React Presents is thrilled to announce the branded stage lineups for this year’s Freaky Deaky! In support of genres and talent from all spectrums of the dance music sphere, MARKUS SCHULZ will kick off the Halloween weekend with a headlining performance on the TRANCE ARENA STAGE, while GESAFFELSTEIN closes out the second night with a DJ Set on the BEATPORT STAGE, as RICHIE HAWTIN wraps up the final night on the UNDERGROUND STAGE.
Tickets are on sale now at www.freakydeakyhalloween.com!
TRANCE ARENA MARKUS SCHULZ Audien | Myon & Shane 54 Orjan Nilsen | Simon Patterson
Super8 & Tab
More Information here. BEATPORT GESAFFELSTEIN (DJ Set) Shiba San | Hannah Wants
Mr. Carmack | Will Clarke
Ricoshei
More Information here.
UNDERGROUND
RICHIE HAWTIN
Dubfire | Pete Tong
Joris Voorn | Justin Martin
More Information here.
About Freaky Deaky:Ever since this dark and twisted adventure was founded in 2008 by React Presents, Freaky Deaky continues to grow bigger, better, and a little spookier every year, transforming into the freakiest costume party in the Chicagoland area. In 2011, the single day event expanded into Detroit with over 5,500 people in attendance. In 2012, Freaky Deaky expanded to two days, which attracted over 9,000 attendees, making it the largest Halloween event in the Midwest. Offering a diverse range of world class artists, past performers include MSTRKRFT, Chromeo, Wolfgang Gartner, Laidback Luke, Dada Life, GRiZ, Claude VonStroke, Flux Pavilion, Nervo, Knife Party, Danny Brown, Tommy Trash, A-trak, Araabmuzik, Kill the Noise, Tchami, Bloody Beetroots, Crystal Castles, Boys Noize, TOKiMONSTA, and more.
Check out Spring Awakening Music Festival’s Official Aftermovie produced by Yoder Productions. The four minute and 20 second recap features breath taking aerial cinematography of Chicago, footage of fans, Jack U, Martin Garrix, Tiesto, Zedd, Zeds Dead, Flosstradamus, Excsion, and more! The song featured in the recap is “Take U There” BY Jack U, remixed by Zeds Dead. We look forward to Spring Awakening Music Festival 2016!
“Follow your dreams full heartedly, don’t hold back, be your authentic self and the rest will follow and flow naturally,” Ten’s advice to other young entrepreneurs. Two gypsy souls brought together by their passion to create. Their nomadic collection is handcrafted and one of a kind. Their pieces are elegantly made for the rough and the rigid… For the night-dwellers, and the day-trippers. For the fierce and the fancy. For the starry-eyed vagabonds dancing through life, painting the world with their spirit.
Tenisha and Tree carefully craft their jewelry using materials like leather, metals and precious stones. Inspired by the beauty of nature, they travel across the globe to soak up Mother Earth’s magic. TenTrees Tribe is a collaboration of handmade elegant, bold, and beautiful creations– A shared vision of raw stones, layered chains, and unique designs with intentions of awakening both the wild feminine and masculine within. In their line some of the most coveted pieces are the body chains, druzy rings, statement septum rings, and quartz crystal necklaces. They also do custom pieces by request.
Check out their website: TenTrees TribeTenTrees TribeTenTrees TribeTenTrees Tribe TenTrees Tribe
We got to [virtually] meet the two rad babes behind the incredible TenTrees Tribe and learn about what it takes to be a young entrepreneur in today’s competitive environment. Check out how they got started, how they run their business, and what fuels their fire…
Q & A with the TenTreesTribe Babes How did you girls start your business?
We’re actually cousins, and in the summer of 2010 we started going to a bunch of festivals like Coachella, Lightning in a Bottle, Burningman, etc. This started our love of the festival culture and style. We started making feather earrings and feather hair clips for fun, and quickly it became a small business that helped fund our festival attending. Over the years this turned into what is now known as TenTrees Tribe! Everything we’ve ever created has been completely self-taught; Tree has a more classic, elegant style, while Ten has more of a funky bohemian edge. We both bring a different set of skills to the table, and together we balance out the business perfectly. We’re only 22, but we have huge dreams, determination, and big goals in our vision. Our ultimate dream is to open a store one day! How long have you guys been in business?
We’ve been doing this for 4 years. It was originally a small hobby, and now it’s turned into this! Every day it becomes more and more of a reality that this is our life; we’re living our dream. What is your biggest inspiration?
Traveling is our biggest inspiration! It’s the classroom that makes us happy and we chose this life over a traditional education. This may be one of the hardest decisions we’ve made in life thus far, but we went against the grain and chose to pursue these dreams of seeing the world. Through this we’ve gained an open hearted open-minded passion and lust for life. We find ourselves bouncing between SE Asia and Central/South America. We’re greatly inspired by the jewelry, and the cultural fashion! Being from Humboldt County, nature is also a huge inspiration to us. We love the raw, the real, the weird and the wild. We appreciate the mystery as well as the natural textures and patterns found in the forest and the ocean. Lastly, music is a pivotal part in inspiring our self-confidence and motivation. The way some music can make us feel is the way we want the tribe to feel when wearing our creations; free, infinite, and unstoppable! What kind of music do you listen to while creating?
The Grateful Dead and the Beatles always! As well as Thriftworks and Phaeleh… and some recent musical musings would be Biolumigen, Hakuu, and Onhell. Do you plan on transitioning to an independent website vs. Etsy?
Yes, hopefully over the course of the next year. For now we have a high demand from retail stores so we’re focusing more on that versus online sales. Right now we’re currently being carried in Divine Origin located in Redway, CA and in The Lucky Heart Shop located in Fortuna, CA, and will be in another soon to be announced. We’re also currently looking to branch out and get our jewelry in stores located outside of NorCal. There’s only two of us in this business and we can only do so much, hmmmm..Maybe it’s time to find some apprentices 😉 What’s next?
Focusing on taking our business to the next level. We’re working on designing a clothing line for next summer actually! Any advice for young entrepreneurs?
Ten: I once read a quote from a fortune cookie that said: “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” That quote has always stuck with me, and how you really can accomplish anything you set your mind to even if it seems impossible. I think our overall advice would be to follow your dreams full heartedly, don’t hold back, be your authentic self and the rest will follow and flow naturally…and like they say, we all have as many hours in a day as Beyoncé 😉
For the seventh annual FREAKY DEAKY, React Presents is thrilled to announce the expansion into a three-day festival! The event also has a brand-new home, the massive Toyota Park, about 12 miles away from downtown Chicago on October 30 – November 1, 2015. Featuring a fully interactive spooktacular experience, with 75+ artists, 3 stages, and 3 days of music, Freaky Deaky 2015 promises to bring the freak out of everyone this Halloween Weekend.
Tickets are on sale now at www.freakydeakyhalloween.com! The Largest Halloween Event in the Midwest returns with a monstrous lineup that’s bigger than ever before. Powerhouse headliners include BASSNECTAR, ARMIN VAN BUUREN, PRETTY LIGHTS, 2 CHAINZ, BIG GIGANTIC, and CARNAGE, along with eclectic artists like ACTION BRONSON, BENNY BENASSI, BORGORE, DATSIK, FLYING LOTUS, GRIZ, LOGIC, MAC MILLER, OLIVER HELDENS, and many more.
In support of genres and talent from all spectrums in the dance music sphere, Freaky Deaky will also be curating themed SCARY STAGES hosted by electronic tastemakers MARKUS SCHULZ, GESAFFELSTEIN (DJ Set), and RICHIE HAWTIN.
Additionally, this year’s annual Halloween event will bring a wide range of sounds that will keep more than 75,000 fans dancing throughout the weekend, spanning from Hip Hop acts RIFF RAFF, JOEY BADA$$, VIC MENSA, and CL, to underground connoisseurs like DUBFIRE, PETE TONG, JORIS VOORN, and THE MAGICIAN, along with Trance Family mainstays including SUPER8 & TAB, MYON & SHANE 54, plus a special back-to-back set with CASH CASH and TRITONAL.
Complete with top notch decor, carnival rides, games, and terrifyingly fun haunted houses and graveyards — have no fear of missing out and join us with the ghastly ghouls and wicked witches at Freaky Deaky! About Freaky Deaky:
Ever since this dark and twisted adventure was founded in 2008 by React Presents, Freaky Deaky continues to grow bigger, better, and a little spookier every year, transforming into the freakiest costume party in the Chicagoland area. In 2011, the single day event expanded into Detroit with over 5,500 people in attendance. In 2012, Freaky Deaky expanded to two days, which attracted over 9,000 attendees, making it the largest Halloween event in the Midwest. Offering a diverse range of world class artists, past performers include MSTRKRFT, Chromeo, Wolfgang Gartner, Laidback Luke, Dada Life, GRiZ, Claude VonStroke, Flux Pavilion, Nervo, Knife Party, Danny Brown, Tommy Trash, A-trak, Araabmuzik, Kill the Noise, Tchami, Bloody Beetroots, Crystal Castles, Boys Noize, TOKiMONSTA, and more. Toyota Park
7000 Harlem Ave
Bridgeview, IL 60455
18+ | 2:00 PM Doors www.reactpresents.com www.freakydeakyhalloween.com
North Coast Music Festival (NCMF) is thrilled announce 2015’s Official After Parties, happening at the finest clubs and venues in Chicago! Tickets for the Official After Parties and the festival are on sale now at www.northcoastfestival.com. THURSDAY 9/3
Le Youth + Plastic Plates – the MID 21+ | Free with RSVP | Tickets
FRIDAY 9/4
Daft Rock – Future Rock Performs the Music of Daft Punk + North American Scum – Members of Turbo Suit, Digital Tape Machine, Spare Parts Present the Music of LCD Soundsystem – Concord Music Hall 18+ | Tickets
The Main Squeeze – Official Mind Your Head Album Release Party – Bottom Lounge 17+ | Tickets
Kill The Noize, The Trap House + Rodga – Transit 21+ | Tickets
Until the Ribbon Breaks, GGOOLLDD, Equator Club – Cobra Lounge 21+ | Tickets
MONDAY 9/7
NCMF Official Closing Party w/ Porn N Chicken + Special Guest TBA – Evil Olive 21+ | Tickets
About NCMF:
North Coast Music Festival was originally founded in 2010 by a group of independent promoters who came together to create an urban taste-maker festival of emerging and established artists from a diverse range of genres. Between them they produce hundreds of Chicago-based events each year, including multiple festivals in the Midwest, one off events at Chicago’s premiere music venues, street festivals, and more, that attract thousands of fans and artists from all over the world. Last year, NCMF celebrated it’s 5th year anniversary and sold out of 3-day passes for the first time, with nearly 60,000 people in attendance.
North Coast Music Festival
September 4th – September 6th, 2015
Union Park
Chicago, IL 60607
17+
Friday: 3 PM – 10 PM
Saturday/Sunday: Noon – 10 PM www.northcoastfestival.com
Summer Set Music & Camping Festival is right around the corner. With an amazing lineup including headliners like Bassnectar, Big Gigantic, The Weeknd, and deadmau5 there’s absolutely no reason why you should miss this festival. This year SSMF added a 5th stage, The Meadow. The new stage, dubbed A Live One, will feature critically acclaimed bands with live performances from Purity Ring, Thievery Corporation, Railroad Earth, Lettuce, Boombox, Cloud Cult, Tanlines, and many more.
SSMF Must-Haves
• earplugs
• baby wipes
• mophie charger
• sunscreen
• camelbak
• extra tent stakes
• comfortable shoes
• warm clothes
• water-bottle or camel back
• sunglasses
• rain boots and sandals
• cooler
• extra chairs for visitors and friends
• disposable camera
• canopy
• wrist watch – cellphones die
• propane grill
• goodies to share
• tapestry
• flashlight
• sleeping bag, pillow, tent
• bug spray
• toilet paper
• GOOD VIBES
15 Sets We Hope You Don’t Miss at SSMF
– Friday –
Bass Nectar
Odesza
TJR
Keys N Krates
Woo Park
– Saturday –
Big Gigantic
The Weeknd
Tycho
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Manic Focus
– Sunday –
Deadmau5
Zeds Dead
Lettuce
Vaski
Milk & Cookies
Official SSMF 2015 After Parties
Friday
Griz
Haywyre
Saturday
The Floozies
Ton Loc
Going VIP at SSMF is definitely a plus!
VIP Perks Include the following:
• Preferred on-site parking
• Advanced entry to “The Woods” VIP campgrounds beginning on Thursday August 14th at 4:00 pm, ahead of the General Admission ticket holders
• Private viewing areas at the Main Stage and Grove Stage
• Free access to Friday and Saturday’s on-site after parties
• Private restrooms and showers
• Full assistance from dedicated VIP staff members
• Free professional massages
• Access to an additional mini-stage featuring intimate DJ sets exclusive to VIP campers
After a one-year hiatus Camp Bisco returns to a new home in Scranton, Pennsylvania at Montage Mountain. This new home offered a wide array of different activities for festival-goers to partake in but it definitely was not without hiccups. After traveling 11+ hours through the night from Chicago to Scranton we arrived at the off site parking around 6:30am to a beautiful sunrise but that’s not all…a long line of tired and cold festival goers stranded at the bottom of the mountain stare back at us. After waiting in the off-site line for well over four hours, we finally were placed on a shuttle up the hill only to be greeted with yet another grueling line. At this point everyone was exhausted, dehydrated and fed up with everything that we had already endured to get to this point; but little did we know it was not over. Once on the poorly run tracker shuttle and dropped at the bottom of the hill, we were greeted with the epic trek up the side of the ski hill to get to our camping spots. Campers and their gear was scattered all over the rocky paths and panting as the sun beat down on our backs. After pushing and pulling our very limited amount of camping gear up numerous paths; we settled on a spot shaded by some of the beautiful lush forest that was situated beneath the ski lifts…. and that is where camp Dante’s Inferno was born.
Now I know what you are thinking, why the HELL would you put up with all that? Let me tell you, the music made up for all the crap we had to deal with throughout the weekend. I have never heard so many great sets in one place. The music didn’t start till Thursday evening so we had time to recover from the extreme task of getting to our camping spot. The evening started with a literal bang at Zoogma’s set, where if you have read anything about Camp Bisco this year you probably know what happened. A disgruntle fest-head leapt on stage and crashed into their equipment, cutting the sound. Besides that minor incident, their set was a great way the start the weekend. Atmosphere was up next on the main stage – Electric City. This large pavilion tent housed some of the best music of the weekend, with amazing views from the lawn; there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. As the crowds began to fill, it was time for my personal favorite to take the stage, STS9! Bringing a fire set, everyone washed away their tired vibes from the seemingly never-ending journey. With a quick run back to camp, we passed by hip hop group Flatbush Zombies at the Above the Waves stage, which literally was next to a wave pool. Festival-goers could enjoy the music while they floated in the water with waves crashing on them. The first set of six amazing Disco Biscuits sets was just getting underway at Electric City when we returned. Sunset disco DJ Goldroom, provided a great intro to the late night party that was about to happen. Pretty Lights took on the main stage shortly after and the feeling in the air was unmatched. Floods of people lined the pavilion seats and packed the lawn, eagerly awaiting the nasty beat and amazing light performance that was about to ensue. It was like Derek was a conductor for the thousands of people dancing in unison. The night closed out with a DJ set by Classixx, at Above the Waves, where some were still enjoying the comfort of the wave pool in the cool nights air.
Awaking Friday, everyone was sore from the trekking and constant dancing and shenanigans from the night before. Luckily for us we could enjoy the groovy music of Tauk from our campsite, which got us pumped for what the day had to offer. First up on the list was The Motet at Electric City. Along the way we spotted a spray paint duo, Pineapple Paint, who were doing body-art paint so naturally we had to stop. After getting painted it was Motet time. Their funky beats with jazz influences were a soothing soundtrack to the afternoon. Brother duo, The Floozies, laid some fresh electronic beats, which got the crowd jumping at Above the Waves. Emancipator had the crowd entranced with their spine tingling tracks from their upcoming album “Seven Seas.” Getting from Above the Waves to Electric city was quite a challenge during peak times especially with the multiple alcohol check points along the way but finally after making our way through the seas of people we made it just in time for Mr. Carmack. Walking into the furthest stage, Steamtown, it was apparent that he was on the wrong stage; the place was completely packed shoulder to shoulder. With a slight sound issue leaving him with no sound for a bit, he made up for it by throwing down a nasty set for the jam-packed crowd. Set three of the Biscuits followed as beams of lasers shot well into the crowd, everyone got down with their jams. The sax slaying Big Gigantic closed out the main stage and they definitely did not disappoint! Tucked away right in the middle of the venue laid the Disco Lodge, which held most of the after hours. Since we had not checked it out yet we decided to give it a go, Buffalo Analog, from Exmag, was laying the tracks for the early morning dance party. On our way back to camp we stumbled upon Camp Hate, a renegade stage that was playing some deep beats that we couldn’t resist. As the sun started to peak over the mountains it was time to head back to camp to recoup for the final day.
Saturday started with the flood of one day only campers filing in, taking whatever space they could find left. After the late night, The Werks were a great into soundtrack to the final day. One of my other favorite sets from the weekend came from Moon Hooch, a saxophone, percussion trio, at Steamtown stage. As the day progressed the music started to shift into party mode to prepare for the evening’s main event, Bassnectar. Exmag threw down an amazing set at Above the Waves. At this point there was a shift in the wind as a severe storm started to approach the area, a voice came over the intercom announcing that everyone must exit the venue and return to their camps. Right after that the downpour started, rain came down from the sky in sheets soaking the grounds lasting about 45 minutes. As the skies began to clear a beautiful double rainbow appeared over the backside of Above the Waves stage. This was the theme for the entire weekend, although things may have been rough at times; to find a rainbow, you must weather the storm. With the storm an updated schedule was announced and no acts were cut. Papadosio was up on Above the Waves playing at the end of the rain and delivering an amazing set to the freshly washed crowd. The air was thick with excitement at the second to last Disco Biscuits set as they pumped the crowd up for the hours and fifteen-minute block of Bassnectar. Although there has been a lot of controversy going around the Internet over these back to back sets and disgruntle fans of each artist, from where we were everyone was pleasant and having a great time with each other.
As the time approached for Bassnectar to take the stage all you could see was a sea of people anxiously waiting for him to step on stage. As soon as the first note played out those speakers, the crowd went completely wild. Each with their own style of dance, Bassnectar brought everyone together for the love of music. The night closed out with a trippy set from British composer Tipper. A sadness hung in the air as a final note sang from the speakers as Tipper walked off stage; no one was ready for the weekend to end. I will spare the details of the exit but I will give a clue that it was quite similar to our experience entering the festival. Overall there were some amazing times had this past weekend by each festival-goer, but there are definitely some logistical issues that need to be worked out for future Bisco’s. This is going to be the case for any new location; The Disco Biscuits are aware of the issues and plans are already in the works to improve the hang-ups next year. The weekend is about the music, which did not disappoint. We will definitely be returning next year but with a bit of advice: be sure to bring your hiking shoes.
Summer Set Music & Camping Festival (SSMF) is thrilled to release the 2015 schedule and set times! A limited amount of single day tickets are on sale now, and discounted 3-day GA and VIP passes are still available, so get yours now before prices go up. Tickets are available at www.summersetfestival.com!
The SSMF Schedule is here:
Additional support for Friday and Saturday night’s official on-site after parties has also been announced. To kick off Night #1 at the Grove Stage, pre-futuristic jazz-fusion producer HAYWYRE will support GRIZ’s infectious sax-infused headlining set, while 1980s rap pioneer TONE-LOC is set to support THE FLOOZIES’ cutting edge production and crowd-rocking funk for Night #2. Tone-Loc was the second rap act ever to reach #1 on Billboard’s album charts with his 1989 Loc’d After Dark album release, which spawned his best-known hit singles “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina”.
Summer Set’s late night after parties are only accessible to festival attendees, and VIP ticket holders will have free access. The discounted ticket package for both nights have officially sold out, so don’t wait and encourage your crew to purchase individual tickets for only $20 each before it’s too late.
North Coast Music Festival (NCMF) is thrilled to bring back the SILENT DISCO and announce the lineup for 2015! This year the Silent Disco tent will feature a double DJ booth with two separate channels of music on every headphone, so fans will be able to switch between each DJ.
As always, Chicago is strongly represented by an eclectic variation of DJs, which is exactly why the Silent Disco has become such a fan favorite. With over 30 DJs spinning across all genres from hip-hop, funk and house, to disco, trap, trance, and more, everyone’s favorite headphone discotheque is always a crowd pleaser.
Weekend passes and single day tickets are on now sale at www.northcoastfestival.com!
Coming back to civilization was jarring. Unnatural. After being there, going home made everything we had experienced at Electric Forest like a dream. Surreal. As it was for Alice, who walked through the talking doors, no one, no matter how far their imagination stretched, could anticipate the wonders that awaited beyond the front gates. Rothbury’s best kept secret until recent past.
Truly understanding Electric Forest can really only be done by being there. So, make sure it’s on the list. What I CAN relay to you, however, is that from the moment you step foot through the gates to the early A.M. hours when you went back through, every portion of your senses had been stimulated by a world that could best be described to any avid festival goer by “It’s f@*#-ing Shangri-La.”
Never, have I experienced such a masterfully curated Interactive Art and Music festival as within Insomniac’s Electric Forest. (I still have yet to go the Burn In Black Rock.) Moment to moment, from the stage of Tripolee to Sherwood Court, sounds, sights, smells, sensations of all shapes and sizes, from over 8 stages and beyond, overwhelmed my subconscious. It was ALMOST to much.
My photographer and I arrived after a four and a half hour journey through rural roads along western Michigan. Even now, smells of thick pine and cedar continue to blend with memory; bringing me back to the canopy covered world of lights and love. In the wee dark hours of the morning from almost ten miles away you could see the Forest’s glow hovering over the tops of the trees. “Happy Forest!” being heard everywhere. Calling, all who came near like moths to an electric flame.
Turning from the off ramp onto the winding road and making our way to the front gates, we found it riddled with over 40,000 Forest Family members “struggle bussing” back to their temporary homes for those magical four days. Furry felines. Scantily clad fairies dripping with glitter dust and sweat. Neon Guys and Glowing Girls. Flow artists with swirling light orbiting them like meteors in rings; a literal army of “PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect) Warriors” crawling their way back to their tents after a full day of battle with artistic Giants.
I still shake my head with a smile as I try and wrap my mind around what happened. Let’s take a moment to reflect. We got to speak with a few of the artists camping there that weekend. Our first task on our journey was a sit down with Chicago Tropic House heavyweights, Autograf. (You can catch the interview here: ) They were just about to enter the artist food tent when I grabbed them for a quick interview. Edward Sharp and Magnetic Zeros were jamming from the Ranch Stage just a quarter mile away. It was hard to tear away from them but there was no way we were gonna turn down the opportunity to drop in on Autograf. I asked them about their take on E. Forest:
“It’s trippy.”
(Aptly put.)
“We just keep hearing so many people talk about this festival and all the art. We are happy to be apart of it,” said Mike Wing (also a member of Midnight Conspiracy). Not surprising due to the reaction of the Forest Family to Autograf’s killer set.
“Well done boys. Inspirational.”
Jake Carpenter, one half of Autograf, mentioned how “The visual art here. That’s inspirational. I used to do mostly sculpture. One of my favorite artists is Javier Martin but that’s beside the point. Walking through the forest while it’s all lit up is peaceful.” Spiritual. You could see that playing E. Forest was a milestone of success for them…. “It’s really satisfying to hear feedback from our fans saying that we helped inspire them to create new work too. It’s a big win for us in our minds.”
With the immense explosions of art surrounding us I hesitated to ask but wanted to know where they were heading with the project. They replied with a proud smile,
“We have a full album finished. The initial inception of the project was to get back to our roots; the after hour basement dance parties. We’ll be putting out songs for the rest of the year. Officially we can’t announce whom we’re collaborating with, but the first single is set to drop next month [end of July.] It’s been cool. We’ve been playing them out during our concerts and since the audiences haven’t heard them yet it’s really interesting to see how they’ve been reacting to it. We are including live instrumentation. We are working with the concepts of trying to turn club sets into a live set and performance. We are also working on finding a visual concept to fit it,” said Wing, “As soon as we have the right rig you can expect to see Autograf become a very visual experience.”
Autograf had to run immediately after our sit down but made sure we were hip to a secret set happening later that evening on the grounds after everyone was escorted out of the gates. Not knowing how the night would favor us we decided to do what we could to take in the rest of the grounds and scope out the secret spot. Somewhere in the middle of ‘Sherwood Forest’ (a literal playground for the sober and psychotropic mind) amidst the immense collection of eye candy that laid before us we found ourselves almost instantly lost; thrown into a childlike state of wonder and awe.
Clock towers constructed from sacred geometrics, tents dedicated to gong baths, LED clouds mimicking a cage of electric rainbow fire, and hammocks as far as the eye can see filled this cornucopia of stimulations. But, it wasn’t until we were passing beneath the feet of a giant woman, The Electric Forest Goddess (she changed each year), a voluptuous figure reaching for the sky with a muted bronze glow shining beneath a shroud of vines and leaves that we would come across something that, for me, would fixate itself into my waking mind.
Imagine, tucked into an almost wonderfully hidden corner off the path through this neo-sacred ground lay 22 doors facing each other in a round. What first caught my attention was the slam of a wooden door being heard bouncing off the trees. I looked towards the sound and saw three individuals crossing the thresholds; two exited one entered. There was an odd glow permeating from out of the open doors. I could see and hear people laughing, and then silence as the doors shut again. It kept up like this for several moments, people entering and exiting, as I drew closer to inspect the odd structure. Every door was different; so simple, so basic, so quiet until they were opened to reveal the inner sanctum alive with laughter, music and scented air.
When I finally walked through my door I was greeted by a beautiful young raven haired woman dressed like a gypsy saying to me “Oh?! Which door did you come through? [she looks] The stars! Who are you not to shine?” then disappears through the portal I just came through. I turn to see that the door, which looked so decrepit on the outside, was lined with a stunning image of a woman’s nude body wrapped in blanket of stars. And the base read the word “STARS: Who are you not to shine?” Curiously I turned and surveyed the other doors and quickly realized that they were all line with powerful sacred images and symbols. Every door was lined with a newly represented images of the 22 most powerful cards in the Deck of Tarot. [Laura my photographer walked through the Hierophant] So mesmerizing were the black and white photographic images that I almost forgot that there were people in the room. People kept entering and exiting. There two pedestals with full page portfolios that gave the reading for each of the doors, as if you drew your fate card from the fortune tellers deck, but didn’t even know it until you read over the account of the door in which you entered.
Collecting ourselves we began to make an attempt to discern who to talk to, in order to understand what it was we were being surround by, and why it was so inexplicably moving. In that moment it dawned on me that with everyone walking in and out of the room through different doors, I couldn’t tell who was apart of the installation piece and who was an observer. The artists, who were present the whole time, were shrouded in anonymity and could stay that way until they decided to reveal themselves. So, seamless was the human shuffle that it began to make me feel uncomfortable; like I was being watched and I didn’t even know it. I walked around the room (my photographer snapping happily away) as light pierced my eyes through the holes in a spinning rusty oil bullet shot drum at the center of room. Looking away from the shine, my eyes drew down to meet those of woman sitting on the round bench beneath the drum. She was in all white lace, gold makeup and jewelry. Her blues eyes stared at me; studying me. She stood up carefully approached me and asked, “Which card did you first come through?”
“The Stars,” I replied.
She smiled. I realized who she was. I began to ask her questions left and right. “What is this? How did you make it? Why does it feel so odd and gripping? Where did this idea come from? Who are you?”
She spoke sweetly as another beautiful slightly more eagle eyed woman came near to us, “My name is Jill and this is my counterpart Anne ,” the artists of this room called the Wheel of Fortune.
“SONY DSC”(Left: Anne Staveley, Right:Jill Sutherland
They went on to tell me how the idea spawned. They are photographic muralists that originally wanted to create the entire deck of 78 images. But, after their consultation with a friend and Tarot reader they felt that it would be more feasible to focus on the 22 trump cards. What they couldn’t have realized at that point was how poignant this decision would become. Each image separately/simultaneously photographed at different exposures(no digital alteration) then layered to make up each of the cards, would become the doors to this gravitationally charged room. (A fully manifested metaphor for ancient universal mysteries & truths, if you ask me.) So, detailed and thought out was this project that once you introduced the human element the movement of the room was completely organic. Taking on a life of it’s own. People kept coming and going. Most noticeable were the ones who were coming in, as those who were leaving some how felt like they never left, leaving their presence behind. With every new body that entered the room you could feel the shift in energy grow, but some how never felt as if it shrank.
“What is that?” I asked. A silent shrug from Jill Sutherland and Anne Staveley, who had been trying to document the phenomenon themselves They just pointed out a GoPro attached to the cast iron chandelier fixed at the center of the room.
“It’s like a living organism. This project has been growing since we’ve begun. Last year we were rewarded for our efforts with being named one of Burning Man’s 2014 Honorarium Grant Recipients. (http://burners.me/2014/06/02/2014-art-grant-winners-announced) (Now we are taking the piece on tour. Hopefully soon to Europe” (Follow them Here: http://livinlargephoto.com/)
As hard as it was I had to leave these wonderful artists and continue on our musical mission. We exited the Wheel of Fortune back into the Forest amongst a sea of hammocks and Phantogram playing through the trees that were now lit up like neon pillars. Wandering from stage to stage we were enveloped by a massive speak easy pumping out Electro Swing music like it was 1929. Vorteque, yet another Chicago producer/DJ/circus freak brought an unparalleled vaudevillian performance each night that warped everyone into the future past, at the Hangar Stage. It was a steam punkers dream.
At the end of the night (morning really) staff were escorting everyone off of the grounds to prepare for the next day. (Big job. Big forest.) We still hadn’t found the secret stage so we were reluctant to follow the crowd. In the air we heard an engaging pianist soloing behind a wall on a darkened secluded stage. Curiously we went in. A random festival attendee, Kelly Costello I think her name was, had been wailing on the keys like she was pouring her heart out into a soul driven ragtime. Egged on by one of the artists, Yeshua Quinn, that dressed the Goddess of the Forest we stood and watched this girl poor her heart out. Unsolicited and unbeknownst to us, a crowd slowly gathered and silently listened to this beauty grasping for the last moments before we all had to go. She drew to finish with a flourish. The crowd cheered. Then out of nowhere the stage lights suddenly turned on and blared back at us. Costello walked down stunned while MR. CARMAK walked up to an already set up DJ rig and commenced to blow our minds.
Without even thinking about it we had found ourselves drawn into the afterhours party that we were searching for the whole time. Jpod, Autograf, Macy Grey and several of the major invited artists were dancing all around us. A celebration of the entire festival and the joy they were all bringing to the Forest Family and each other. NO WAY! I couldn’t believe our dumb luck. Needless to say the party went well into the morning as is the tradition of a true after party.
By the time we left, the Sun was already up and the grounds were cleaned; prepping for Sunday’s revelry. We said, “Jam! Let’s walk out the front gates back to our tent and get some food.” As we crossed the massive field before the stage of Tripolee we saw three hot air balloons lifting off into the sky; (our camera dead) slowly rising with my reflective thoughts. This place was truly magic. A place manifested by the sheer creative will and pure loving intention of a community that longed for something more. I will never forget the smell of pine and cedar blending into the morning mist. A true experience that has dug into my memory leaving it’s everlasting….
-Mark
As the crowds began to fill, it was time for my personal favorite to take the stage, STS9! Bringing a fire set, everyone washed away their tired vibes from the seemingly never-ending journey. With a quick run back to camp, we passed by hip hop group Flatbush Zombies at the Above the Waves stage, which literally was next to a wave pool. Festival-goers could enjoy the music while they floated in the water with waves crashing on them. The first set of six amazing Disco Biscuits sets was just getting underway at Electric City when we returned. Sunset disco DJ Goldroom, provided a great intro to the late night party that was about to happen. Pretty Lights took on the main stage shortly after and the feeling in the air was unmatched. Floods of people lined the pavilion seats and packed the lawn, eagerly awaiting the nasty beat and amazing light performance that was about to ensue. It was like Derek was a conductor for the thousands of people dancing in unison. The night closed out with a DJ set by Classixx, at Above the Waves, where some were still enjoying the comfort of the wave pool in the cool nights air.
The sax slaying Big Gigantic closed out the main stage and they definitely did not disappoint! Tucked away right in the middle of the venue laid the Disco Lodge, which held most of the after hours. Since we had not checked it out yet we decided to give it a go, Buffalo Analog, from Exmag, was laying the tracks for the early morning dance party. On our way back to camp we stumbled upon Camp Hate, a renegade stage that was playing some deep beats that we couldn’t resist. As the sun started to peak over the mountains it was time to head back to camp to recoup for the final day.
I will spare the details of the exit but I will give a clue that it was quite similar to our experience entering the festival. Overall there were some amazing times had this past weekend by each festival-goer, but there are definitely some logistical issues that need to be worked out for future Bisco’s. This is going to be the case for any new location; The Disco Biscuits are aware of the issues and plans are already in the works to improve the hang-ups next year. The weekend is about the music, which did not disappoint. We will definitely be returning next year but with a bit of advice: be sure to bring your hiking shoes.
lock towers constructed from sacred geometrics, tents dedicated to gong baths, LED clouds mimicking a cage of electric rainbow fire, and hammocks as far as the eye can see filled this cornucopia of stimulations. But, it wasn’t until we were passing beneath the feet of a giant woman, The Electric Forest Goddess (she changed each year), a voluptuous figure reaching for the sky with a muted bronze glow shining beneath a shroud of vines and leaves that we would come across something that, for me, would fixate itself into my waking mind.
