Oregon Eclipse 2017

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Oregon Eclipse

 

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When 30,000 people from across the globe trek to a singular spot in Oregon for the purpose of being humbled by the Totality of our Cosmos, a game ensues. A game of patience, accents, endurance, festivity, intention, and organic connection. Over the course of August 16-23, Oregon Eclipse’s world-spanning hosts put on a week-long gathering that, at its heart, was a test of what humanity can strive to become. Big Summit Prairie in Oregon turned into a veritable “prairie of Babel” by which people could see, touch, hear, share, and deeply experience artistry and knowledge from all over the planet. With the abundance, subject, and quality of music, yoga, speaker series topics, art, workshops, it might as well have been a peace rally. The Gaslamp Killer’s rather political remarks sure made it feel that way.

 

 

 

 

 

With any global endeavour of cooperation, traditions, ethics, and work mentality always come into play. It was clear that Global Eclipse had to deal with the same. The event was still being built as we arrived on Wednesday and work continued throughout the week. It took us 8 hours to get in. (Burning Man waits, anyone?) Attractions like the MOVA and Eclipse stage were built during festival hours. But as with any experience like those our hosts put on, random pop-up attractions are the norm and so it quickly became passable considering the amount of enchantment already in place. One thing is for certain: the attention to detail at this festival remains unmatched. Affirmations, gift baskets, art pieces hidden about the festival, themed troupes (space fairies, sun-children, and swamp monsters!), and the delicate design from stages to booths to signage markers – color schemes and themes are important! – made it truly evident this was not some “Fyre-ready” excuse for not being fully up and running come showtime. Rather, a deep care for making sure things were experienced properly.
It bears repeating that this event was not backed by corporate sponsorship.

 

 

 

 

Nearly every other person we talked to came from a different corner of the world. Our camp of over 60 people represented 6 countries in itself. And the new friends we made inside the event made up for the rest. While the lack of cell service definitely added an aura of stress – it was a mission all its own to find people – it was refreshing to have so sharp a digital disconnect. Not being constantly bombarded with the trouble brewing around the world for a week really put life into perspective. At the same time, reducing the fest to its own human creativity efforts made for some resourcefully improvised message boards, meaningful chance encounters, and clever meet-up strategies. In this itself it is clear: people will always find a solution.

 

 

 

 

As far as music goes, there was something for everyone. Every act we saw had their own unique flavor and the top of their game in check. Standouts include Audley, The Polish Ambassador, Charlesthefirst, Machinedrum, STS9, Antibalas, Justin Martin (more Drum and Bass, please!), System 7, The String Cheese Incident, The Gaslamp Killer, OPIOU, Patrice Bäumel, Nico Stojan, CloZee, EPROM, LOUD, Nicola Cruz’s Sunrise, Mortisville, William Close, and Madmotormiquel. Even with the quality of the billed acts, music all about at the festival was a given – The Sym-bi-oat, the Guayaki Tent, the Traveling Bug Car, the Silk Road side stage, and the Astro-Slide had their own special following all week. There was music everywhere and that’s the way we like it (yes, even the endless Sun Stage Psytrance blasting into our campsite – what would we do without a beat to put us to sleep?). P.S. props to the people who by the end of the week had literally set up camp right at the Sun Stage.

 

 

 

 

And then there was everything else; which, while “everything else”, was definitely not to be taken lightly. From classes on googly-eyed booty twerking at the Dance Shala; to unleashing the kundalini serpent at the Yoga Shala; to walking the path of a healer at The Shrine of the Cosmos; to developments toward an environmentally stable world, edible landscaping, and free apple trees at The Permaculture Plaza; to Sensory Speed Dating with Guerrilla Science; to the Liminal Caravan full of mystic odds and ends and altars; to the Roadkill Saloon’s Westworld theatrics; to sound healing opportunities at the Wellness Oasis and throughout the festival; to family-friendly (and actually really fun) fun at Kidzbiosis, to chiropractor sessions, haircuts, and B12 shots outside The Silk Road; to learning how to eat for your soul at The Nourishment Lab; to native practices in sustainability with 1Nation Earth; to Android Jone’s 360-videography and VR Dome; to the most intricate and detailed art at the MOVA (with the added bonus of meeting and signing with The Greys); to Shamanic ceremony instructions with the Village Witches; to the Fringe Theater’s all-are-welcome talent shows; to martial arts and functional movement training at the Play Zone; to free drawing and unleashing creativity at the Art Temple; to poignant discussions of current paradigms at The Hub and The Parlor; to delectable and healthy treats from all the food vendors (shoutout Killa Dilla!); the organizers of Oregon Eclipse made sure there were ample offerings available for anyone looking for a respite from being caught up in the spontaneous dancing dust and fleet-footed spirits.

 

 

 

 

Yet, what truly stood out to us were the multiple talks we stepped in on that discussed giving up individual ownership and giving in to the sharing economy. Some highlighted simple topics from sharing wi-fi and cable with your neighbors (why not reduce everyone’s costs?) to complex topics of how a sense of individuality creates a need to defend “what is mine” and the anxiety, violence, and fear it creates. Instead, what would it take to truly understand we don’t bring any of it with us when we pass? As we have grown through the years of going to Transformational Gatherings, the talks and interactive art have taken more hold of our time. It has become evident that music is a leading complement to inspiring these deeper connections to community and what type of world we can create if we merely pay attention.

 

 

 

 

Lest we forget the Eclipse, those two minutes of totality were breathtaking to say in the least. Having an entire tribe of people gather at the Sun Temple was an experience in itself (music and art and festivities and “everything else” were just icing on the cake). Several marriage proposals beneath the diamond ring effect brought tears to our eyes. Or maybe it was being surrounded by a family of like-minded individuals whom we’d only ever probably meet a fraction of. Meeting under this cosmological rarity really brought home the idealization of what it is to be human – despite our distances and differences we are indeed “All One”, hurtling through space. The call for unity has long since passed. We sensed it in the prairie among us, and we sense it now at home; we are ready for change and Oregon Eclipse has stoked our fire to seek it out. Or rather, create it. Now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FULL POST

Just as the sun rises, so too does Oregon Eclipse near. With 7 stages each boasting a lineup worthy of an entire festival, we’ve decided it wise to feature our top picks by stage. Some we love. Some we just discovered. All essential.
Click here for more from this series.
35 Days

 

The Earth stage, just as its namesake might suggest, features a melting pot of World, Electronica, Dub, Psychedelia, Instrumental, Classical, and Ambient all tied up with a grounded essence. This is the stage to come back down to.

 

Phaelah

Phaelah‘s breakbeat-cum-balearic minimalist machinations have a place all their own. His sets flow through a multitude of garage, electronica, and house soundscapes while maintaining a spatial beauty that provides a fine soundtrack for a cinematic journey into Self.

 

SaQi

SaQi produces reggae, jazz, and hip-hop infused World/Dub; his live trumpeting adds an extra element of sexy smooth. As is customary with many of the artists on Jumpsuit Records, he’s got plenty of vocal features on his work so expect this to be quite a show.

 

Living Light

By name, Eartha Harris, is an almost synchronism for this stage. As Living Light, she uses symphonic psychedelia to create uptempo ambient soundscapes. Her use of hopeful melodies and ambient soundscapes also lends to spiritual swaying.

 

PLANTRAE

Oregon’s Plantrae is known for a unique atmosphere driven by bass and beautified by viola. The grace of the spaces he creates has a distinct serenity fueled by the intensity of emotion via his live acoustics. Suffice to say, it is a sound and experience to behold.

 

Mirror System

As Mirror System, the duo behind the also Sun Stage-present System 7 (Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy) get more in touch with their techy-downtempo sides. The result is an ambiance that is akin to soul-gazing. We suggest you lay down and stare at clouds or maintaining a deep eye-locked connection during their set.

 

Sun:Monx

Sun:Monx is formed by the powerhouse duo of Opiuo and Austero. They each bring their taste and skill in glitch, bass, and dub to the table to create some of the most funky festival dance instrumentalism. Don’t miss out on either of their own appearances either!

 

Hideyo Blackmoon

The sacred spaces of Japan’s Hideyo Blackmoon are designed to induce a sort of healing meditative state with native tongue over depth of sound. She’s also performed at 6 Total Eclipses throughout her career, so she’s right at home in this element.

 

 

FULL POST

Just as the sun rises, so too does Oregon Eclipse near. With 7 stages each boasting a lineup worthy of an entire festival, we’ve decided it wise to feature our top picks by stage. Some we love. Some we just discovered. All essential.
Click here for more from this series.
50 Days

 

Second up in our teaser series: The MOOOON. This stage features enough glitch and bass to make us question if we really are cogs in the matrix. Come August, we’ll definitely be a part of a whole under the wobbly Moon.

 

Machinedrum

To experience Machinedrum is to experience a masterfully crafted foray into jungle, beat, glitch, footwork, and drum & bass all at once. Travis Stewart has spent the better part of 20 years playing around all sides of the industry and his sound certainly shows it.

 

Thriftworks

Berkeley’s Jake Atlas, or Thriftworks, is one of the most industrious producers in the downtempo dubstep and glitch scene. Since 2010, he’s put out 14 LPs and EPs totalling over 150 tracks. And that’s just stuff released. His sets are uniquely paced and well worth the time.

 

CloZee

The worldly elements that French native CloZee adds to her glitch foundation helps create a unique soundscape: a blend of organic nomadic sounds and the hiccupyy roughness of electronica. Together it creates a tonality by which to easily get lost in.

 

Tsuruda

Having been born directly into music, Tsuruda has developed a deep understanding of theory. He ventures into experimental beats and bass to create an amalgamation of sound that is purposefully discordant yet jazzy and romantic.

 

EPROM

Eprom really needs no introduction. He’s had a steady rise through the music ranks since 2007. His bassy sound has evolved alongside him, never losing its frenetic nature, but rather always growing in the complexity and depths of glitch and drum & bass.

 

Huxley Anne

Rising LA star Huxley Anne has been spending much of her 2017 in the LA beat scene mastering her own unique style of moody, scratchy beats. The eeriness of it has a mysterious appeal that’s best seen live.

 

K+Lab

A dash of funk on top of layers of Drum & Bass and the makings of K+Lab are clearly evident. You can be sure his set will be a dance party will all the right amounts of whimsy.

 

 

FULL POST

Just as the sun rises, so too does Oregon Eclipse near. With 7 stages each boasting a lineup worthy of an entire festival, we’ve decided it wise to feature our top picks by stage. Some we love. Some we just discovered. All essential.
Click here for more from this series.
75 Days

 

To start the series off, we begin with the Sun Stage’s smattering of psychedelic or Goa trance and all of its unrelenting drive and experimentation.

 

Marcus Henriksson

Marcus Henriksson is one half of Minilogue and Son Kite (the other half is Sebastian Muellert, in case you were wondering). Under the Son Kite moniker, they delved into the ambient spheres of psytrance. Now he also produces under the moniker Nobody Home. Suffice it to say, he is a legend in the scene and will definitely bring a lot of influence to his set.

 

Dark Whisper

Throw hints of world music and poignant commentary into psy-trance and you get Dark Whisper‘s messages of juxtaposition and self examination. Music and enlightenment are all we’ve ever asked for; come August we need just be.

 

Antix

The brother duo of Antix and Fiord are no strangers to the entire musical spectrum from dancefloor trance to dark psytech. Their DJ appearances definitely give light to this.

 

Perfect Ace

Perfect Stranger and Ace Ventura are perhaps the busiest DJ’s on the psytrance circuit and regulars of Symbiosis. Together, you can be sure they’ll be putting on a spectacle.

 

Shadow Fx

If you find yourself wandering the grounds in the wee hours, listen for the mellower melodies of Shadow Fx. His steadier and deeper progressive style is often reserved for the select few that are on the sunrise hustle.

 

Hallucinogen

Simon Posford’s (of Shpongle fame) Hallucinogen alias is one of the most influential leaders of the Psy-trance movement. This is a DJ set so expect to hear the evolution of the genre during it.

 

Killerwatts

Killerwatts is Tristan and Avalon. The duo has seen their share of Psytrance and all of its nested styles. They’ve made sure to keep all of the driving basslines that define it while adding their own prominent flair. Be sure to catch them both during their solo sets!

 

 

FULL POST

Oregon Eclipse | Tickets

 

Remember Symbiosis 2016 and the ensuing creation of the Global Eclipse Gathering consortium? The mystery behind that was quickly cleared as news came in of a Total Eclipse passing over Oregon on August 21, 2017. More specifically, Big Summit Prairie (52,000 acres of flatland and a 52-acre lake) in Crook County falls under the Eclipse’s viewing path and will thus play host to our beloved traveling gathering’s next installment.

 

This year’s celebration will now span an entire week (August 17-23). Remember: it is a marathon, not a sprint. To put on a show of such magnitude,Global Eclipse Gathering has enlisted 13 well-known worldly experiences: Bass Coast, Beloved, Envision, Hadra, OMETEOTL, Origin, Noisily, Rainbow Serpent, Re:birth, Sonic Bloom, Symbiosis, Science and Non-Duality, and Universo Paralello.

 

In short, mark August 17-23 off your calendar and get your Eclipse Viewing Glasses ready!

 

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