Monday, June 15, 2009
India went out into the crowd to sing...
This guy was my hero for the night
India's mom taking us to church
India feelin' the Harmony Vibes
Radioactive rocks the mic
At the Eco Stage. He lost his voice but he just kept on rockin' it. Radio on the pan pipes is something not to be missed...
Following the Recycle Rules...
Knudson's got a new flavor...
Lemon tea, made with green and white tea...It's really yummy. Knudson was giving away free juice. Lots of it. Everyone was definitely loving on that!
Supercutest Scout
Marley from Rebelution
Gotta give Rebelution a shout out...great band, and Marley's from my hometown, I've known him since he was a wee one and we're all so proud of him.
Sustainability...The Sierra Nevada Story
And the beers good too, nice to be able to drink good beer and be green!
Bendi Bliss
Spring Skates bring great joy
Pitchman Worketh...
MMMMMM, Ghanian Food
The line for the Ghanian Food was always at least 20 people deep. Sigh. Sure did smell good though...
Autographs 4 All...
Lil' Skater Boy:
Stay Human!
Exterior Design...beautiful everywhere!
Gotta hand it to the artists that created all the beauty that became Harmony...Beauty everywhere!
Lydia's Lovin Healthfull...
The folks at Lydia's Lovin' always look sooooo healthy. Bright shiny eyes glowing with good health. And the food's great too, just the perfect fuel for a big day of festival fun.
Having a hoopin' great time!
The hoop zone was uber busy always. I made the mistake of crossing through, watch out for that hoop!!!
Music on the Fly
These guys were rockin' it hard in the walkway. I almost had to pull my earplugs out of my pocket cause that lil amp was blastin big time. Gotta love the ingenuity of makin your own stage though, and these guys sounded like they could really make great use of a full stage and soundsystem. Maybe next year?
This snake oil is da best!
Goddess Grove Greetings...
Stretching, honoring, giggling with the love spirit emanating powerfully throughout.
Yipes...
This ended up in a fall, as did most of the attempts on the staircase, but they all kept at it repeatedly.
Skaters, skaters, everywhere!!!
Like lil' ants, there were skaters swarming the elements every which direction. Good times!
Go Green Team!!!
"Harmony Festival, Go Green!" was chanted repeatedly throughout the weekend, individual participation being key. Separating garbage and recycling, using our own cups, plates and utensils, and gasp, cloth napkins are back in vogue. Check out green-mary.com
"Harmony Festival, Go Green!" was chanted repeatedly throughout the weekend, individual participation being key. Separating garbage and recycling, using our own cups, plates and utensils, and gasp, cloth napkins are back in vogue. Check out green-mary.com
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Jerusalem Peacemakers
All the way from Israel, the Jerusalem Peacemakers...
Three men on stage represent the Jewish faith, Muslim faith, and the Christian faith, all working together to promote peace between the faiths and throughout the world.
And they're going to be the suject if a movie being made right now at Harmony Festival - "Creating Harmony: Healing the Children of Abraham."
Amazing times we're living in, no?
Uniting earthly and heavenly Jerusalem...
Three men on stage represent the Jewish faith, Muslim faith, and the Christian faith, all working together to promote peace between the faiths and throughout the world.
And they're going to be the suject if a movie being made right now at Harmony Festival - "Creating Harmony: Healing the Children of Abraham."
Amazing times we're living in, no?
Uniting earthly and heavenly Jerusalem...
Michael Beckwith
Here comes Michael Beckwith...
Want to achieve spiritual liberation? Beckwith certainly has some great ideas: ask questions, use what you got, speak your word with authority, and make your actions into your way of living.
Giving is the way to receive - most amazing. This guy had a full house and you could feel the crowd's intentions shift with each word.
What I took from this - the universe's delay is not a denial.
He's heading over to the Health Pavillion right now...
Want to achieve spiritual liberation? Beckwith certainly has some great ideas: ask questions, use what you got, speak your word with authority, and make your actions into your way of living.
Giving is the way to receive - most amazing. This guy had a full house and you could feel the crowd's intentions shift with each word.
What I took from this - the universe's delay is not a denial.
He's heading over to the Health Pavillion right now...
Putting my learnins to use
Yesterday I learned that cacao (read: pure unadulterated chocolate) is one of the most nutrient rich foods. I decided to put that to use and got a Cacao Love Smoothie from the vendor pictured below. And I must say, now I'm a believer.
Debra Giusti and the Goddess Dance
Wasabi Collective
The Goddess Grove has had, arguably the most funky daytime parties this year of any festival areas.
There's a band up there, I swear. I'd need to learn how to fly pretty darn quick to get any closer to the stage. This band is jamming out some seriously funky beats. See?
Even the forest fairy came out of hiding to get her groove on.
There's a band up there, I swear. I'd need to learn how to fly pretty darn quick to get any closer to the stage. This band is jamming out some seriously funky beats. See?
Even the forest fairy came out of hiding to get her groove on.
Starhawk
Here comes Starhawk...
Starhawk is talking about the tools we need for change, but not for long.
We were up in a grounding exercise and taught how to see the moment and to be completely in the present.
We walked with our new grounded vision and learned to all come together as one - which is how Starhawk says will help us change the world.
And with a Spiral Dance at the end, we danced this intention into the world.
-- Post From My iPhone
Starhawk is talking about the tools we need for change, but not for long.
We were up in a grounding exercise and taught how to see the moment and to be completely in the present.
We walked with our new grounded vision and learned to all come together as one - which is how Starhawk says will help us change the world.
And with a Spiral Dance at the end, we danced this intention into the world.
-- Post From My iPhone
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Who Else Wants a Fedora?
Okay, well, the folks at Livity Outernational have a lot more than fedoras, but I know that one of those hats is coming home with me...
Transformation Art Village
The art at the Transformation Art Village is going to take you on a journey of color and creative expression...just walk on through to see what artsy beings have plucked from their imaginations...
The Floating Bed
Recently approved by Medicaid for everything from Autism care to lymphatic problems, the floating bed is one amazing device. The bed is a free floating padded platform that provides a comforting rocking motion, which Autism patients need as part of their comfort and care. You'll see them around the fest and I definitely recommend you hop in for a ride.
George Noory - The Meet and Greet
Having a VIP pass is an amazing way to spend the Harmony Fest. Besides the free food and backstage access, I also get to do fun things like meet George Noory. George is as cool and mellow in person as he seems to be on the air.
Pic of a stoked me with George to follow when I have appropriate cables. Edit: Here we are:
Pic of a stoked me with George to follow when I have appropriate cables. Edit: Here we are:
Impromptu drum circles rock!
As I was wandering with visions of a Pale Ale dancing in my head, I heard the always welcome sound of a drum heavy band. And what's that with them, a sax? But no stage was to be found, just a group of humble festival goers rocking out in the shade.
The kids were totally groovin to the improvised beats. Family friendly entertainment? Heck yeah!
The kids were totally groovin to the improvised beats. Family friendly entertainment? Heck yeah!
Visionary Culture Panel
Moderated by George Noory - Caroline Casey, Starhawk, Daniel Pinchbeck, David Wolfe, and Laura Fox are here.
Talking about harmony - how appropriate. I have to agree with all of the panel members' ideas, but especially Starhawk and her idea that harmony is seeing the world as a relationship. And Laura Fox talked about the idea of harmony being dynamic. Nice.
I agree too that the process of change needs ALL of us. Yes, even the government.
Time to work together everyone. And now.
Daniel Pinchbeck points out we can all be drivers of the planetary dream.
And Caroline thinks the trickster can play a part too.
Of course, David Wolfe points out that what we eat can create greater change as well.
I'm definately intrigued by Casey's idea of substituting 'compost' for 'fight'.... Plants are showing up to heal us, she says.
We just need to look around.
What an amazing panel...
-- Post From My iPhone
Talking about harmony - how appropriate. I have to agree with all of the panel members' ideas, but especially Starhawk and her idea that harmony is seeing the world as a relationship. And Laura Fox talked about the idea of harmony being dynamic. Nice.
I agree too that the process of change needs ALL of us. Yes, even the government.
Time to work together everyone. And now.
Daniel Pinchbeck points out we can all be drivers of the planetary dream.
And Caroline thinks the trickster can play a part too.
Of course, David Wolfe points out that what we eat can create greater change as well.
I'm definately intrigued by Casey's idea of substituting 'compost' for 'fight'.... Plants are showing up to heal us, she says.
We just need to look around.
What an amazing panel...
-- Post From My iPhone
George Noory
525 affiliate stations can't be wrong; Coast to Coast AM is, by far, the best talk radio show between 10PM and 2AM. Or any other time slot for that matter!
Coast to Coast is a show about knowledge, truth, and personal stories. People are given a chance to tell their stories; everything from angels to UFOs to near death experience. But what is most important about the show is the way the stories are woven together to really tell us a story about ourselves.
In true Coast to Coast fashion, George invited a variety of guests as well as having the audience participate by asking questions and telling their stories. Sometimes a person just needs to be heard.
Coast to Coast is a show about knowledge, truth, and personal stories. People are given a chance to tell their stories; everything from angels to UFOs to near death experience. But what is most important about the show is the way the stories are woven together to really tell us a story about ourselves.
In true Coast to Coast fashion, George invited a variety of guests as well as having the audience participate by asking questions and telling their stories. Sometimes a person just needs to be heard.
Meridian University
The folks from Meridian University - selling an education that transforms the world...
-- Post From My iPhone
-- Post From My iPhone
Daniel Pinchbeck
Author of "Breaking Open the Head" and many books on 2012 - Daniel Pinchbeck....
The Apocalypse - what is it? Is it the end of the world or a shift in consciousness? Pinchbeck defined 'apocalypse' as an uncovering or revealing during his talk. Fascinating stuff.
The galactic alignment of 2012 in December will bring something new, that seems certain. Man, I hope so. You probably do too.
Hearing Pinchbeck, it seems this is a time we should celebrate. And I tend to agree. Each culture changes faster than the generation before, I for one can't wait to see what this generation can do.
Pinchbeck noted that the information revolution can change into a wisdom revolution - what a wonderful world that would be.
Over to Copperfield's again, it seems.
-- Post From My iPhone
The Apocalypse - what is it? Is it the end of the world or a shift in consciousness? Pinchbeck defined 'apocalypse' as an uncovering or revealing during his talk. Fascinating stuff.
The galactic alignment of 2012 in December will bring something new, that seems certain. Man, I hope so. You probably do too.
Hearing Pinchbeck, it seems this is a time we should celebrate. And I tend to agree. Each culture changes faster than the generation before, I for one can't wait to see what this generation can do.
Pinchbeck noted that the information revolution can change into a wisdom revolution - what a wonderful world that would be.
Over to Copperfield's again, it seems.
-- Post From My iPhone
Michael Beckwith - The tardy edition
I think it's time for a bigger Earth Temple Dome. I went for a smoothie adventure and came back to an overflowing Dome. Hurray for thin walls, as there were as many of us listening outside as there probably were inside. ^_^
The Duhks
Oh The Duhks. I forget how much I like bluegrass until I'm listening to some crazy banjo player rocking out. The Duhks play deep-fried Southern blues, with a big slap of Appalachia thrown in for good measure.
Sorry for the miles away pic, but it's lunchtime for this little blogger. The $9 price for the teriyaki chicken bowl from heaven was totally worth it. Of course, it didn't hurt when one of the cooks popped his head out of the tent to tell me I had pretty eyes. I'm a sucker for an honest chef. :)
Holy crap. Radio, a wellknown beatboxer and rapper, just came onstage. I had no idea how well rap and bluegrass sync! Alright folks, I'm off to dance.
Sorry for the miles away pic, but it's lunchtime for this little blogger. The $9 price for the teriyaki chicken bowl from heaven was totally worth it. Of course, it didn't hurt when one of the cooks popped his head out of the tent to tell me I had pretty eyes. I'm a sucker for an honest chef. :)
Holy crap. Radio, a wellknown beatboxer and rapper, just came onstage. I had no idea how well rap and bluegrass sync! Alright folks, I'm off to dance.
Joanna Macy
I've already heard of Joanna Macy from my husband who goes to Meridian University (they have a booth here today - check 'WL out).
We began with the sound of deep time, toning together
According to Macy, "Here you can feel the future breaking in.". We are a part pf the Great Transition- a time when we need to grow up and start changing the consciousness.
Heavy stuff? Well, Macy would say that the darkness we experience is not something to fear - this is where we can use our imagination to break free of what holds us back.
Her book:
It's all about connection - and now is the time.
She's signing books at Copperfields
-- Post From My iPhone
We began with the sound of deep time, toning together
According to Macy, "Here you can feel the future breaking in.". We are a part pf the Great Transition- a time when we need to grow up and start changing the consciousness.
Heavy stuff? Well, Macy would say that the darkness we experience is not something to fear - this is where we can use our imagination to break free of what holds us back.
Her book:
It's all about connection - and now is the time.
She's signing books at Copperfields
-- Post From My iPhone
UPDATE: The Orb
You may have already heard the rumor that The Orb has cancelled their entire 28 day North American tour. This is indeed true. However, we have pulled some strings and are proud to announce that Techno-Tribal will be featuring the EXCLUSIVE North American summer DJ appearance by The Orb's Alex Paterson.
That's right -- the only place to hear The Orb this summer is at the Legendary Techno-Tribal Community Dance! TONIGHT: June 13
David Wolfe @ Earth Temple Dome
Lovin' the dome action
Bringing consciousness forward through food....
Handing out freebies- always a good thing.
Confession: I'm not a raw foodist, but that may change. This guy may be intense, but he made me a believer.
Must go out and buy: noni, goji, cacao, and mesquite powder. Wolfe's book "Superfoods" is also the most Eco-friendly book available - Copperfield's has it at a booth today.
He says it's all about starting with raw chocolate - no problem.
-- Post From My iPhone
Bringing consciousness forward through food....
Handing out freebies- always a good thing.
Confession: I'm not a raw foodist, but that may change. This guy may be intense, but he made me a believer.
Must go out and buy: noni, goji, cacao, and mesquite powder. Wolfe's book "Superfoods" is also the most Eco-friendly book available - Copperfield's has it at a booth today.
He says it's all about starting with raw chocolate - no problem.
-- Post From My iPhone
Wow
This is my first year here and my first reaction is WOW. So much to explore and I'm also wondering why I haven't made it out before. Color me impressed...and overwhelmed. In a good way, of course.
-- Post From My iPhone
-- Post From My iPhone
Friday, June 12, 2009
Eco-cup
I’ve never been on a skateboard in my life. Ok, maybe once, sitting and racing across a parking lot while a friend pushed. But I just got a whole new respect for skateboarding as a sport and an art form. Even if you’re not a fan of skateboarding, I suggest everyone take a walk near the Eco-Cup skate ramp. There’s a highway overpass next to the ramp and so far, every skater I’ve seen has jumped higher than the overpass. Contemplate the height of that for a second. Scroll back up to that first picture for a second and contemplate.
Fan-freaking-tastic people. The skater starts at the top of the ramp near the tree tops. The TREE TOPS. And here’s a random pic of someone pulling off a cool jump:
Bourgeois Gypsies
Bluesy folksy guitarlicious goodness are just four of the words that could be used to describe this quintet. Given that they all play an instrument as well as sing, there's no hand free for the quintessence folk device, the tambourine. So they hand them out to the audience and let us keep the beat. Seriously, way to up the ante on crowd interaction.
Shamanic Cheerleaders
All I can say is hilarity ensued. They cheered in the elements, gave us some healing mojo with their healing pom poms, and even did a cheer in Sanskrit. Have you ever heard a cheer in Sanskrit? Yea, I didn't think so.
Joweh Bellydance
Leave it up to these ladies to get you ready to move! Joweh Bellydance troupe performs a combo of bellydance, modern dance, hip hop and vaudville to fast paced music with individual solos and more.
Life is one big bonus opportunity
Julia Butterfly Hill began her talk with a moment to get grounded. Not exactly an easy task in the middle of a spectacle such as the Harmony Fest. Once we were connected with ourselves, the next step was getting us connected with each other. The question? Why are you here today. Julia is all about living a purpose-filled life. Living your life on purpose and recognizing yourself as an ancestor of the future will affect every decision you make. Avoiding the ego attachment of the "granolier than thou" being is key to being your authentic self. Julia has used these tools to get her thru some pretty intense situations - the rest of us can cetainly put those to use in our daily life. So now it is time to pick your tree. What is your purpose?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
HARMONY FEST PREVIEW: WHY I WENT TO PARIS TO SEE K'NAAN...
June 10, 2009
Don't tell the wife, but I was secretly plotting the whole time: Oh, you want to honeymoon in Paris? Why not?
Surprise: K'naan is playing while we're in Paris? Why not?
Sing: Screamin' Jay Hawkin's version of "I Love Paris" in the shower, in the car, on the plane.
Actually, I had no idea the Somalian rapper would be crack a lackin' through the City of Light. So imagine my bright eyes when I picked up Pariscope and saw the listing - K'naan at the Alhambra (quite possibly the same joint where Duke recorded "Duke Ellington at the Alhambra" in 1958).
Man, what a freaking amazing show. With maybe 200 adoring (mostly white) fans sitting in his lap, K'naan tore through "T.I.A" (peppered with a sample of Bob Marley's "Simmer Down"), invited French rapper Oxmo Puccino on stage for a spell and reigned in Paris time for a stirring trip through "Fatima," the childhood remembrance of a girlfriend who disappeared one day.
But the highlight had to be the original version of "Somalia" - the one he played for his family before recording a kinder, gentler version for the new album "Troubadour" (released in February, landing at #32 on Billboard charts).
"It was haunting and maybe a little too much to put on the album," he told the crowd.
Stripped down and acoustic on stage, the original poem to his homeland underscores a few lines you won't hear on "Troubadour": "Somalia...they say since you know how to kill, you should learn to die...."
Before he plays two shows this weekend at Harmony Festival (11 p.m. Friday @ Techno-Tribal and 5:45 p.m. @ Saturday on the main stage), here's a quick tease:
Original Article: http://pop.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=2388092
Pssst. Here's a secret.
If you go to a certain online store that sells apps for their fancy, shiny phones, you can search for "harmony festival" and download a really cool app that will enhance your overall festival experience.
But you didn't hear it from me...
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Michael Franti Single Passes 120k Mark in Digital Sales
Digital downloads continue to become a larger and larger part of the music industry's overall sales. A good example of this is Michael Franti, whose iTunes Top Twenty single "Say Hey (I Love You)" recently passed the 120,000 mark - making it the biggest-selling single of his career. The song also currently stands at #1 on Media Base's Hot AC Indie Label Chart and #3 on the Indie Label Chart.
"Say Hey (I Love You)" is a song about life's journey," Franti said in a press release. "No matter where it takes us, no matter how hard it may seem to understand at times, there is one thing we know for sure...we love the people who are closest to us." He adds, "People are smiling on this song because in these uncertain times people are connecting with what they value most, friends, family and togetherness."
Franti headlines the 31th annual Harmony Festival June 13 in Santa Rosa, before launching the "Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus & Medicine Show," a summer tour also featuring Counting Crows and Augustana. Harmony Fest tickets are here.
In harmony with Shabbat: Matisyahu, local rabbis will lead Shabbaton at Santa Rosa festival
jweekly.com
Thursday, May 28, 2009
For the past 31 years, hippies, seekers, tree huggers and music lovers of all stripes have descended upon the Sonoma County Fairgrounds for the Harmony Festival.
Add rabbis to the list of attendees this year.
For the first time, the Harmony Festival will include a Shabbaton at the annual music and lifestyle gathering, which typically draws between 20,000 and 40,000 attendees, June 12 to 14 in Santa Rosa.
Chassidic reggae singer Matisyahu — who is headlining the festival — will spend Saturday teaching and learning at the Shabbaton.
“Rarely does the Bay Area Jewish community get a chance to come to a festival that has deep Jewish concepts and the opportunity to hear the wisdom of other cultures,” said Rabbi Jack Gabriel of Congregation Shir Shalom in Sonoma. He and others will teach at the Shabbaton.
The Shabbaton will include a kosher Shabbat meal and services Friday night, Saturday morning services and learning sessions with Bay Area rabbis and Matisyahu. It will conclude with Havdallah on Saturday night.
Shabbaton participants can camp in a special area of the festival, but the day of learning will be available to people of all denominations of Judaism and all non-Jews as well.
“Anyone who wants to share in the learning, who wants to hang out with Matis and the gang, is welcome,” said Howard Sapper, CEO of the Harmony Festival and the organizer of the Shabbaton. “We feel the tent is big enough for everybody to sit under it.”
Shabbaton participants can access all of the Harmony Festival highlights: the Dome of Devotion, an area dedicated to spiritual thought and music; the Goddess Grove, an area dedicated to feminist speakers and female musicians; and the Eco Village, an area dedicated to permaculture and sustainability.
The Jerusalem Peacemakers, a group of Jews, Christians and Muslims from Israel, will also lead workshops at the festival. Meanwhile, within the Shabbaton, rabbis will lead prayer, text study and discussions.
“The promoters of this event are really universal in their outlook, and in that universality, they don’t forget to present the Jewish tradition in a beautiful way,” Gabriel said.
Sapper, an active member of Gabriel’s Shir Shalom, has a long history with the Harmony Festival. At the festival’s inaugural year in 1978, and for five summers thereafter, Sapper traveled to Santa Rosa from Oahu, Hawaii, to sell music produced by his record label, Global Pacific Records, at the festival. Eventually, he joined the festival’s board of directors, and two years ago he became the CEO.
“The festival gives you a sense of what the possibilities are — for three days, we create an environment where you live your highest and best self,” he said.
In 2007, Sapper organized a backstage Friday night Shabbat meal and service for about 40 people. “It was low-key, eclectic and open,” he said.
In light of that success, Sapper this year approached Matisyahu’s management and asked: Why not do a Shabbaton with Matis and make it available to the public?
“He was very excited because he keeps Shabbos anyway,” Sapper said. “He told me he’s more nervous to lead services than to sing for 20,000 people. I told him it’s a pretty safe crowd.”
The Harmony Festival Shabbaton will take place June 12-14 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. Tickets: $300 for a three-day camping, music and Shabbaton pass. Day passes are also available. Information: http://www.harmonyfestival.com.
Santa Rosa music fest adds Jewish component
Friday, June 8, 2007
Harmony Festival will for the first time feature some Jewish speakers, performers and interfaith events.
The music, arts and culture festival, which begins today and runs through Sunday, June 10, has drawn thousands to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa for 29 years.
Sunday morning will feature several Jewish entertainers and thinkers. Chabad Rabbis Yisrael Rice and Yosef Langer will teach a Jewish meditation workshop at 10:45 a.m. Afterward, RebbeSoul will perform during an interfaith presentation. Tikkun's Rabbi Michael Lerner will speak at 12:45 p.m.
Langer, of San Francisco's Chabad, will also lead a kosher Shabbat dinner and prayer session Friday night on the campgrounds. A kosher food booth will be available throughout the weekend.
Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster, at the festival gates and at dozens of Bay Area businesses. Tickets cost $80 for all three days, $32 for one day. Camping is additional. For more information and a complete musical lineup, visit www.harmonyfestival.com.
Original article: http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/32661/shorts-the-arts/
Monday, June 8, 2009
Turning an iPhone into an ultra-local tool
By NATHAN HALVERSON
Published: Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 4:03 a.m.
Standing in his vineyard west of Santa Rosa, Josh Hermsmeyer could pull out his iPhone and read breaking news from Iraq.
Or he could make a stock trade, or hum a tune and let the iPhone identify the song.
Yet, the powerful computer in his hand wouldn't do what he really wanted.
It didn't allow him to input the sugar levels of his grapes and use the iPhone's global positioning system to automatically associate the data with the spot where he was standing in the vineyard.
So, back in January, he started building an iPhone application that did.
"I wanted an application to help manage my vineyard. So I built it," Hermsmeyer said. "It's cool stuff."
Hermsmeyer, 31, is part of a growing movement to build software applications for mobile devices that are intended for unique, local purposes.
People are designing programs for a wide variety of uses aimed at specific locations, ranging from music events to county tourism attractions.
In the 30-year history of the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, more than a few attendees have likely struggled to locate their tent after a day lit up with activity. But now a new iPhone application being developed for the three-day event will help festival-goers find their way.
"Basically, you'll be able to drop a pushpin on wherever you parked your car, or where your tent is located," said Jeff Baudin, founder of Santa Rosa-based Offspring, which is designing the application for the festival.
The iPhone will then act as a virtual compass, directing people back to their cars or tents, Baudin said.
The Harmony Festival application, which will be offered as a free download, will also let attendees locate the closest bathroom, or search through a list of vendors to see where a booth is located, or create a custom schedule of music acts they want to see.
"It's pretty much like a program guide with a personal navigator built in," Baudin said.
The idea came from event organizer Damian Peters, who had recently used a similar application for the Coachella Valley Music Festival that took place in April near Palm Springs.
"I didn't need to keep a program guide in my hand. I had it on my phone," Peters said. "I totally see this as the wave of the future."
While the first version of the Harmony Festival application will be fairly basic due to limited time to develop it, future versions will be able to push out useful information to attendees, and will likely also serve as a marketing tool for organizers.
The Sonoma County Tourism Bureau has asked for price quotes to get an iPhone application developed, and will likely test an application to showcase local events in little more than a month.
"We're talking about designing a program for our events calendar," said Keri Hanson, marketing manager for the bureau. "It seems like a great opportunity to reach people, especially in the Bay Area where there is a proliferation of
iPhones."
The company that designed the bureau's Web site, Ninja Web Masters in Berkeley, is developing an iPhone application that will show events listed on its clients' Web sites. It expects to let customers test the application in about a month.
But Ron Blaise, whose company is designing the application, said there are not enough iPhone owners to justify building a complex program for specific tourism bureaus yet.
"Personally, I think the market might be too premature for that," he said.
In a year, it might be worth it for tourism bureaus to design more intricate applications. But for now it's better to design programs that will work with all the bureaus' events calendars and allow them to share costs, he said. That more basic application could cost about $1,500, he said, adding that only about
13 percent of the Web traffic to the Sonoma County bureau's Web site comes from iPhones.
Still, with all the buzz, people want to design iPhone applications.
"I decided to start contracting to build iPhone apps because so many people were asking me," Baudin said. "I'd be throwing away money not to."
The price to design an application can range widely, depending on what someone wants. The minimum price for a custom application that takes a team of four people a week to design is about $5,000, Baudin said.
Baudin, who also founded the software company Micromat, said his software team has already designed two applications for themselves that are sold on iTunes. Micromat also designed the fix-it software that is included with every extended warranty sold by Apple for its computers.
Baudin is designing the Harmony Festival application in return for being a recognized sponsor of the event. He hopes that creating a map of the fairgrounds will help him build
iPhone programs for other events held there.
"This is all part of an engine we're building that we can apply to other things," he said. "We are pretty much mapping the fairgrounds. We can easily apply that to other stuff."
These local iPhone applications will add to the rapidly ballooning catalog of programs.
More than 35,000 have been built in the 10 months since Apple opened the iTunes App Store, according to O'Reilly Media in Sebastopol. The tech publisher, which two years ago launched a training division, is hosting a two-day workshop in San Francisco this week to show people how to develop
iPhone applications. Attendees only need basic programming skills. The cost is $1,200, although the company has a 20 percent-off coupon for the event on its Facebook page.
Or, people with the patience can teach themselves. That's what Hermsmeyer did. He had only basic computer programming skills when he began the project in January.
He said he has spent about 550 hours designing the iPhone application and the desktop program with which it automatically synchronizes.
"During the winter, wine growers don't have a ton to do," he said.
He spent his extra time building a complex program that, when complete, will allow him to monitor nearly all of the data collected for his winery in real time from his iPhone.
Already he can input his sugar levels directly from the field and have it mapped and visualized back on his desktop computer.
"From that, you can make the decision to give some areas more time to develop," he said.
He has not yet integrated the data collected from his fermentation tanks, although that data is already uploaded to the Internet and it's just a matter of finding the time to add it to his iPhone program.
He writes about the development of his iPhone application and his winery on his blog at www.pinotblogger.com.
"For me, this system is huge," he said. "Otherwise I'd have little bits of paper everywhere."
-- You can reach Staff Writer Nathan Halverson at 521-5494 or nathan.halverson@pressdemocrat.com. Check out his blog at DailyGeek.Pressdemocrat.com or on twitter.com/eWords
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Mystic Beat Lounge's "Techno-Tribal Community Dance" celebrates their 10th anniversary
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.
Techno-Tribal Article in The Scene Fiend
"Go Tribal Son."
The Scene Fiend
June 4, 2009
This is the heat. I've been to Harmony a couple times. The global eco-village is always cool and the festival headliners normally represent just fine, but the highlight for me has always been the techno-tribal dance late-night. I saw STS9 there a couple years back, in an airplane hanger with lasers and about 5,000 other kids, all getting down just right. I highly recommend this event... This year they have, among many artists, The Orb, Shpongle and Matisyahu!
Here's a excerpt taken from their press release:
Santa Rosa, CA - May 26, 2009 - Mystic Beat Lounge is excited to announce the 10-year anniversary of its legendary Techno-Tribal Dance June 12th & 13th. Techno-Tribal Dance, which is Harmony Festival’s After Dark music and art extravaganza, is one of the largest independently produced events in the Bay Area. What originally started in 1999 with a few good party loving people has today grown into a full-scale production run by a collective of seasoned DJ’s, artists, visionaries and producers known as the Mystic Beat Lounge. This year Techno-Tribal is adding many firsts to its show and pulling out all the stops to make this the most elaborate fusion of the underground arts, combining dance music, lighting, performance, fire, acrobatics, juggling, aerialists, and performance painters into one spectacular community gathering for two unforgettable nights.
Original Article: http://www.thescenefiend.com/2009/06/go-tribal-son.html
Article About Harmony at All About Jazz .com
Jazz News
June 2, 2009
The event was born out of a desire by several Sonoma State students to combine music with an exposition of that eras cutting edge lifestyles. According to founder Debra Giusti, the festival was birthed from the passionate core values of the 60s, like global awareness and personal spiritual awakening.
California has long been noted for the willingness of its residents to experiment with and embrace new ideas. This liberality of spirit has, for an equally long period, been the object of mockery from so-called rational people. And yet, with the benefit of hindsight, Californias weirdos have, more often than not, turned out to be visionaries.
To illustrate, the seminars and demonstrations sponsored by the Harmony Festival decades ago included: organic food, holistic health, yoga, ecology and solar power, among others. The value of these once non-conformist social practices are widely recognized today as enlightened solutions to many of societys more intractable problems.
This year, the festival gives music lovers the opportunity to hear a band organized in tribute to arguably musics greatest, most innovative, creative individuals, Miles Davis, an artist whose receptivity to new ideas is legendary. The Spirit of Miles band includes jazz greats such as Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira, tenor and soprano saxophonist Azar Lawrence, trumpeter Dr. Eddie Henderson, guitarist Mike Stern, bassist Charnett Moffett and others. The bands Friday and Saturday night performances will be recorded and filmed for a live album/ DVD.
Other bands that will be performing over the weekend include: Matisyahu, India.Arie, the Dead Kennedys and Sierra Leones Refugee All- Stars, among many others.
There will also be a Crafters Village where a wide variety of artisans from around the world will display their wares and a Kids Village featuring dancing, singing and story telling.
A great time is guaranteed for all!
Original Article http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=36775
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