Braving today’s music festival culture is similar to shopping at a thrift store; you may have to dig through a bunch of crap to find one hidden gem. Those of us seeking a visceral experience that transcends everyday life are often disillusioned by what electronic music festivals have become. Consumer-driven giants like Ultra and Electric Daisy Carnival have instigated a backwards standard, shifting the focus away from the participants and clouding the altruistic intention of self-awareness through live music rituals. Too often these events leave you mentally spent, when, in theory, you should feel consumed with a newfound vigor for life.
It may seem like meaningful festivals are a thing of the past, as if no one is regarding the purpose of growth through cultural experiences. Luckily, though, there is a community of conscientious individuals lurking in the shadows. Perhaps one of the most important modern cultivators of the transformational festival experience is musician and event producer Jamie Janover, the creative mind and organizer behind Sonic Bloom. By holding an annual event that immerses participants in a new reality, Janover has reintroduced the idea of a festival for the people, by the artists.
Jamie Janover performing at Sonic Bloom
Unlike many who wish to uphold the integrity of festival life, Janover is confident that the upper hand still belongs to those who promote genuine experiences.
What we’re doing here isn’t just a Colorado thing. The transformational community is going super viral, just like anything good on the Internet. So everybody just relax, everything is going to be fine. All the stupid things that are going on and the power hungry world-bank guys are just going to fall to the side. Not because we are going to fight them, but because we are going to rebuild the new paradigm. Like Mr. [R. Buckminster] Fuller said, you don’t fight the existing reality, you just make a new reality that is so good everybody is like, ‘um, yeah, I’ll take the good one.’
The paradigm Janover refers to is a multi-faceted experience which brings participants together in a natural, outdoor setting to build social awareness through the aid of electronic music, visionary art and consciousness-building workshops. Transformational festivals not only favor self-metamorphosis, but also a collective move toward sustainable living. A once underground movement, its only ties to mainstream recognition Burning Man and Lightning in a Bottle, has now re-emerged, with dozens of transformational festivals popping up all over the country. Chronicling these gatherings of the counterculture is a recent slew of documentaries called “The Bloom Series,” featuring festivals such as Symbiosis, Shambhala and, most recently, Sonic Bloom.
Seamlessly reflecting the transformational mantra, Sonic Bloom far exceeds the average music festival. Over the course of one weekend, a rolling mountain valley smack dab in the center of Colorado converts into a mini-community, with merchants, artisans and artists peddling their goods and services to thousands of like-minded individuals. Campsites sprawl as far-flung people gather with a common purpose and collective spirit. A palpable energy is thick in the air, one that knows no strangers or negative energies.
Photo Credit: Bree Shumaker
Trappings of urban life take on new forms, as art installations and sculptures rise from the ground like skyscrapers in a crowded city. Instead of the hum of traffic, the Unified Ground comes alive with the sounds of creation and enlightenment. Workshops are held to teach everything from yoga to semiotic theory to the art of hula-hooping, while the nearby buzz of live music plays in the background. Several juxtaposed stages allow for a well-rounded experience, as attendees are able to wander freely from set to set without compromising their plans.
Photo Credit: Bree Shumaker
Embracing the mindset of limitless creativity, artists tailor their sets to appeal to the viewer’s combined sensory perceptions. Aerial dancers, spectacular LED set designs and illusionary stage effects combine to form unforgettable live music experiences. Performances which broke the mold this year included sets by experimental movement troupe Quixotic, DJ Simon Postford of Shpongle and The Polish Ambassador.
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Quixotic / Photo Credit: Bree Shumaker
Quixotic / Photo Credit: Bree Shumaker
The Polish Ambassador \ Photo Credit: Bree Shumaker
The Polish Ambassador / Photo Credit: Bree Shumaker
As someone who has attended her fair share of these events, I was bewildered by the countless ways Sonic Bloom took the experience the extra mile. Two factors stood in stark difference to other festivals I have attended: practicality and creativity. Attendees were able to camp right next to their cars, a convenience I will not forsake for any other festival in the future. Even the shower accommodations were elaborate. Luxurious facilities provided by portable bathhouse company The Oasis featured cedar shower stalls, personal grooming stations and Dr. Bronner’s soap products, all for a reasonable entrance fee.
Understanding the abundant needs of both attendees and artists alike, Janover’s dual persona of musician and festival expert lends itself perfectly to his role as Sonic Bloom organizer. I ventured to this event thinking I knew it all about festivals, but I was dead wrong. In fact, I don’t think I truly understood what a well-produced festival was until I experienced Sonic Bloom. Janover takes production, accommodations and performance-booking above and beyond to orchestrate a truly unmatched event. As a result, I will make it a priority to attend Sonic Bloom every year.
“Everything is going to change and it’s going to be the transformational communities, including the festivals, that are going to lead the way in that. When the shit hits the fan, you have to collaborate. And who knows how to collaborate? The artists, that’s us.”
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