Enchanted Forest Gathering Photo Recap
Wow! What a trip... It started out fortuitously but not without some typical last minute "oh, shits", a rushed amazon delivery and the realization of a 20 hour drive to attend. With a co-pilot, a Prius, plenty of snacks and a 4am departure, we made good time all the way Nevada on day one. The second day completed the travel to the fest where we showed up just as the first act was coming on stage. We rushed to get our tent set up and then strolled onto the dance floor.
The festival had three main stages, each decorated with care and finesse. The Knoll stage seemed to be dedicated to a lively variety of genres, and featured some of my favorite sets of the whole fest including 'Diggin Dirt' 'Dirtwire' (no there was not a dirt theme), and Ozomatli. The main stage, aka the Groove Stage, was settled into the forest in a nice natural clearing. The stage was framed with beautifully cut wood circles and shapes that rounded the LED walls into an aesthetic art piece. The Saucy Spa, the late night stage, pumped the music through a quadraphonic sound-system into the sunrise hours. Check out our photos to see the stages in action.
Every stage had great sound quality but two of the three stages had 'Funktion-One' speakers. If you have never heard of Function One's or have heard of it but never experienced music played through a Function One sound system, it rocks, rumbles, and rips through the air with surprising clarity and vibrance. This is the current state of the art speaker system. Enchanted Forest even took the sound quality even further. At the Saucy Spa, the late night stage, four stacks of Funktion-One speakers positioned at every corner of the dance area, all angled to the center of the dance floor. Why is this special or notable? Damn, I am glad you asked! A quadraphonic speaker setup enables artists to shape sounds in a 3D environment and can 'pan' audio to all four speakers (front left, front right, back right, back left).
Below was a brotherly collaboration in an attempt to translate the musical event through photos.
Enchanted Forest Gathering
OK so the weekend is fast approaching and you still don’t know what you’re going to do. Here is an 💡:
What about having a blast in California? An enchanted forest with some of the best electronic music acts in the nation. Of course, no festival can lay claim to owing music but it can be said that this festival has some great taste in artists. From Ozomatli to Beats Antique, this festival embraces a diversity of genres and styles while still cultivating each in their own form. The early morning yoga and health classes are a bonus and a welcome refresh after a long night of dancing. This festival has it all. Just a few hours north of San Francisco this event is set in, you guessed it, an Enchanted Forest with natural beauty all around.
Look no further than Northern California. You can still grab your tickets before its too late here: http://bit.ly/2JvK2N6
Info & Links
Enchanted Forest will take place at the beautiful Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville, California from June 8-10. Featuring performances from Beats Antique, Keys n Krates, Graves, Ozomatli, Dumpstaphunk and Del the Funky Homosapien w/ Amp Live, Lyrics Born, Truth, Mark Farina, Antennae, Sticky Buds, Phutureprimitive and over 100 nationally renowned acts in only three days! Get excited. Get your tickets. Get your groove on. See you there!
Links:
Important Enchanted Forest Gathering Links
Buy Tickets link: http://enchantedforestmendo.com/get-tickets/
Website: http://www.enchantedforestmendo.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/EnchantedForestGathering/
2018 Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/398780250544889/
LIB 2016 sold out
11th Annual Lightning in a Bottle
Tickets are SOLD OUT – Thank You!
Lightning in a Bottle – Bradley, CA – A week out from the West Coast’s premiere camping, arts, music and yoga festival, Lightning in a Bottle is thrilled to announce that tickets for the 11th annual gathering are officially SOLD OUT! Growing consciously since the festival’s first year in 2005, LIB is proud to have hit full capacity just ahead of its largest festival to date at 20,000 tickets sold.
While both the 2-Day and 4-Day festival passes are now sold out, several 4-Day passes can still be obtained with the purchase of a Boutique Camping package. Additionally, current pass holders can also upgrade to Boutique camping packages as well as purchase Lightning Bus tickets and/or an Early Arrival Pass, which will allow them to enter the festival a day early on Wednesday May 25.
LIB production house Do LaB, and its vast array of magic-makers, would like to thank everyone for their amazing support for Lightning in a Bottle 2016! Celebrating in the office, Jesse Shannon, aka Y2, Director of Marketing says, “This day is 11 years in the making. From 2005 when we first sold tickets to 2016, this is the first time Lightning in a Bottle has sold out before gates open. I’m so proud of the team and it’s a testament to all the hard work that everyone does to create such an incredible festival.” These sentiments are echoed in the laborious efforts put forth by Do LaB in the days leading up to the festival, with most of the team already on site creating, constructing and injecting love into every aspect of LIB.
Watch the teaser video here and feel the excitement:
Taking strides to ensure LIB 2016 is the biggest and best to date – Do LaB is pulling out all the stops curating a genre-bending, stellar lineup, cultivating wondrous immersive environments, and expanding into new adventures in Bradley, CA.
Hitting the three glorious main stages at LIB (The Lightning, The Thunder and The Woogie) are the most progressive up-and-coming artists alongside an acclaimed selection of powerhouse acts, forming the most dynamic lineup Do LaB has unveiled to date! Headliners performing over this Memorial Day Weekend are Chet Faker, Grimes, Moderat, Big Gigantic, Cashmere Cat, The Polish Ambassador, and Four Tet. Joining the headliners is a roster of the best talent in house and bass including Tokimonsta, Mija, Mr. Carmack, Autograf, Guy Gerber, &ME, Lane 8, Sacha Robotti, Eprom, Minnesota b2b G Jones, and Bleep Bloop.
What makes Lightning in a Bottle truly magical, are the trove of stunning stages, art installations, wondrous immersive environments, classes, and workshops to explore. Trailblazers who wander off the beaten festival path may find themselves 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. With over 300 classes and experiences to be had and shared, be sure to check out The Village,The Temple of Consciousness, The Grand Artique, Amori’s Casino & Burlesque, the Visionary Art gallery, and many other micro-environments during your stay at LIB!
Do LaB is excited to welcome those who purchased the Early Arrival Pass on May 25th to help kick off LIB weekend with a multitude of activities before the music begins! A cacao ceremony, Village Permaculture Action Day hosted by LIB 2016 artist Polish Ambassador and access to the newly-established High Grounds camp are among new initiatives in 2016. Purchase your Early Arrival Pass here.
Go GREEN! In addition to the Action Day, Do LaB has several other leading initiatives in place to ensure the grounds stay beautiful for years to come! Recycling, compost and landfill receptacles will be found on the festival grounds, and as always, LIB 2016 will be a “pack-it-in, pack-it-out event,” meaning that Do LaB asks that all guests take everything they brought into the festival out with them after the festival ends — campground trash included. A friendly reminder that plastic water bottles are not sold at LIB, so don’t forget to bring your own reusable container!
Familiarize yourself with Lightning in a Bottle and the grounds ahead of the festival. Look over Do LaB’s Thrive Guide for a refresh on festivaling with intention and mindfulness, Camp like a champ and find your way to San Antonio Recreational Area. And don’t forget to plan your dance party for the weekend — the set times for 2016’s lineup are out now.
Lightning in a Bottle – So hot right now! See you all soon.
STAY CONNECTED:
Lightning in a Bottle: Website | Facebook | Event Page | Twitter | Instagram
Do LaB: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Soundcloud |Twitter
Front Country – Concert & Album Review
It was the night of May 5th at Swallow Hill Music Hall in Denver, Colorado. The rain turned to sleet and the sleet turned to heavy snow. The arrival of the Californian Bluegrass band was greeted by nasty weather and a packed house filled with music lovers of all ages. The night began with Rail Splitters from Boulder, Colorado warming up the theater with their quick pick’n and melodic music. By the time Front Country took the stage the audience was ready for steady rhythmic bluesy bluegrass. Front Country is one of those bands who cannot be easily fit into a box or genre. They expand upon all of their individual strengths to blend, mold, and shape the sound until it’s profound.
Front Country’s songs are inspired by a range of topics including but not limited to the snowy state itself, Colorado, and an old time song about a gold mine prostitute. When Melody picks up the Kashishi she woos the crowd with her shakin’ while both Adam and Jacob trade instruments between songs to bring a new sound.
Front country’s album, Sake of the Sound, was created by a sextet (six members). Three of the six band members on the Album have jobs outside of the music industry. The momentum the band is riding keeps gaining speed, propelling that ‘Gospel Train’ around the country. With diverse musical backgrounds, they feed off each other musically to break through traditional boundaries. They have earned University degrees studying, jazz guitar, vocals, classical guitar, and jazz bass. They have worked hard to get to where they are today and it is clearly paying off.
Sake of the Sound
Album Credits: Released 16 September 2014. Mandolin by Adam Roszkiewicz, Guitar and Vocals by Jacob Groopman, Guitar and Vocals by Melody Walker, Banjo and Vocals by Jordan Klein, Violin by Leif Karlstrom, Stand-up Bass by Zach Sharpe. Produced by Kai Welch. Engineered by Scott Bergstrom. Engineered by Scott Bergstrom at 25th Street Recording – Oakland, CA. Mixed by Erick Jaskowiak at J Studio – Nashville, TN. Mastered by Eric Conn at Independent Mastering – Nashville, TN. All songs arranged by Front Country. Photography by Robert Perry. Album Art by Danielle Diessner
They dedicated 10 consecutive (16+ hour) days to the recording of their debut album, Sake of the Sound. While many bands struggle to find a collective sound due to their individualistic desires, Front Country is a band of stars, shining together. Their collaborative spirit is revealed as they dynamically alter their music for maximum impact.
If you enjoy acoustical harmonies with some fast pick’n solos, this band is not one to miss. If you missed the show, the good news is that Front Country will be back in Colorado and touring the country once again in a few weeks. With stops at festivals, such as Campout for the Cause and Meadow Grass, this band is only getting started. They won a place on the main stage at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and they are on their way to a city near you.
To check the latest Front Country tour info: click here
To listen to the FreioMusic interview with Front Country: click here
Front Country – Interview
In this exclusive artist interview, FreioMusic sat down with three members of the up and coming Bay Area band, Front Country. Front Country’s Adam Roszkiewicz, Jacob Groopman, and Melody Walker generously shared their time and stories prior to their first ever performance in Denver, Colorado at Swallow Hill Music Hall.
To Listen, Click on the Track Below:
Front Country – Exclusive FreioMusic Interview 5/9/2015
Click to read more about the band
Click to listen to Front Country’s new album, Sake of the Sound
Gipsy Moon
Gipsy Moon created a dance party at Agave this last weekend, 01/16/2014 at Agave, see why?
This first video stars the mandolin player, Silas Herman, who wrote and leads the song with powerful and evolving melodies. Nothing better than a joyous jams.
You heard Gipsy Moon first hear @FreioMusic
For more info please visit their website: http://www.gipsymoon.net/
X5IGHT Interview at SnowGlobe, On the Eve of 2014
X5IGHT a duo blending continents of music.
Christopher Carr had a chance to meet up with the crew and talk to them a bit. Listen Below~
X5IGHT is an inspiring young act, have a listen~
You heard it first hear:
SnowGlobe artist, X5IGHT has just released a brand new single for free download! The Chicago-based duo wanted to offer a stark contrast from the playful, innocent nature of inflatable “air dancers”. They took a dark, aggressive approach when producing “Wacky Arms”. The track blends dirty dutch, electro, and even drum n’ bass elements to create a high-energy “banger”.
Soundcloud Link: https://soundcloud.com/x5ight/x5ight-wacky-arms-original-mix
Free download link: Click Here
X5IGHT’s social media links are below:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/X5IGHT
Twitter: https://twitter.com/X5IGHT
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/DJX5IGHT
Mixify: http://www.mixify.com/X5IGHT
~Team Work Makes the Dream Work!~
Life in the day – SnowGlobe 2013
Life in the Snow Globe
Christopher J Carr
January 2014
I found myself cornered at the edge of the bar with a balding yet exceptionally friendly man who talked my ear off about the music industry. It is important to take every person seriously because you never know who they may be or become yet in the same breathe savor your words and speak lightly because they can also be batshit crazy.
I flip flopped down past the harbormaster lighthouse to my 85 VW Vanagon Desmond.
We rushed up the CA 1 with the glorious sunset exhaling electric pinks and gilded gold cloud tips on top indigo purple silhouettes. Soaring at sixty five feeling the chipper engine purr at a high idle I meditated on a pleasant journey.
The band was stoked to see I made it before sound check and luckily Omar of the B-Side Players blessed me with his bass rig to backline the show. It was so small and blown yet we sounded nice through the house. A quick Irish goodbye post jamming and I was off.
I switched out my VW in Apple Hill for a 91 Toyota Corolla with a hatchback and folding seats that became my rockstar suite and sheltered me from the subzero Tahoe temperatures. My New Years morning awakening ceremony consisted of scraping a layer of ice from inside the car that had resulted from my moisture freezing on the inside.
I drove into SnowGlobe like I owned the place hoping for a parking pass but came out with a 3 day shuttle wristband. Tahoe homies helped me out down the road and I took the clutch spot by the middle school fully equipped with porta potties and conveniently located walking distance from the event.
Buzzing ravers had a contagious bounce in their step walking down the way following the flags the organizers set out for us. I tip my hat to the organizers of SnowGlobe they truly made the experience space cadet proof.
South Lake Tahoe is truly God’s country yet it is wild. A young girl who decided to walk back from the festival last year froze and was found days later in a snow bank. This vibe was felt and explicit throughout the experience. “Take care of each other and always have a buddy” were the parting words of many performers.
Walking in were the many smiling faces of the cozy and colorful crowds in fleece pajamas, ski suits, leg warmers and animal onesies. This heady couple carried the California Republic flag hoisted high on a long pine limb marking the collective heritage of the gathering. My experience with the people inside was a celebration of all the major California regions. Tahoe is the underground capitol of the golden state.
I waltzed in after having the traditional bag search and welcomed warm frisking to the Floozies. One fat space jam. These good ole’ boys laying it down with a nice fusion of space bass and funk instrumentation. Mark and Matt Hill make up the dynamic innovative music duo with that old school classic rock influence in their cutting edge new interpretation of live music performance.
Amidst transitions between groups bundled up ski bums and bunnies toast their northern california pints while cotton candy plumes wobble above deep blue and purple skies.
It’s 5pm. Amp Live is onstage digital snowflakes precipitate behind him. Standing alone so stoic and pensive he set up the sound.
“My name is Amp Live and I’d like to warm this up for you”.
Powerful vibes. Zion I crew stoking the people inferno with words. Interactive syphers with the crowd these pros represented up in the 530 and the people responded big for that drop it on them big daddy bass.
Bay Area thunder.
Zion I crew blew up the place.
Zed’s Dead. Solid hypnotism whipping wet calculated drops Zed’s Dead plays a big bag of tricks nice range of badass bass music. Zed’s Dead: top notch, world class crew doing big things with their sound.
These artists gave me that quintessential close your eyes raise your hands up and release the hips experience.
Sitting on the edge of the railing above I somehow found myself in the VIP tent watching Kaskade.
This set resonated groovy and full of clarity. The lights were so enthralling they almost upstaged the music but the beauty of this set was taking in an ideal reservoir of people. I felt an electric atmosphere humming above this crowd and Kaskade resonated in the heartbeat of our collective bliss.
Post Kaskade was a crazy ride. I found Chico. Chico stayed in Santa Cruz over the summer and we shared some good times. Chico and his crew swooped me only to bounce stranding me at the Mont Bleu casino miles away from the car. A true fear and loathing moment walking through the casino with snow bunnies and oversized kids in onesies gambling, sipping cocktails and chain smoking camel crushes.
I ran out of there like a bewildered sasquatch blinded by the lights ready to sleep in my rock star suite of a 91 hatchback. I caught the last bus back to the Denny’s on the corner which was a short jaunt to my sweet sanctuary.
New Years eve came so serene with no snow to be found in South Lake. I went to the beach on Dec 31st in Tahoe with no shirt or shoes.
This second day I met people from all over and I was very pleased to see the “We from Santa Cruz and we get weird” signage above the crowd.
Zion I’s management and Vokab Kompany showed love and hooked up interviews for this gonzo.
How’d Vokab Kompany start?
“Burke lived in a house that this producer lived in. I was there making beats, a good buddy introduced us and we’d just lay down vocals and there was this track called “moments like these”.
“We felt the connection. We had always known each other through Tahoe roots.”
“We want to show that it is still rad and sonically pleasing to create every aspect and and every stem live”.
“Our message is living in the moment, working hard and quitting sleep”.
“Small victories keep ya pushing. If it weren’t for those small glimpses of what might be some measure of what success could be you wouldn’t keep pushing”.
“If you do have passion hold on to it. That’s everything. Things may steer you away. You may have a 9-5 thing that seems important but if you really do have that passion hold on and keep pushing”.
With these MC’s I found amnesty in the artist realm backstage. A land of plenty with Sierra Nevada kegs flowing on the regular and nice snacks to stimulate to most strung out guest and I am not talking about the writers except those from LA and I am not talking about the cool young Sam from “Beyond the Spotlight” and his mom because y’all were very professional. Respect.
Being blessed with an angel that made magic happen for me I sat with the artists and did my job.
Beats Antique.
Damn.
Badass beats, ingenious melodies and a truly modern day dancer.
She stands as the lioness amongst the babbling cubs bewitched by her fierce and subtle spell.
Their game show gimmick gave birth to their enormous inflatable band member that consumed so much of my attention I could not capture the moment. One lucky gal stood in front of thousands and pressed the mysterious button which released this fantastical beast. Epic tracks which included lyrics of Les Claypool and original incarnations of the Beats Antique imagination.
California Love…
Tahoe went off once Snoop Dizzle took the stage.The place was jumping, smoking, drinking and generally doing the nasty just like Snoop would have wished. Full capacity. Other butts being thrusted into spoons. Everyone became someone else’s cereal. Even the most masculine of men cuddled up to share a joint and sing gin and juice.
Big ups to Snoop for blessing up the crowd in the name of the most high “Jah Rastafari” at the end of his set and the people blessed up to the new year with the words of Bob Marley “Yeah, right, we Jamming…I want to Jam it with you”.
Don’t forget to check out Mr. Carr’s own music
Ringing in the New Year with SNoWGLoBE 2013
Freio Music had an amazing time attending and documenting our first ever SnowGlobe, set in the beautiful Lake Tahoe, California. Unfamiliar with this festival? Check out some of the music below:
Oh yeah, folks, that is Lake Tahoe- if the music wasn’t enough, just check out that view!
Meet our photographer, Jeff Patriarca (plus two fine ladies and a ballin’ photobomber in the background).
With artists like Snoop Dog, The Polish Ambassador, Zion I, and Dillon Francis, there was sure to be a set of music to jam into the New Year for everyone.