There’s a weekend of bliss ahead of us, Nerds. For those of you residing in Southern California and love loving things, I recommend you jog on over to Lightning in a Bottle, a celebration of art, music, performance and life.
Located in Silverado, California, this festival has been going on for over a decade. It’s a baby Coachella of sorts, and it’s goal is to improve the lives of those who attend, as well as introduce them to some sincerely face-melting music. I have thrown together a little nerd to-do list, for those of you going, or if you just want to learn a little bit more about it. Take the time to put this event in your memory banks, because it’s sure something that’s been on my bucket list, ya dig?
Star Slinger
Short for “happiest techno ever,” Star Slinger never ceases to smack that frown right off my dumb-looking face. Based in Manchester, UK, Darren Williams mixes southern influences with hip-hop and packages it into this lovable techno-y sponge of joy. Even when laying on the crappy couch in my little Los Angeles apartment, I can picture myself sipping drinks by the oceanside, making friends with pelicans and learning the bongos from some beautiful surfer dude I met earlier that day. Sigh. Star Slinger is great, lets leave it at that.
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Epic combinations of bass, synth and vocals, GoldRush combines etherial elements with their typical dubstep. It’s intention seems to be to make you wanna move your body. It’s a smoothie of sounds that you can’t stop listening to.
Music nerds, prepare to take a second to let what I’m about to reveal to you sink in. This weekend, Cello Joe, the famous BEATBOXING CELLIST, will be performing at Lightning in a Bottle. This guy is CRAZY AWESOME. I knew I’d fall in love with him just from the words “beatboxing” and “cellist” combined. And whaddya know, I was right. This man has invented his own genre, “classical hip-hop.” Not to mention he’s the world’s first musical bike-touring cellist. According to his website, between 2007 and 2008 he rode with the Pleasant Revolution, a 5,000 mile bike tour from North San Juan, CA to Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico. We like Cello Joe.
Obviously I’m going to include the headliner. Bassnectar is mind-blowingly good if you’re into poppy-dustup with influences from 90’s grunge. Lorin Ashton has combined producing with performing and arranging sounds to converge into one super DJ. He’s worked with artists like Ellie Goulding, Lupe Fiasco, and Gogol Bordello; this guy will either dissolve or induce nightmares. When you listen to his music, he’ll make you see the world just a little bit different.
This festival is the combination of everything I dream about. Besides this insanely good lineup, the festival includes something called “The Temple of Consciousness.” This area of the festival allows guests to participate in workshops that include, glass blowing, brewing, clowning, dustup popping, psychedelic spin-hooping, and even birdwatching. The art installations are similar to that of Coachella’s, meaning they’re large and spectacular. I’m looking forward to walking through this Wanderlust-y fairy world this weekend. Lets hope I come back and don’t decide to stay forever!
Solid.
Oh my jesus balls, i could not agree more! That recap video was gold. Pretty Lights, Big G. So much goodness. Would love to attend.