Luminate Festival 2012
Local beekeeper Ratzinger enjoying the sunshine at Luminate’s vibrant Live Stage. Photo: Hannah Schenker.
Luminate Festival 2012 welcomed our little family into her arms on Feb 2 for fun and games in the movie-worthy landscape of Canaan Downs.
This year we were lucky enough to be present for the opening ceremony just after sunset. Called in by booming conches, a lyrically powerful spoken welcome by local poet Redwood Reider, tribal drumming, music and a ritual fire-lighting – it was on.
The more exuberant flung away the shackles of dress and danced beneath the sparks in primal and energising delight, beneath the gaze of a wildly differing population of festival-goers. We whooped and hooted, and gleefully awaited the opening of the first music zone, studded with local talent, which included later my DJ-husband Earl Grey’s set in the Electronic Zone. I am his biggest fan, of course. I danced hard in the drizzle.
Day two, in the clouds. I was determined to attend at least one workshop. Luminate’s packed and incredibly varied line-up spanning several different zones is a major part of the festival. We settled into Jamie Janover’s Unified Field Theory.
My highly simplified description is that he explained just how the world works, what it’s made up of and how we fit into the bigger scheme of things. Guiding us through the theorising and research of a dude named Nassim Haramein (Google him), Jamie talked about space-time, theoretical physics, quantum mechanics, cosmology, biology, chemistry and ancient civilisations, mostly in a conversational and entertaining manner which enabled me to grasp what he was on about. And then I’d lose him. And then I’d get it again! Fun stuff.
We made it to the Live Stage in time to catch international acts Ganga Giri and OTT. With high-energy didjeridoo and tribal trance beats and a “conscious rapper” alongside, Ganga Giri whipped the crowds into frenzy. I only managed to make it through part of the multi-layered electronica of OTT, shivering. Bed beckoned.
Saturday arrived with a delicious sleep-in under slate grey skies. Our friend Giselle Demelchiore was instructing Jikyo Jutsu in the healing zone. This is one of the earliest types of exercise developed in Japan, and one Giselle uses daily to keep her body strong and energised. It consists of 31 separate exercises, and the larger-than-expected crowd of enthusiasts was guided through them one by one. The cool thing about this modality is that you start exactly where you are – any fitness, any flexibility. After an hour going through the entire sequence, I noticed a feeling of energy coursing through my limbs – quite a feat after two late nights. Good thing too, as the music line-up for Saturday was a goodie.
Starting at 10.15pm were the Barons of Tang, a self-described “gypsy punk-core” group that threw together music genres, rhythms and instruments like a frenzied musical stir-fry. Dancing was inevitable, and because of them I now desperately want to learn the saxophone – their lady of the sax was rather amazing and downright cool.
Following them was something called Activate – not another band but a half-hour gathering of everyone together at the Live Stage, with the intention that we would send our thoughts and dreams for 2012, potently charged on top of this crystal mountain landscape, out into the Universe to be manifest. This may sound a little “out there”, but it felt a powerful thing.
Following this was Isaac Chambers, a very groovy NZ electronic producer. With deep, driving bass lines and a DJ who was obviously having a good time, we all took that energy and got a bit lush on the dance floor.
Later in the night I experienced the most incredible psychedelic and progressive trance music I have ever heard or had the privilege of dancing to – Eitan Reiter, half of the international act called LOUD. It was richly layered, with energy that brought me straight back from fatigue to high voltage, a sonic journey that lifted me up off that mountain and delivered me back down at sunrise – I wanted him to never stop playing. Ever. Seriously. He was a treat beyond treats at a festival of treats. Merkaba followed, completely different but just as layered and interesting. His psychedelic progressive trance, again with Australian tribal influences, kept people on the dance floor even as daylight crept.
Sunday… a day of rest, but there was more music to come. OKA delivered a powerful, poetic and beautiful set of multi-genre music: dub, electronica, hip-hop, jazz and many forms of world music. More didj, a heavenly Aborigine voice, decadent flute and danceable beats – and an inspiring and loving energy. Wild Marmalade followed, back by popular demand. There was more didj and a more tribal feel to the music this year. More dance. We stuck around for two more DJs, but bed beckoned once more.
With a dismal heart, we woke on Monday to the prospect of heading back to earth, back to reality. Luminate always feels like a place I’d like to stay. The people are bright and shining and genuinely a peaceful and welcoming bunch. The composting toilets were amazing, the showers were hot, the food was nutritious and the coffee was strong. There was not a single rubbish bin in site, but no litter. We had one last boogie to Tom Cosm with a laughing, bouncing crowd. The kids squealed and hooned about on their bikes. The fires were still burning. And we came home.
Hannah Schenker
