Husa Sounds x Shambhala Music Festival –
A magical mix of sound obsession, art expression, and energy exchange. Covering Shambhala is like being able to share a secret with the rest of the world: a family of 10,000 encouraged to be exactly who they want to be in a festival designed for ultimate hedonism. This includes a picturesque clear water Salmo River going through the terrain, full access to the property once you are in, and the best part: the festival is part of a family owned farm, so each year it gets better and better with maintenance and continuous love. Now throw in a devoted team of music lovers booking international artists catering to six unique stages curating their experience independently, creating a wondrous feeling of traveling between parallel worlds when walking from stage to stage through the magical forest.
First off…
The Pagoda Stage will showcase a diverse array of electronic music ranging from the bounciest upbeat house such as Dirty Bird founder Claude VonStroke and artist Justin Martin, to the grimiest dubstep like Montreal’s own Adventure Club, REZZ, Destructo. The stage is closest to the camping area with some accessible sounds that every music taste will enjoy! This includes big name dance artists like Malaa, Claptone, KOAN Sound, Fisher and more. Below is the set from REZZ who absolutely killed it in 2016.
At The Village Stage, a space like no other, the devotees get down and dirty to the sounds of drum ‘n’ bass, jungle, dubstep, grime, and bass, among others. Even if you are skeptical of the music taste I guarantee that if you go with an open heart you may find a brand new sound you’re obsessed with or new people that become lifetime friends. Getting lost in the crowd or enjoying the scenes from the luminous tree balcony is an absolutely stunning experience.
The lineup consists of new and returning artists such as DC Breaks, Perkulat0r, ill.Gates, Stylust Beats, Truth, Dirt Monkey, Shlump, the first ever set in Canada from legendary UK rapper Dizzee Rascal and a DJ set by headliners The Glitch Mob. Below is the Village stage playlist for 2018…ENJOY.
The Grove, my personal favourite, brings together a veritable mélange of musical flavors at a stage you always get drawn to by the seductive sounds. A hidden labyrinth where art, crafts, and magic awaits the explorers of the farm. The Grove will be celebrating their fifth year at Shambhala. Grammy award-winning brass, synth, and drum driven duo Basstracks are decorating the lineup along with bass music darlings CharlestheFirst, Goopsteppa, Edamame, and The Librarian. UK grime and dubstep artists will also be represented by D Double E, Kahn & Neek, J:KENZO, and the return of SYNKRO. Influential hip-hop producer Clams Casino will be adding to the vibe as Congi, Geode and Jafu team up for a three-hour takeover of soulful bass music for the Chord Marauders Label showcase, all blasted out of the inimitable Funktion-One Sound. My absolute favourite booking this year is Christian Löffler at The Grove – the German producer will bring slow melodic vibes that will seduce the crowd into a slow and bassy trance and I cannot wait! Here is a little taster of Christian Löffler doing his thing:
One of Shambhala’s most beloved attractions is the emerald Salmo River. The Living Room Stage (also known as the beach stage) is the favoured daytime spot and features all of the comforting accoutrements one might find in a living room -literally. Nothing beats arriving here with a floating device and bathing suit and meeting friends or strangers to bask with down the river. Hundreds will gather, bobbing to the chill day vibes, and cooling each other down with fruit and mist!
The lineup features a mixture of electronic music, live bands, hip-hop, bass and world music—with artists such as Mark Farina, Dirtwire, Dimond Saints (Live), Jeremy Sole, El Buho, 29 Palms (Boreta & Ooah), Soohan, saQi, Random Rab, Nico Luminous, Everyman, and many more gracing the stage.
The AMPhitheatre Stage will showcase some of the most talented and experimental up-and-coming producers alongside some legendary DJs of the electronic scene. Barclay Crenshaw, Liquid Stranger, Mr. Carmack, Space Jesus, and Tsuruda are among the bass producers to perform along with UK phenoms Roska and Joker. There will also be a specially curated “1985 Music Showcase” where Alix Perez, Skeptical, Chimpo, and Monty will take patrons on an aural journey through the history of drum ‘n’ bass, grime and halftime.
Shambhala is a world from a parallel universe, you enter and pass through the different villages and communities within the camp area, everyone is connected to each other and you recognize the same people year after year. The whimsical energy that flows through the acres of land recharge and reset the vibrations in all patrons. You are able to see everyone exactly as they are! I definitely look forward to going home this year, and hope to see you there too!
To conclude this article, I have some wise words from Shambhala’s own Rave Mom:
“Friends, Shambhalovelies, Rave Children, and all the rest—It’s up to you now, to be the change you want to see. Be the Festival Goer you want to be. Create the environment you want to party in. You have the power. You always have. It’s been my pleasure, to guide you. Below we have Planet Shambhala by Jim Vanderhorst
Article by Hellan.
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