ShambhaLine-Up (a Cole's notes report)

[gnosis]

Wot a bloody load of unneccessary stress, angst and worry!

9 hours after leaving Van (@ 06:00 thurs!), we pull off the highway to head up to the ol' Shambles Ranch. 6km up, we were told.

6.5 hours.

That's how long it was till we got bands put on our wrists and told to drive in.

The hold up?

Extensive searches of each and every vehicle.

After people saw all the booze being confiscated and dumped by security, word went down the line to stash it better (security was unrolling all tents and bags), or drink it before getting to the gate.

@ 9pm, the "night-shift" switched out the "day-shift" on security.

The line blew through!

They only stopped loogans and suspicious vehicles. The rest they sent in.
~whew!~

Sent to night-park, we were faced w/ the task of finding our campsite w/ friends already there, IN THE DARK. Not what we had planned!

The Gods give, and the Gods shit, too.

We found our campsite, w/ the help of the chance meeting of others, all in the first foray from the vehicle. YAY!

Then it started raining.

Rained (off and on), Fri till 4 pm, too.

But, we'd set up in the morning, during a lull in liquid sunshine.

DAMN! things went up from there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The place is really quite beautiful.

Heard about this place for years, now, but, really wasn't sure what to expect.

~shaking head~

The stages were brilliant! This is DEFINITELY not a Popkum reserve deal!

Now, before I go any further, this is the one and most significant observation I consistently made throughout the time there:

BEST SOUND, _EVER_!

I'm not kidding!

EVERY stage! The sound was tweaked for max. quality, no matter where you were! Minimal bleed between stages.

But, folks, I hate them for tainting me against any future shows/gigs, I may attend:

Da (((B~A~S~S))) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was drooling!

To say that I got my fix of bass-heavy music on bass-friendly systems is my contribution to the Year's Understatement Award nominations list.

I was lucky enough to be given a box of glowsticks, left over from the show I just wrapped, so, over Fri and Sat nights, I handed out to random cute, dancing, fun girls (and a few guys just GIVin'er) about 250 glowsticks, 150 glowbracelets, and 50 glownecklaces. Just to add to the "atmosphere".

Oddly enough, "Frustrating, yet Fun" seemed to be the order of the trip. Getting lost on the fucking goat paths, along the river, behind the stages CLEARLY stands out, seeing that we got lost in there 3 fucking times!!! (Including being led by 3rd-time vets!)

Along the same theme was trying to figure out where the hell was what, and totally ending up where you did NOT expect to be! Day or night! (Sound a bit Dirk Gently-ish?)

All in all, GREAT people (we had the most awesome camping space and community!), great place, and WICKED tunes!!!!!!!!!
Once Friday afternoon cleared up, it was obvious the beach stage and all along the river was THE place to be! Some BC culture (fungal and crop), mixed w/ some amazing reggae, dUb and raggamuffin made for a glorious time surrounded by thousands of laid back people.

Stand outs: Fri afternoon's beach stage of reggae. Portal's opener, Brother (astounding!!!!). Bassnectar (2nd gig, Sun, Village)

Props to: The Shit Desturbors! All the friends I never expected to see. Mariah, Cdn Border, Agro-Dave, Dale, Ish and all the other online friends I'd not seen for ages. Shambhala. All the dj's/performers.

And a MAHSSIVE _B*I*G U*P_ to Grapes for being the most amazing (and patient) tour-guide to a great time!!!!!!!!!

Frosty
(could go on and on...)