Charles Shaw
Burning Man Examiner
Examiner.com
June 2, 2009
Zack Darling, the Burning Man North Bay Regional Contact and a producer with the Mystic Beat Lounge, describes their annual "Techno-Tribal Community Dance" as "one of the most Burner-esque events on the West Coast.
"It's kind of like Burning Man meets Cirque Do Soleil. It's a show like nothing else. We've got a fire trapeze in an indoor venue surrounded by 5,000 Burners!"
And apparently that's not all. Celebrating their 10th anniversary as part of the "After-Dark" series at the yearly Harmony Festival in Sonoma, California, the Techno-Tribal dance is is adding many firsts to its show to create an "elaborate fusion of underground arts combining dance music, lighting, performance, fire, acrobatics, juggling, aerialists, and performance painters" in a two night engagement, June 12-13, Grace Pavilion, Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
Techno-Tribal began in 1999 with what Darling describes as "a few good party loving people" and has grown into one of the largest independently produced events in the Bay Area. The core producing team is from The Mystic Beat Lounge, a collective of seasoned DJ’s, artists, visionaries and producers inspired by events like Burning Man and the Techno Cosmic Mass where their is no separation between performer and attendee, and there are no spectators, only participants.
"Techno-Tribal is primarily focused on community and the efforts from community to produce a fun lively musical extravaganza," says Ann Marie Svilar, also of the Mystic Beat Lounge. "But its always remained a community effort, following Mystics' philosophy of fusing art and music to bring people to consciousness and togetherness, but also to have a really good party. Its put on by people who really love music, and really love art, and love blending them together."
This year's line up includes friday headliner Balkan Beat Box and its sounds from the Gypsy Diaspora. Supporting acts include Somalia-born hip hop artist K’naan, who's recent YouTube interviews about Somali "pirates" became a viral sensation. The bass-driven tribal grooves of Medicine Drum (with guest Wisdom) and the downtempo, dripping-with-soul electronica of DJ/Producer Random Rab. The night also features two special performances by world-class juggling acrobats NANDA.
Saturday showcases the multi-genre trance inductions of DJ/Producer Shpongle and a very special guest beatbox emcee performance by Matisyahu. Other acts include U.K. chillout pioneers The Orb, and the dub-reggae driven house and breaks of U.K. producer/performer/DJ Gaudi, and fire performances by Luminesque and Liquid Fire Mantra. Acclaimed composer and musician, Kitaro, will also be on hand to perform for the midnight celebration.
"The offering of this year’s Tribal-Techno 10-year party is immense," says DJ Random Rab, a pioneer in Electronic music and a Playa favorite, who cites The Orb as one of the main reasons he started producing electronic music. Rab says it is a truly amazing time to be a producer and an even more amazing time to be a listener of this genre, which he sees as a continuously evolving.
"We have finally entered an era where electronic music can no longer be defined as its own unique musical genre," Rab adds. " What once was a style of music is now simply a methodology of craftsmanship. The power of electronic music lies in the ability to hone in on microscopic detail and present to the listener a truly detailed tonal experience. Where emotions can be accessed with precision rather than purely expression." Rab will be joined in his performance by motion painting from artist Andrew Jones, and dance from Phaedra Ana.
“We have gone to great lengths to make this year’s Techno-Tribal Dance the very best in our 10 year history.” says Zack Darling. “Our audience expects the most epic and amazing night we’ve ever produced and we intend to exceed their wildest imagination. We’ve let our dreams loose this year.”
Come ride their dreamscape.
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