Review: Earthdance Festival
The Earthdance Global Festival for Peace has been going on for over a decade now with the intention of cultivating community, unity and peace through music around the world.
The weekend was packed with musicians, artists, yoga, workshops, dancing and random hugs from bleary-eyed folks just feeling the love, man.
The ultra-positive peace festival brought a mix of loyal devotees and newcomers alike to the Solano County Fairgrounds for three straight days of tunes and togetherness. The range of the music throughout the weekend from stage to stage varied from acoustic-heavy folk to crunk-as-hell hip-hop to endlessly irie riddims blaring from the main stage to the vendors booths. From the Temple of Electronica to the Unity Stage to the Lotus Sanctuary, bands, DJs, speakers, artists and others kept the party rolling for literally 24 hours every single day.
The acts that hit the main stage all put on great shows. Hailing from Oakland, The Coup drew an enthusiastic crowd out to the open field to groove on Friday night. Boots Riley was a burst of energy with his black and red fringed pants as he ran, jumped, bounced and stomped across the stage. DJ Pam the Funkstress ripped the turntables with her classic scratch technique topped off with much-deserved bravado and B-girl stances. Israeli band Balkan Beatbox followed with a seemingly effortless yet excellent performance full of bright, multicolor lights and rhythmic, buoyant music.
On Saturday night Ziggy Marley took the stage to a roaring crowd pulsing with excitement and anticipation. He sauntered onstage in all black, hair hanging past his waist, and rocked the festival with his band. For a little over an hour and a half, Ziggy crooned and strummed his guitar playing songs like “Welcome To the World,” “Road Less Traveled,” “Beach in Hawaii,” as well as some of his father’s songs “Is This Love?” and “Them Belly Full.”
Ghostland Observatory closed out the weekend with a total sensory takeover. The high-energy duo from Austin, Texas shook the stage with their thumping techno dance songs and persistent, screeching vocals courtesy of hip-shaking, hair-thrashing frontman Aaron Behrens. The performance was seriously radical with a blinding, technicolor laser extravaganza that can barely be explained. Other standout acts throughout the weekend included folksy, all-female group Honeymoon with their angelic melodies, rebel rockers Rootz Underground from Jamaica and the perfectly blended harmonies of Les Nubians.
Such an excellent way to get the fall season started off right.
Omg!! This sounds like it was a lot of fun. Very well done.