As I pulled my car onto the Spanish moss laden grounds of the resort, I was stopped at a white 10×10 easy up tent manned by red shirted young men puffing on cigarettes, appearing to be exhausted by the days work. This familiar setting immediately brought me back to the festival vibe that I had been separated from by the long winter months. When I parked my car and traversed the glass doors leading into the resort’s lobby, I couldn’t believe my eyes.  There was literally a full-on Shakedown Street style medley of vendors in juxtaposition to the hotels fixtures. I couldn’t focus my eyes on all the goodies being touted in hippie commerce but I caught glimpses of vendors with tie-dye skirts, pipes, crystals, music posters, glow lights, flat brim hats, Grateful Dead t-shirts, jewelry wraps and a general store. I was impressed and felt at home. Music schedules were posted on the columns of the hotel lobby and I reviewed them to see when my favorite bands were playing and promptly gave myself a little tour of the hotel. I was impressed by the cigar bar in the hotel lobby as I enjoy the occasional cigar and never had the opportunity to smoke one at festival. I appreciated the spa, activity center and weight room in the hotel mezzanine and I especially loved the setup of the Manhattan Theatre, which reminded me very much of BB Kings Jazz Club in NYC where I saw one of my first jam band shows a decade ago.

Above and beyond a Shakedown in the lobby, it was all of the fine accouterments that made this festival special and exciting for me. Dave Dellarusso’s marching band called Primate Fiasco spontaneously erupted in happy song and dance like a flash flood several times in different places throughout the hotel grounds. John Warner, who designs so much of the music poster art that we see in our scene was personally on site displaying art and talking about his collection of music posters, CD covers, and t-shirt art. Scotty Dank was displaying some of Warner’s designs- including the official Rock and Roll Resort festival design- in beautiful art blankets. The Cosmic Fire Brigade from upstate NY put on several impressive fire spinning displays just outside the front doors of the hotel lobby.  Jeremy Peters of SJP Productions programmed the most exquisite psychedelic imagery into LED screens scattered throughout the Manhattan Theatre. It was hard for me to believe that Jeremy, who was once the lighting director for Zach Deputy, just recently began dabbling in the art of visual mapping at the age of 26. Jamin Murphy of Funktion Form, who is, conversely, a long time veteran of music festival interior design, had his colorful diamond shaped installations stretched below the ceilings of every location music was played within the resort. All of these special details and add-ons finely curated by the organizers of the event won me over. They separated Rock n Roll Resort from every other live music event. Team Northeast successfully promulgated a festival feeling within in indoor space. Room service and no muddy feet were nice bonuses.

Overall, the lineup of music was a mixture of funk and electronic. This resulted in a mature crowd mixed with a youthful one. I was happy to see the more experienced festival goers teach the younger kids, by example, how to party responsibly and get down consciously.

Some of the other highlights for me included seeing artists and musicians enjoying themselves amongst the festival attendees all weekend long, taking part in Karen Dugan’s bachelorette party festivities (Karen, who makes up for her height with her passion, is known as the Tiny Rager. As she is tying the knot with her hubby in the funk scene, Josh Raskin, she celebrated her bachelorette party at the festival- which was named after her) and the office chair party during UV Hippo, where about 40 leather armchairs on wheels made their way to the wooden dance floor in the Manhattan Theatre and we all danced in a bumper car fashion.  Finally, I thoroughly enjoyed the special energy of Soulive’s Friday night performance, as many of the band members came to Kerhonksen straight from performing as support for Eric Clapton’s band at Madison Square Garden that same evening, and were still dripping with excitement from performing under such special conditions.

I would recommend Rock n Roll Resort to anyone who has never experienced it.

Thanks go to Danny Hertz for this sparklin’ review!

On May 17-19, 2013 berries will travel from all over to occupy Belden Town and create a new magical story. This story will feature artists such as the funky hip-hop inspired DJ Shadow, and one of our favorites, Rain Phutureprimitive. Also bringing his crunchy electric feel is Andrelian (formerly Heyoka). NastyNasty and Minnesota plan to drop more incredible sets upon us (they never disappoint!) and many, many more.

If the music lineup is not enough to bring out the groove in you, then the setting of this festival will surely drop your pants! Belden Town is located on the quaint Feather River. Not only is there a small town for all of your festival needs, but also a dope river stage where festival-goers are permitted to bring rafts and floatation devices to enjoy a set from the water! Yea, Sparkleberry raft, WHAT.

The weather is forecasted to be in the mid to high 70′s, so make sure to pack your sunscreen for the sweet bass love shine. And don’t forget to pack your favorite costumes and high vibrations so that we may create another unforgettable time together.

Tickets are being sold online here.

SparkleBerry Lane is anxious to see you there

Emissions Focus~
1) The People
2) The Music
3) All Inclusive, Non Elitist, Everyone Is Welcome Communal Atmosphere
4) Appropriate Size, Minimal Impact Event (Actual, not the reg ‘Green’ claim)
5) Enjoyment & Celebration
6) Creativity, Art & Expression
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Further Details~
~18+
~This Is A ZERO WASTE, Pack It In/Pack It Out Event
~No Pets Allowed
~Internal Security Crew looking out for festival attendees safety
~On Site Medic/EMT
~Bring A Floatation Device For The Water Stage!
~Come To Enjoy Yourself & Allow Others To As Well

-Here’s to forever with the wind beneath our wings-

Brought to you by Kendra Blum the GLITTER BOMB <3

Group Meditation with Tribal Council

I’m an East coast girl at heart but I’ll readily admit that one of my favorite festival experiences was on the West Coast.  I did yoga all day, speakers on a multitude of topics inspired me to live life to its fullest, and I got the chance to dance.  I returned home from that experience wondering why oh why the East coast couldn’t get it’s festival game together enough to bring us such wholesome events (Wanderlust Vermont may be the east coast fest closest to that experience).   I mean, if every festival I raged offered me unlimited yoga classes, educational talks and workshops, group meditation, delicious and healthy food, PLUS the chance to dance and connect with beautiful souls, I would be glowing year round.

It seems that this Summer 2013 my wish may come true at Gratifly Music and Arts Festival.   The event, brought to us by Celestial Summit, will be taking place July 25 – 28  on a magical property called Avalon, in Westminster, South Carolina- 2 hours from Atlanta and 2 hours from Asheville, NC.

Emancipator, by BenMoon

From the moment Gratifly hit the facebook news feed, it started making waves due to its unusually amazing line-up.  Just looking at the artist list, one can see that this is a festival full of intention.  Many of electronica’s best names with a proven record of creating music that flows through the body and elevates the soul have been handpicked for the event.  The likes of Emancipator, Phutureprimitive, Random Rab, Govinda, Desert Dwellers, The Malah, The Human Experience, Kayla Scintilla, Michael Garfield, and Ganucheau, among many others just as awesome, will be gracing this festival with their presence.  What instantly hooked me was Ganucheau, whose mixes and original tracks have soothed me for the last year, but who has no other festival appearances lined up this summer.  If you live on the east coast, this is a rare opportunity to get all these names in one place without traveling across the country.

Tribal Council Dome at Aura

As if this much next-level music in one place wasn’t enough, the good souls at Gratifly are also offering us a full schedule of yoga classes every day- something for every level and style of practice- as well as teachers from all over the country sharing their wisdom in workshops and classes.  Tribal Council, a group dedicated to the elevation of festival vibrations, will be hosting the main workshop stage.  If you’ve been privy to the magic of their Geodesic Dome at festivals in the southeast, then you know they are more than qualified to hold down a sacred educational space at Gratifly.  The evolutionary group SolPurpose will be maintaining a temple space with community activities, as well.  The full lineup of speakers and topics has yet to be announced, but if it’s even half as good as the music lineup, you’re bound to learn something life-altering.

And what would a consciousness lifting festival be without visionary art?  Vision Lab is coming in to host a “live gallery of truly inspiring proportions,” and we can expect to see creativity flowing across the festival field.  Vision Lab will also be setting up their “Onawa” installation, a blow-up geodesic dome to be filled with expansive projections of forward-thinking art by world-class VJs.  All this is taking place on a beautiful piece of land in the woods of South Carolina, complete with shaded camping, and a fairytale river running through it.

A Vision Lab Creation

So it sounds heady, but so what?  Why go through so much effort and so selectively curate a music festival?  Is this the new business model for festivals?  That may be part of the answer, but I think the more full answer is empowerment.   To be a co-creative part of the type of environment Gratifly is manifesting is to know a new paradigm for living.  It is to be a part of something infinite and powerful that doesn’t stop when the weekend is over.  It is to know the beauty of Creation flowing through a community and bumping every participant’s frequencies up a few notches.  You don’t have to be a yogi or be familiar with any of this to benefit – come as you are and you will leave as a brighter version of yourself.

Vision Lab Gallery

I can personally say that my west coast festival experience remains in my heart and beckons me back to such an empowering gathering, and this summer, Gratifly is the answer to that call.

Tickets are on sale now for a very reasonable price at www.gratiflyfestival.com.  They are still accepting applications for volunteers, performers, and teachers, as well as applications for the creation of your own “themed environment!”

Preview some of the music you’ll be grooving to with these Gratifly Music Samplers 

See you on the dance floor, in workshops, the temple, and on the yoga mat!

As the sun rose on the second-coming of Lucidity 2013 and people began to open their eyes from their nights rest – a new dream began to unfold. Dragons, Tigers, Coyotes, and Peacocks began to climb out of the shadows and their presence began a beautiful weekend journey. Tucked deep in the Santa Barbara hills, Live Oak Campground came to life in the second week of April. Selling out days in advance, the hills were abundant with new and old faces. I set out on my journey from the forests of Grass Valley, CA and arrived in gorgeous Santa Barbara Friday morning. Feeling the butterflies flapping in my stomach I set out for my second Lucidity adventure. I was especially excited this year because I wasn’t crippled (I went to Lucidity last year three weeks out of knee surgery), a year had passed, and so much had changed.

Unlike last year’s rain drenched Lucidity, the sun shined brightly in a beautiful sky all weekend long. Around the six totems, villages began to arise. Each totem space was filled with an intimate creative element separate from the next. This year’s Lucidity was themed as The Totem’s Return – a place where one could awaken their dreams in reality. Each different area in Live Oak Campground was set up for a specific totem, each totem with their own special ideals and symbols. For example, the Courageous Dragon was represented in the Family Garden. Dragons are the great protectors and guardians – perfect for the family atmosphere. I chose to camp with the Wild Monkeys in the Nomad’s Nook. This area was in the farthest corner of the festival. Though it could get tedious walking up and down the hill to our zone, I was grateful I did. If I hadn’t camped in such a far area I don’t believe I would have seen the festival in its entirety the way I had.

Lucidity offered an array of opportunities for the eager learner. Each morning, one could enjoy yoga or dance in the grass at a Goddess Frolicking workshop. All classes were accompanied by wonderful teachers, and whether you were twirling hoops or spinning poi you were bound to learn from an expert. And if flow arts weren’t your thing you could easily find a unique experience for personal ailments in the Healing Gardens.  I am a counselor by day, so I was excited to see a Psychology workshop at this festival: Somatic Psychology.  This workshop was focused on learning to really connect the mind to the body and allow the self to recognize emotions that we feel. I was reminded about focusing internally to express myself peacefully externally.

Friday came like a whirlwind. As the day turned to night, a whole new world was born. With headliners such as Quade, 2NUTZ, and ill.Gates, the night was setting out to be a sparkling adventure. The Lucid Stage set a dreamy atmosphere and as smoke filled the air, fractals of light made patterns in the sky. Across the audience a maze of colors drew itself in lights while we got down to ill.Gates, my favorite act from the night. I spent most of the night grooving in front of the speakers. While in the middle of a real funky song a giant jellyfish came floating across my face. Tentacles glowing this jellyfish cruised through the crowd – I couldn’t help but smile as I saw everyone around dancing beneath the giant sea creature.

 One could hear acoustic melodies buzzing through the air as Saturday morning approached. With the fresh squeeze of an orange, mimosas were being poured and the air smelled like bacon! I wondered the festival in search of something to eat. Not only was I granted that wish, I also was pleasantly surprised by a secret little nook in the Healing Garden selling the most delicious herbal hibiscus. And a special shout out to the amazing girl who gifted me some honey, because I had already lost my voice (no surprise there)!

Later that morning the Family Garden began humming and children were excitedly preparing for their very large parade. As cute little butterflies and feisty little tigers, the children roamed the streets casting smiles everywhere they went.  My favorite paraders were the beautiful little girls with shimmering wings, waving them back and forth so freely.

In the workshop world, Saturday was all about finding yourself and creating beauty with those around you. For couples, Tantra Vinyasa or Partner Poi. For Women, there was a “Stroking the Shakti” workshop which enabled desire and sexual energy. And there was never a lack of healing workshops. From healing within with, Ayurveda, or Theta, or healing environmentally with Nature Awareness, the presence of wisdom was everywhere.  Jess Dugan, my sparkle sister in crime, enjoyed the Stoking of the Shakti workshop specifically. Jess told me that it emboldened her connection with femine power.

My musical evening kicked off with MiHKAL, and our new favorite, He’s my Brother, She’s my Sister. North America has created a new genre of “experimental” music. Being defined as music that has an “unforeseeable outcome,” or music that “pushes against [the] boundaries or definitions.” And on Saturday night experimental music set the tone with artists such as ChrisB and Digital Rust, and finishing the night off with Gladkill.

Sunday was a day for yoga and MERMAIDS! Yoga could literally be found in every nook and cranny of this event. With special Warrior Yoga: for Strength, Courage, and Determination, or Barefoot n’ Beautiful Family Yoga, there was surely something incredible for every budding and expert yogi out there.

My Lucid family and I set up a blanket and an alfredo tortellini lunch picnic in front of the Audiawaska stage for most of the day. I met some of the most amazing new friends and grew even closer to the ones I had already known. New friends talked about how incredible this community is and made big plans together for a better future. We all discussed the projects of our different paths of lives, and what would be created if we brought all of those things together. I felt connected on a whole new level.

And amazingly enough, MERMAIDS were literally making a splash!

Save the Mermaids Foundation hit a very special place in the heart of Sparkleberry. By introducing mermaids as a symbol of protection, these sea warriors help raise awareness on the harmful effects of plastic pollution in our coastal waters.  This non-profit group is working to save our oceans through education and the elimination of unnecessary plastics. It is their intention to spark the need to  “Use-Less and Waste-Less” in everyone!  At Lucidity you could practice with them by making your own reusable shopping bag. The mermaids’ innovative ways allowed Jess the opportunity to make a reusable bag out of a vintage Spice Girls tee!

The mermaids even had fins! That’s right, by nightfall these chicks’ legs morphed into actual fish tails and swam in a performance pool! As the mermaids splashed water and dove beneath the surface, us land-walkers used our legs to boogie down to Sunday’s late night specials, Zion-I, ILL-ESHA, and the always mind-blowing Phutureprimitive.  As Sunday came to a close, a haze of magic lingered in the air.

Lucidity 2013 set up a blank canvas and by the end of the weekend it was camouflaged with every imaginable color of the rainbow. Throughout the weekend it was our hope to become a bright color on your canvas. Each day Sparkleberries of all smiles tackled Lucidity’s ground with actual strawberries and “Spread the Sparkle’ stickers!  With events such as this, we see hope and opportunity for communal growth outside of our festival world. We believe that if we can spread the sparkle largely enough at events, you too will want to spark your inner flame.

On that note, a poem from my experience:

As we roam the hills of lucid land, it becomes clear

it is time to release the ego, and shed all the fear

it is time to frolic and dance

it is time to give love a chance

our heart rhythm is beating

its time for a sacred meeting…

come one, come all

to the land of your soul call

where enchantment collides

and magic is your guide

Allow your dreams to come to life. Awaken your spirit and sing your heart song. Everyday. Without doubt. Without fear.

Here’s to forever with the wind beneath our wings !

This article was brought to you by Kendra Blum , the GLITTER BOMB ! <3 If you’re interested in contributing to Sparkleberry Lane please feel free to reach out to us directly at Sparkleberrylane@gmail.com. We’d love yo hear from you!

Photos collaboratively provided by Teddy Anderson!

Check out Teddy’s page for his Ugh-MazZzing album of Lucidity 2013!

Flagstaff, Arizona will be hosting the fourth annual Firefly Gathering in less than two months. From humble beginnings, Firefly Gathering has more than doubled in its attendance and participation each year. The family grows with the anticipation and excitement for this annual gathering. From June 27^th to July 1^st Flagstaff’s forest will be occupied with two to three thousand individuals ready to raise the vibration and bask in the blissful epicenter of this small mountain town.

Firefly’s Mission: An intentional gathering focused on manifesting our vision of a co-creative, nurturing, and loving community that fosters a healing, healthy lifestyle partnered with conscious celebration and a spiritual peak experience. When we come together to celebrate our ONE-ness, we all experience transformation through inspiration resulting in personal and planetary evolution.

Like the birth and evolution of all great festivals, Firefly started with an idea and the motivation to instill a positive change in the community. Since being founded in 2010, they’ve already formed a reputable name for themselves as new-aged visionaries.   Firefly aims to align mindful practices with play for an unforgettable community-oriented event. Placed on the Bloom Transformational Festival World Map, Firefly Gathering stands by epic festivals like Lightning in a Bottle, Beloved, and Electric Forest (which is taking place in Rothbury, Michigan in the same weekend) in terms of contribution to the transformational festival circuit. This recognition sheds light upon Firefly’s powerful vision, and proves that although this may be a smaller scale festival, it still has so much to offer.

Upon entering the grounds, the scent of pine lingers in the crisp mountainous air, complimented by the crunch of nature beneath your feet. Taking place on private land attendees will be blessed with open grassy fields and cozy wooded coves granting us both the openness and the intimacy we desire.  The weather is expected to be from 70-80 degrees in the day with nights as cold as 50 degrees- but remember mountain weather changes like the time so prepare for high wind and potential rain just in case!

Flagstaff was declared the first International Dark Sky City, meaning restrictions on city lights will have all Fireflies shining bright into the night. Often blessed with a spread of galactic glitter the star scatter is always a cosmic blessing in this space lovin’ town. As with most festivals this is a Leave It Better event, so make sure whatever you plan to bring in, you have a way to bring out as well. The only thing we leave behind is good vibes!

Firefly will be set up village style, with each space dedicated to a special sacred practice.
The Giving Room for healers and healee’s, the Higher Consciousness workshop space,  the painters and artists hub, the Lil Bugg Ville for the kids, and of course the performance arts and yoga spaces. Dedicating each space to a purpose allows attendees to mindfully float from space to space knowing that the place they are entering has been prepared with the intention of enhancing their individual experience.

For everyone that has the opportunity to be a part of this event you will not only be graced with a wholesome and beautiful gathering of loving and compassionate people and activities, but also an amazing line up of talented grooves! Thriftworks, will be getting drippy, trippy, and squishy as usual. Joining him will be Desert Dwellers , Bird of Prey, KiloWatts and heaps of local talent, including Flagstaff’s own Acidisco, Safi’s Lab, and Jahmontee.  For those who attended Flagstaff’s Kaleidoscope Kamp Out back in September there will be a lot of familiar faces returning to the forest including Project Aspect, Circus Bacchus, Endoplasmic and Spafford.

This is an occasion where individuality and expression are not only embraced but encouraged. An event where minds of all ages can collaborate and create even more than they thought possible.  Sparkleberry Lane is pleasurably privileged to be a part of Firefly’s growing community of loving, creative, and inspiring people. Through the celebration, we have been granted the opportunity to be involved in a community effort to enlighten and enrich each other’s lives!

Snag up Early Bird tickets to Firefly while you still can. We hope to see you in the forest!

Special Ticket Give Away: Sparkleberry Lane will be giving one lucky berry a free pass to this year’s event. Stay tuned in with our Facebook for your chance to win this berry special surprise!

And don’t forget to look for us handing out those Spread the Sparkle stickers and yummy Strawberries!

Bless it!