This Saturday, get ready for ILLEST ODYSSEY, a monthly, themed open mic, skill share, and jam session at Dye of Your Dreams, a boutique store in Woodstown, New Jersey. This month, the event is dedicated to celebrating the magic of the Grateful Dead, with $5 admission to hang out and free performance slots available. Bring your favorite Dead covers and karaoke or simply enjoy the music and community.

Dye of Your Dreams is known for its unique blend of crystals, art, and thrift shopping. The store offers a variety of products, including home décor, clothing, and gifts, with a focus on handcrafted, wire-wrapped crystal jewelry and tie dye. Visitors can find everything from incense and candles to funky accessories. The boutique has gained a loyal following, especially in the local music festival circuit, with customers praising the owner’s kindness and talent. Some people think the store has an earthy, Never-Land vibe, making it a must-visit destination in Woodstown.

I sat down with Sierra Kate, owner and operator of Dye of Your Dreams, to chat about the upcoming event. She described it as a creative exploration. “The ‘odyssey’ is an exploration of creativity, community, and self. And the ‘illest’ is the confidence and connectedness you feel when expressing yourself with community.” She likes to lay out the theme and the space, then sit back and see what kind of chaos ensues. Sometimes it is karaoke, sometimes live in-house bands, as well as poets and comedians. The evening just kind of evolves. Some have called the experience a fever dream. Sierra noted that she is surprised how she is able to make it all happen. She runs it with the help of her brother Logan, who is more of the musician and will perform with everyone. They assign a theme to guide the collective and encourage participants to share in the creativity. She believes that doing a themed odyssey connects the collective before they even walk in the door and can eliminate nerves for some.

When decorating for the odyssey, Sierra thinks of the shop as an interactive art installation for everyone to play in. “I started noticing that the ones I viewed as an art installation were more fun for everyone, so now I try to view all of them like that.” I realized that the welcoming environment that Sierra provides for the open mic experience is an important a part of her over-all business model, as I was sitting on the comfy settee in her basement shop. “Going to the local festivals has really affected what I do here in the shop and what I curate at the shop. I’ve also begun to set up extra booth space at the festivals for regulars who just come and hang out.”

Thank you for the chat, Sierra. It was a much-needed reminder about the importance of fostering community in music and art culture, and that festival season is right around the corner. I wish you the most Illest of Odysseys this Saturday!