing reinforce each other. If you missed it, dive into Rolling Stone’s full recap for quotes, artist perspectives, and a vivid slice of the weekend. And if you want the backstory on this year’s return to City Park and how A New Earth Project showed up as presenting partner, our Field Notes post has all the details.
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