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Events Festivals Music

Win an Ultimate VIP Package to Lightning in a Bottle 2016!

Enter to Win an Ultimate Lightning in a Bottle 2016 Festival VIP Package!

Masterful event creators and production innovators, Do LaB, are offering an incredible opportunity to win the ultimate VIP package for the 11th annual Lightning in a Bottle music, arts, yoga and camping festival taking place Memorial Day Weekend May 25-30, 2016 at San Antonio Recreation Area in Bradley, CA.

World-renowned as California’s premiere camping, music, and art boutique festival, Lightning in a Bottle brings together a community of inspired individuals, internationally acclaimed musicians, enlightening speakers and illuminating workshops designed to expand the mind and open the heart. This year’s festival features musical headliners Chet Faker, Jamie XX, Grimes, Tokimonsta, Guy Gerber, Cashmere Cat, Four Tet, and over 300+ artists performing over multiple majestically structured stages. Additionally, LIB features visionary artists and interactive zones including The Village, the Grand Artique, Amori’s Cafe, Kid’s Village, and Lucent Temple of Consciousness with an expanded Learning Kitchen, Healing Sanctuary, Meditation Nest, Mystery School, Pineal Playground, two yoga tents and more. For a peek inside the magic of LIB, watch the 2016 Lightning in a Bottle Official Video or learn more by visiting the Lightning in a Bottle website – click here to purchase tickets.

Do LaB’s Lightning in a Bottle 2016 Prize Packages Include:

Grand Prize “Ultimate LIB VIP Package” (One Winner)

  • Two passes to LIB 2016
  • Two Early Arrival passes which will allow LIB pass holders entry into the festival when gates open on Wednesday May 25, 2016
  • LIB Uber Great Camping Experience which includes
  • One 16′ Luxury Canvas Bell accommodations with interior height of 9’8″ and 200 sq ft of living space which will include one full size elevated bed complete with real mattress, fresh linens, shower towels, indoor furniture, lighting, power outlets, personal cooler w/ complimentary ice, outdoor seating area, and access to upgraded restroom suites with full length mirrors.
  • Two keepsake Lightning in a Bottle water bottles
  • Two lush lounge visitor wristbands for friends not staying in boutique
  • On-site concierge service
  • One Welcome package from LIB sponsors
  • Two tickets to a Sit-Down Dinner at one of the LIB boutique environments – Amori’s Cafe, Giggle Juice Cafe, or The Last Supper Club
  • Two LIB 2016 Official T-Shirts

Second Tier Prize (One Winner)

  • Two LIB festival tickets + One on-site Car Camping Pass

Third Tier Prizes (Five Winners)

  • One Free Pizza from the Dough LaB on site at Lightning in a Bottle

 

Please read below for the list of rules before you enter the giveaway. Contest will close on Sunday May 1, 2016 at 11:59PM PST. Winners will be notified by email on May 2, 2016 – Good Luck!

Enter now for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway;

Contest Rules:

Entries can be submitted until May 1 at 11:59PM PST.
Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, but you can gain extra entries through social media shares.
Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given out to any third parties.
Must be 18+ to enter. Contestants can come from anywhere in the world but need valid ID. Travel out to the Lightning in a Bottle festival will not covered.
Winners will be chosen randomly. One (1) winner will receive VIP Prize Package, One (1) winner will win the Second Tier Prize, and Five (5) winners will receive the Third Tier Prize.
Winners will be notified via email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted to redeem prize. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen at random. Make sure that the email account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a working email.
Prize packages are part of a promotional giveaway and non-transferable.

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Festivals

Summer Camp Music Festival 2016 Final Round of Artists Announced!

Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment are proud to present the Final Round of Artist Announcements for the 16th Annual Summer Camp Music Festival at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL on May 27, 28 and 29, 2016.
We are excited to announce the lineup for the special Make A Difference Everyone Orchestra set as well as the following artists:
Everyone Orchestra
Conducted by Matt Butler and featuring
Kyle Hollingsworth (String Cheese Incident), Marc Brownstein (Disco Biscuits),
Al Schnier (moe.), Tom Hamilton (JRAD, American Babies),
Jeremy Salken (Big Gigantic), Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band),
Mimi Naja (Fruition), Daniel Lamb (MarchFourth) and Chris Gelbuda
 

** Below listed in Alphabetical Order **
 
American Babies
Bionik
Blake Gardener
& The Farmers
Blastfome
The Bogart Jones Band
Chicago Funk Mafia
Cirrus Minor
Crosseyed & Phishless
The Dropper
The Easy Riders
Echo Base Quartet
Electric Orange Peel
Fahrenheit & Celsius
Flash In A Pan
Fletcher’s Grove
Good Touch
Hyryder
IFDAKAR
Love Canon
Mother Nature
New Souls
Porch Fire
ProbCause
The Ragbirds
The Schwag
Space Words
Spread
Spundose
The Steepwater Band
Tenth Mountain Division
 
To see the full lineup, check out www.summercampfestival.com/lineup
3-day Tickets are $214.50 and are currently on sale on-line at www.summercampfestival.com or by phone at 1-800-514-ETIX.  This price level is almost sold out and price may increase without notice very soon.
The Summer Camp Music Festival will feature over 120 artists on 8 stages including 3 days of moe. and 3 days of Umphrey’s McGee.  On top of all the live music, festival-goers have access to on-site camping, late night shows, musician workshops, a non-profit village, unique arts & craft vendors and tons of great food and beer.
The Summer Camp Music Festival started in 2001.  Since its beginning Summer Camp has been known for its spacious, open fields for shows, trademark late-night events, pristine campgrounds and amazing lineup of eclectic artists and bands.  2016 will mark the 16th year of the festival which has hosted a wide array of talent over the years, including: Steve Miller Band, Widespread Panic, Trey Anastasio Band, Zac Brown Band, The Flaming Lips, Willie Nelson, STS9, Bassnectar, Jane’s Addiction, Wiz Khalifa, The Avett Brothers, Pretty Lights, Skrillex, Primus, Girl Talk and many, many more.
More information on the festival is available at the official festival website:
www.summercampfestival.com
www.facebook.com/summercampmusicfestival
www.twitter.com/summercampfest
 
 

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Events Festivals Music

Explore the Micro-Environments at this year's Lightning in a Bottle

Lightning in a Bottle is much more than your average music festival.  Venture away from the main stages and find yourself transported into the many weird and wonderful realms nestled on the grounds of LIB, each micro-environment ripe with exciting expansions, new offerings, and scintillating music for 2016.
Step into the vintage portal between the Temple of Consciousness and The Village, and immerse yourself within the Grand Artique’s famed Frontierville.  This year updates to Frontierville included a renovation of the Grand Artique’s live music stage now named The Mission Stage.  This stage will host an array of entertainment including VKCE (Vokab Company x Crush Effect), Whilk & Misky, Dirtwire, Pimps of Joytime, NoMBe, and Jeremy Sole who will take his audience on a sonic trip through the past, present and future of Roots music during a very special 11am Sunday Revival.   You can count on The Mission Stage to be bumpin’ at all hours so check out the full line-up below or just follow your ears to the magic.  Also found with the Grand Artique are a tipsy Gypsy Encampment host to mischief and mayhem, Boss Whispers’ General Store & Trading Post, Skinny DeVille’s Bar (a rare blend of theatrics and deviant mixology), and The Poison Oak Hotel, a two-storied structure with an enormous fire and improvised melodies.
Not far from the Grand Artique explorers may find themselves at the boomin’ Jive Joint an interactive art installation designed to exude French Quarter vibes.  Here those lucky enough to find it are rewarded with super funky, soulful tunes by producer Super Tall Paul‘s legendary on the spot musical looping, and expect the unexpected as this spot is known for its comedic improv.  Witness Amori’s Casino & Burlesque, a sexy experience featuring live burlesque and cabaret and check out Giggle Juice Cafe at the Lost Hotel, which features a full-service restaurant, and juice bar.
For an added flair to the LIB experience, attendees have the option to purchase tickets to delicious and entertaining pop-up dinners at one of three immersive locations! Amori’s Casino & Burlesque, Giggle Juice Cafe, and The Last Supper Club will all be serving multi-course meals from Italian to Vegan, and enjoy their special brand of entertainment on the side. These unique experiences do sell out — reserve a seat by purchasing tickets here.
Early Arrival Offerings:
This year Do LaB has opened the gates to LIB a day early for those looking to maximize all that the festival has to offer. The purchase of an Early Arrival Pass comes with a plethora of experiences centered around opportunities to explore connections within the community before turning the music on for the full festival adventure.
Cacao Ceremony – The Temple of Consciousness will kick off its “spiritual” opening on Wednesday May 25th at 9:30pm with a traditional Cacao Ceremony. Cacao is a traditional plant rich in nutrients, as well as serotonin, tryptophan and dopamine. As such, the Cacao Ceremony brings with it the intention to stoke the spiritual soul of early arrivers at Lightning in a Bottle with a ritualized one of a kind experience that projects positivity and connectedness to open hearts from beyond the boundaries of culture and time.
Temescal Lodge – Near the Arch at the Temple of Consciousness and Pineal Playground, a ritual will be presented by authentic Mayan teachers on Early Arrival day. The Temescal Lodge will host an experience founded in the medicine of Ancient Mayan sweat, which is a practice that’s spiritually revitalizing and steeped in tradition.
Action Day – Join LIB 2016 artist Polish Ambassador for an Action Day at the Village from 1pm to 7pm. Action Day activities include: planting a few trees, placing mulch around existing ones to strengthen their roots, building a cob oven and much more!
Village Life – A vast collection of educational and ceremonial offerings from 2pm to 2am at The Village, featuring spiritually inspired workshops and tribal ceremonies to connect the past, present and future.
Torn Between by Hoodie – When natural landscapes come alive, the accomplished artist Hoodie can’t be far. Known for his uncanny sculptures comprised completely from twigs and branches, this tremendous artist plans to unveil a symbolic piece titled “Torn Between” that will celebrate the dichotomy of important decisions that affect us all in our daily lives.
Meditation Mountain by Nature Dreamweaver – Nate “Nature Dreamweaver” Hogen is an internationally celebrated installation artist known for his natural nest-like sculptures and ceremonial transmutation circles developed entirely from nature.
Other Experiences to Take Advantage of While Roaming LIB Include:
The Traveling Spectacular – A surrealist vaudeville experience inspired by the dreams and dust of a bygone age, live music by the Oddjob Ensemble, grand illusions, a sword swallowing houdini extraordinaire, vaudevillian comedy, alluring dancers and the fire-breathing Devil himself!
Transformation Station – A Human Décor Zone staffed by professional face and body painters, headed up by Audette Sophia of Become the Art.
Black Rock Observatory (BRO) – Look up to the heavens in one of two 21-foot domes housing a 20″ telescope for nighttime viewing and white light and h-alpha solar telescopes.
Highlove Vitality Elixir Lounge – An intimate speakeasy lounge, serving up tasty elixirs alongside burlesque, vaudeville, and aerial shows. Settle in for musical interludes, live performance, discussion panels, and dance parties. The elixir lounge is open around the clock, serving you when you need it most.
Playing Card Station & Oasis Rejuvenation Station – Choose some cards and create some cards at this Catalyst Card Playing Station, a social playing card experiment designed to bring more playfulness, depth, and interactivity to your festival experience. Spritz yourself down from the essential oil spritzer tree or dip in the bird bath – just next door.
Archival Ink by Fine Art Direct – Curators of this year’s art exhibition will showcase three separate galleries – Pop Surrealism, Visionary, and Counterculture. This year’s featured artists are Hans Haveron, Alex Grey, Mear One, Mugwort, and Sequoia. Come by to watch live body painting, artist signings, and to win a valuable print of your own.
 
2016 Grand Artique Full Music Lineup:
Pimps of Joytime – Whilk & Misky – Dirtwire – Jeremy Sole – VKCE (Vokab Kompany + Crush Effect – Diego’s Umbrella – Todo Mundo – NoMBe – W.C. Thornbrush & The Great American Show – Herbert Bail Orchestra – Lapa – Gene Evaro Jr. – Livingmore – Steven Roth – Bubble Gutter – Honey Larochelle – Moondog Matinee – Talia Keys – Miss Emmma & David Patrone – The Grand Artique Talent Show – Honeycomb – The Vibrometers – Francisco Fernandez & The Ferocious Few – Smoota – Carlo – Smoked Out Soul – Iconoclast Robot – Valley Queen – Father Bear – Love & The Zealous – Solar Sons – Blackwater Jukebox – Jazzy Fox – Iron Veil – Heart of Sound – DJ Ned Casual – Chris Brochu – Bootleg Sunshine – The Dank – The Kaygles – Well Well Well – Stagg – Spike McGuire – Those Folk
 
Purchase tickets to Lightning in a Bottle here.

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Festivals

Mamby on the Beach Lineup Released!

This Fourth of July holiday weekend (July 2 & 3), Chicago’s Premiere Lakefront Music Festival – MAMBY ON THE BEACH – will welcome a dazzling array of indie, hip-hop and electronic dance music-focused acts to Oakwood Beach for its second annual edition.
Headliners include Award-Winning electro-soul singer/songwriter/producer CHET FAKER, German reggae-tinged folk-pop duo MILKY CHANCE, underground rap stalwarts ATMOSPHERE, along with electro-funk duo CHROMEO, experimental pop-rock band ANIMAL COLLECTIVE, and female pop icon SANTIGOLD.
Additional live acts include LUPE FIASCO, TYCHO, MAYER HAWTHORNE, KAYTRANADA, LIDO, MIAMI HORROR, BETTY WHO, THAO & THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN, GALLANT, FKJ, RYAN HEMSWORTH, K.FLAY, CHROME SPARKS, BISHOP, SMALL BLACK, JERRY FOLK, and more.

The DJ Tent will host a selection of today’s most innovative DJs and producers including TALE OF US, SETH TROXLER, LOCO DICE, BLACK COFFEE, HANNAH WANTS, STEVE BUG, SONNY FODERA, BILLY KENNY, MARCUS MARR, and more to be announced.
In addition to LUPE FIASCO, once again Mamby will feature a variety of Chicago-based artists including WILD BELLE, DERRICK CARTER, THE BLACK MADONNA, GENE FARRIS, MONAKR, MONTE BOOKER & RAVYN LENAE, WINDY CITY SOUL CLUB, and more to come.
In 2016, the festival expands its footprint with the addition of the Park Stage, located just south of the beach in one of Chicago’s beautiful lakefront parks. Mamby On The Beach continues to provide the perfect atmosphere to enjoy the beautiful lakefront – the custom-built tiki bar will return bigger than before, along with silent disco yoga, VIP water access, henna tattoos, tarot card readings, a “living” art installation, and various food and drink options from some of the city’s popular independent restaurants.

General Admission and VIP passes are available now at mambybeach.com!
###“We’re entering peak time where these newly popular boutique festivals are
defining a new era of the music festival.”  – MixMag
“A beachfront festival where people can live out their romanticized
‘weekend in Ibiza’ fantasies.” – Chicagoist
“Mamby takes the lead of other dance-focused city fests by mixing DJs with synth-loving bands,
and DJ sets from people who play in synth-loving bands.”  – THUMP/ Vice
“Three stages provided fuel for the party with sounds ranging from the deeply melodic and sometimes dreamy to the glam-rocked and slightly bizarre – with a healthy dose of four-on-the-floor
Chicago house beats stuffed in all the right places.”  — Consequence of Sound
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Festivals

SUMMER SET LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY All-In-One Ticketing Available Now 2016 Video Released

Summer Set Music & Camping Festival (SSMF) is excited to announce the artist lineup for its fifth anniversary, taking place August 12-14 at the beautiful Somerset Amphitheater in Northern Wisconsin.
This year’s headliner’s include eight-time, Grammy-Award Winning DJ/Producer SKRILLEX making his headlining debut at Summer Set, Chicago’s CHANCE THE RAPPER making a rare appearance with his live band, THE SOCIAL EXPERIMENT for their debut Wisconsin performance, along with ultra magnetic producer BASSNECTAR returning for the third year in-a-row.

Rounding out the headlining acts are Canadian singer/songwriter GRIMES in support of her latest album Art Angels, consummate party starter STEVE AOKI, ambitious uprising rapper LOGIC, anonymous new trap and future-bass producer MARSHMELLO, the New Jersey singer-rapper hybrid behind “Trap Queen” – FETTY WAP, instrumental electronic rock ensemble SOUND TRIBE SECTOR 9 (STS9), and up-and-comer R&B rapper TORY LANEZ. Infusing their funky electronic beats with live instrumentals are the electro-indie duo CHERUB, along with the genre-spanning performances of GRAMATIK.
Other notable acts include DJ MUSTARD, who was named 2015’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter Of and Producer Of The Year at the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, indie synth-pop band ST.LUCIA, pop electronica musician/producer ALISON WONDERLAND, Circus Records co-founder FLUX PAVILION, Brooklyn-based rap group FLATBUSH ZOMBIES who are riding high off their recent debut album, 3001: A Laced Odyssey, Australian alternative dance trio RÜFÜS DU SOL, Mad Decent multi-genre prodigy NGHTMRE, and more! Summer Set fans may also get to experience some special surprise collaborations in honor of the festival’s five year anniversary!

For the first time in Summer Set history, the festival is also providing all-in-one ticket options so fans can conveniently secure both festival and camping accommodations in one swift purchase. Check out the various all-in-one ticketing options for 2016 at summersetfestival.com, and start planning your ultimate Summer Set camping experience now!
Known for showcasing an eclectic mix of pop, hip-hop, indie, and jam-style artists alongside some of electronic dance music’s most sought after producers and DJs, Summer Set provides an unparalleled experience and continues to deliver a legendary and diverse lineup year after year. In 2015, the 3-day festival attracted 20,000 fans each day and featured four massive headliners including The Weeknd, Deadmau5, Bassnectar, and Big Gigantic, along with 70+ artists.

###
“Summer Set is shaping up to be the next big festival in the US.”  Magnetic Magazine
“Summer Set is a secluded utopia that’s become a retreat for fans looking
for absolute immersion.”
 — City Pages Minneapolis
“Summer Set has undoubtedly planted themselves in an entirely different league compared
to other festivals in the country.”
 — This Song Is Sick
“Summer Set joins the ranks of top notch Midwest festival lineups touting
an impressive multi-genre lineup.”
— Dancing Astronaut
“With acts ranging from local jam bands to old-school hip-hop acts to Top 40 hitmakers, Summer Set is becoming one of the area’s biggest annual music festivals.” — The Current, Minnesota Public Radio

 

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Festivals

A Trip and a Half: Envision Festival 2016

My partner Erin and I decided we were going to embark on an unforgettable journey to Envision Festival 2016 late one cool evening late last fall. It was not entirely clear what was drawing us to this communal event but we could not deny that something powerful was calling us there. We had been contemplating booking a trip to Southeast Asia for some time but once we discovered Envision we shifted our focus entirely to Central America. It seemed like a consciously fueled gathering that would prove to be as much of an educational seminar on sustainable living and community as it would a transcendental music festival. The whole idea excited us greatly. Personally I thought it would be the perfect chance to connect with likeminded souls, have intellectual conversations as well as confirm my own sanity. Fortunately our journey to Envision not only met but greatly exceeded our lofty expectations as well as restored our faith in humanity.
envision7
Over the last year or so I have become significantly more privy to some of the heartbreaking truths about our world and those who run it. I know now, especially with the help of events like Envision, that I am not alone in possessing this knowledge of truth. Not even close. Any individual with even an open mind and an internet connection can google topics like agriculture, healthcare, global economics, free-energy suppression, the pharmaceutical industry, politics, and the list goes on to come to an inevitable realization; there is massive collusion and corruption surrounding these connected issues that almost without exception can be traced back to the abuse of power and greed. These are issues that need to be addressed and discussed more openly between the masses. Thankfully, I now know they are. More and more humans are awakened every day to the realization that we live in a corrupt world that needs change. I have come to learn that the change must come from within before it can be experienced externally in the world around you. It may be a bit cliché but as Ghandi said “Be the change you want to see in the world.” After we experienced the Pre-Envision Tour followed by the Envision Festival it has never been clearer that thousands upon thousands and likely millions of fellow humans have taken that quote to heart. The abundance of beauty, creativity, music, connectivity, sustainability and love that we experienced on our “Journey to Envision” was truly inspiring. Envision felt like the most collective, conscious, compassionate, and powerful group of human beings all gathered in the jungle to express themselves and share.
Music is what brought Erin and I together, music brought us to Envision and ChicagoMusicFestivals.com provided us an opportunity to express ourselves and share our experience at Envision with others who will hopefully relate to our story. I met Erin at a music festival on the beach in Chicago called “Mamby on the Beach”. We felt an instant connection to one another and did not let life’s obstacles or circumstances stop our infatuation with one another from growing. I think it is important to stress that this was not easy at times. Anyone can create a thousand fear based rationalizations disguised as practicality as to why they cannot do something, just remember anyone can just easily create a thousand rationalizations based out of love to chase their dreams as well. I left my lucrative and secure corporate insurance sales job in late 2015 to pursue a life filled with more happiness. Erin left film school and her hometown in Canada with the intention of traveling more of the world and pursuing film/photography further in her own direction. She is an absolutely beautiful and talented being inside and out with a unique perspective of the world we live in. We both moved out of our apartments in Chicago and committed to embarking on this adventure. We also both were blessed with a unique freedom that enabled us to go or do whatever we wanted. We had the tickets to Envision and were stoked for the Pre-Tour but decided to start the journey early to explore more of Central America as well as avoid the harsh Chicago winter. Not to mention spread the word about Envision!
We started our Journey to Envision in Tulum, Mexico on New Year’s Eve for the Desert Hearts gathering in the Dos Osos Cenote. What an incredible night. One of the more memorable sets of the night which made us even more anxious for Envision was delivered by the English born DJ, Lee Reynolds, who moved to California in 1988 which is where he started spinning. Looked at as “Papa Lee” by the Desert Hearts crew Reynolds brings over twenty years of house music experience to the table. We were blown away by Lee’s set at Envision last Friday which occurred at the trippy Lapa Stage. The psychonaut deep-house vibe bumped through the jungle as the crowd danced passionately and long to the positive vibes being sent out. I know for a fact that Lee personally inspired a 35 year old Navy veteran turned successful salesman who lives in Seattle to start making music again. I know this because that 35 year young man was in our Pre-Envision Tour group and became a dear friend. He proclaimed after seeing Lee Reynolds for the first time that if “That old dude can still bring it with that much energy and at least twenty years on me I no longer have an excuse for not making music.” The Pre-Envision Tour created an inclusive environment of 25 inspiring and deeply loving people who quickly evolved into an Envision Family. Erin and I are genuinely grateful for the journey that led us to that special group of people.
envision3
After spending New Year’s Eve in Tulum, Mexico we took a bus to Chetumal, Mexico followed by a water-taxi to Caye Caulker, which is a small island off the Eastern coast of Belize. After spending a week or so in the ultra-relaxed environment we took a sailboat from Caye Caulker down to the Southern point of Belize to Placencia. From there Erin, myself, and three other friends we met on the tour formed a traveling family and took a long bus to Flores, Guatemala. We were from the USA, Canada, Iceland, Holland, and Australia respectfully, knew each other for just a few short days, and yet we already felt like a family. Traveling is an extraordinary transcendental experience. For those who haven’t felt the magical bond between travelers I am referencing, I encourage you to get out and chase that wanderlust that may be brewing inside you. If there is one thing we learned on the road it is that people want to help people. Between locals and fellow travelers it was surprisingly difficult to feel lost once I truly embraced that connection. From Flores, Guatemala we wandered into the majestic Mayan Tikal Ruins. Words cannot do justice to the awe-inspiring energy felt while on those sacred grounds. From there we took a long and very bumpy bus ride to the tough-to-reach Semuc Champey. Overwhelming beauty illuminates this natural waterpark filled with cool spring water and caves you can explore. It was easily one of the most memorable days of the trip leading up to Envision Festival 2016. From Semuc Champey we took another long bus ride to Antigua, Guatemala. Antigua is an old, resilient colonial town that has withstood the test of both time and numerous earthquakes to remain a strong city with character. It was here that we climbed Mount Acatenango standing nearly 13,000 feet tall. We camped on the mountain and woke up to views that are indelibly burned into our memory cells. We also spent some time in San Marcos on Lake Atitlan. Another unforgettable place with high energy that can feel out of this world at times, perhaps for good reason. It seemed that both of Erin and my own wishes were granted in this unique city as we learned that we officially were going to be able to cover Envision for Chicago Music Festivals. Erin and I had relentlessly been promoting Envision to anyone we would encounter and felt tremendously grateful to find out we would be able to share this story through our collective passions of writing and photography as a team. It was here we made even more friends that were also journeying to Envision. One working as a chef, some volunteering, some working in plant medicine workshops, and we even met someone who was working at the Zendo Tent at Envision. The Zendo Tent provides a safe place to relax and chill out for those who may be experiencing a “bad trip” from psychedelics. A concept that is widely and justifiably being adopted throughout the music festival scene.
From Antigua, Guatemala we bussed down to a small surf town in El Salvador called El Tunco. Party vibes filled this town as we enjoyed two nights here before heading to Leon, Nicaragua. Leon is another old colonial town that was rich with culture and art. We spent some time at a hostel in Las Penitas outside of Leon right on the beach. We left Leon, Nicaragua on another bus which would bring us into the most visited country in Central America and our final destination; Costa Rica.
envision4
Erin and I spent a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend exploring Montezuma and Santa Teresa, Costa Rica before heading to San Jose to meet up with the Pre-Envision group. All of Central America is ripe with beauty but in my opinion Costa Rica is in a league of its own. The lush jungle is so vast and vibrantly filled with so much life we often felt like we were in a dream. The Pre-Envision Tour was led by Chad Carson and Brooke Rochester who both did a fantastic job. They essentially acted as loving, caring parents with an abundance of patience as twenty five Envisioners filled with wanderlust explored innocently through a new world. The Pre-Envision Tour started with a bang as we went White Water Rafting through the Picuare River. It was the perfect combination of releasing adrenaline and bonding with new friends as we rowed, splashed and drifted down the natural rapids. The next day we were lucky enough to be shown around a Bri Bri Farm that also acted as an Iguana Sanctuary. Iguanas have been hunted to the point of extinction so this native family of Bri Bri decided to be the change they wanted to see in the world. Not only did we get to see and learn about this Iguana Sanctuary but we also got a hands on demonstration of how this group of people live completely sustainably on their land. They make bowls out of leaves, medicine from various plants that grow naturally, tools and weapons from different types of trees. It was incredibly eye opening to see how connected these people were to nature and their land. We also enjoyed a delicious vegan lunch when we finished our tour. It was a lot to take in as I realized further how privileged we are in “Western Civilization”. It is saddening to realize how disconnected we have become from nature and how reliant we are on an unsustainable system. Planet Earth will survive with or without us, it is humanity that needs to make drastic adjustments. That being said I personally believe to my core that millions of people are on the right track and mindful events like Envision help reinforce that belief. As Ben Franklin said “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.”
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Between the myriad activities we experienced on the Pre-Envision Tour it is difficult to choose a single highlight. If we had to choose one however I think we would have to point to the time spent at the Permaculture Farm, Punta Mona. We took an educational guided hike through the jungle for four hours to reach this off-the-grid Permaculture Farm. Chad, the guide, had spent seven months there himself and you could tell it was a special place for him to come back to. Stephen Brooks, public figure and co-founder of Envision started this Permaculture Farm. His inspiration came from visiting Costa Rica and seeing a plane fly over a group of children spraying them with pesticides from bananas. He has said that this was his own personal “ah-ha” moment that led him to be the change he wanted to see in the world and start this sustainable project. At Punta Mona they live and honor the Permaculture Principles and all of the meals served were Vegan. All of the meals served were also delicious! They compost all of their waste, including human fecal waste, and even make you take your trash with you if you accumulate any before you leave. Picture a treehouse playground in the middle of the jungle that has plants, fruits, and vegetables from all over the world growing in it. They have herbal remedies and cures for any illness or irritation that may arise. It is as if some of these utopian like ideas I dreamed about when I first learned how upside down our world has become already exist. Countless brave souls have already been dedicating their lives to building sustainable communities that can give back to the environment. We felt a tremendous amount of gratitude to experience such a place mixed with motivation to help spread this message of sustainability and love throughout my life.
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The Pre-Envision Tour all stayed in a comfortable hotel in Domincal, Costa Rica as we prepared for the jungle on Envision Eve and ate dinner together as a family with eager anticipation for the magical weekend we were in store for. It is so peculiar how close and connected you can feel to people you just met when you share such special moments together. It felt like we were flying as we rolled into Envision on our Pre-Tour Bus midday on Thursday. Stephen Brooks kindly welcomed us into the festival and took us right through the line into the campground that would turn into our village home for the weekend. Stephen’s passion for what he was helping build could be felt from a mile away as he spoke to us about what Envision meant to him. The layout just outside of Uvita, Costa Rica, setup, stages, vendors, bathrooms, showers, mud baths, and tents all rose up together to form the epic jungle village that became Envision Festival 2016. It was a mindful conscious gathering of over 5,000 Envisioners and over 2,000 staff/volunteers/artists that formed the 2016 Envision Family. These 7,000 plus consisted of people from all over the world; gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, occupation, bank accounts, age, and experience all meshed together and blended to form any reality you wished to create. All different types of yoga, workshops, massage therapies, healings, witchcraft and music from deep house to folk could be found throughout the day. The San Francisco based Random Rab again delivered his coined sunrise set at 5:30 AM on Sunday Morning which was not a set to miss which took place at the trippy Luna Stage. Comprised of troopers who were at it all night mixed with folks who just woke up to catch the sunrise set melodically grooved together as the psychedelic trance vibes carried all of us into the last day of Envision. David Wolfe’s talk on top soil Saturday during the day at The Village Stage gathered one of the larger crowds of the weekend as he taught, motivated, and then planted a tree in front of the engaged crowd. Thursday night at the Luna Stage had some extra funky vibes brewing as the Colorado based DJ Defunk had a large crowd grooving to his set which set the stage for the rest of the evening. No matter how hot, sticky, wet, or uncomfortable the conditions became, the overall positive vibrations were consistently brewing throughout this important event. To be able to share this experience with my partner and grow together on the road is something I will cherish forever.
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If Envision taught us anything it was that we should never stop fighting for what we believe in and chase the life we dream of with everything we have. In this moment I no longer have a clear career path and some of my life decisions are surely questioned by those who care about me. We spent over two months taking buses and rides from strangers through some of the most “dangerous” parts of Central America. At the same time I know I am loved by my family and friends infinitely, and that infinite feeling of love is reciprocated. I have never had a greater appreciation for life. I am excited to continue to learn, live, grow and love as I continue to work towards being the change I want to see in the world. I do believe that dreams come true on the other side of fear so I urge anyone who feels that itch to chase their dreams to do so. Let’s continue to Envision a world where all can thrive as humans with divine power as I believe we were intended to do so. Thank you to every party involved who helped make Envision a reality in our world and here’s to many more Envision Festivals and like minded communities thriving in the future.
ericerin

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Categories
Music Nightlife

Bakermat 'The Circus' Tour @ The MID

This Thursday Dutch house producer Bakermat will be making his stop at The Mid on his 16-date North America tour called ‘The Circus’. After a year of intensive touring in 2015, Bakermat kicked off the new year with two successful EPs. Featuring the famous South African duo Goldfish and Parisian vocalist Marie Plassard, ‘Games and ‘Ballade’ were both immediate hits that portrayed his signature style of saxophone and guitar-infused house. ‘The Circus’ tour will feature tracks from the new EPs and deeper cuts from his extensive discography.

 

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