When was your first Shambhala, and how many have you been to?
I think it was 2001 or 2002, the first time I attended Shambhala, and I’ve kept coming back every year since!
What was your most memorable moment, and why?
The most memorable moment the first year I went would probably be that first walk through the festival and seeing all the stages for the first time. It was pretty amazing. Since then, every set I’ve gotten to play there over the years has been pretty memorable for me.
How was Shambhala 2014 for you?
Shambhala 2014 was great. As usual, I spent a lot of time at the Living Room stage, and saw a bunch of my friends play amazing sets there (Daega Sound, Self Evident, Max Ulis, etc..). I really enjoyed Truth’s set as well. The new stage, the Grove, was a great addition, and a much welcomed change. The Funktion One rig in there sounded amazing. I caught some really great sets there as well as at the Amphitheatre. Unfortunately I didn’t get to spend much time at the other stages but during the few minutes that I made it into the Village that new PK rig sounded absolutely crazy.
What does Shambhala mean to you?
It’s hard to really even describe in words what it means to me. I’ve been going for so long now that I don’t even know what a summer would be like without it. The Living Room stage feels like a second home to me; I love it there.
Joseph Martin (East Van Digital)
When was your first Shambhala, and how many have you been to?
I made my first trip the farm in 1999. It was a last-minute decision to hop in a car with a group of friends. I went terribly unprepared and had an amazing time. 2014 marks my 12th Shambhala.
What was your most memorable moment, and why?
I couldn’t narrow it down to one specific moment, but instead, a feeling I return to every time I step into the DJ booth at the Fractal Forest. It’s a calm that washes over me where I’m completely both perfectly relaxed and energized simultaneously. I know that whenever I get on the decks in there everything will go just perfectly and a large part of that is the vibe that place holds and the warmth of the crowd.
How was Shambhala 2014 for you?
Fantastic. JFB, Mark Farina, My Nu Leng, JGirl & Manousos, Hannah Wants, Chris Lorenzo, and Rich-E-Rich’s closing set in the Fractal Forest were my musical highlights for the weekend. My own “Caturday Morning Disco” set went off splendidly, with plenty of happy cats enjoying the early morning sunshine and disco house. The food is always excellent, with the Poutine Truck and the Blaze Burger Barn (one mile diet!) being my regular favorites.
What does Shambhala mean to you?
Every year it means something different to me. In the early years when it was all new to me, it was about having a blast with my friends, taking in as much of the festival as possible in the time we had. In the last few years, with the advent of East Van Digital, I’ve been more business-social, spending more time back stage and in the artist lounge connecting with other artists and label owners outside of the internet. This year I was quite content to take a step back, and enjoy a relaxing time with my partner, who attended for her second time. It’s always exciting introducing someone new to the festival and sharing the magic. There truly is nothing else like it.
When was your first Shambhala, and how many have you been to?
My first was in 1999, and I have been to 15.
What was your most memorable moment, and why?
My most memorable moment was playing the Living Room stage on a Thursday night in 2010. The crowd was all the way down to the far gate from the beach stage.
How was Shambhala 2014 for you?
This year was great. I fell asleep at midnight on Saturday night and missed some stuff, but, otherwise, smooth sailing.
What does Shambhala mean to you?
Best party on earth, family reunion, some of the best jokes and people watching as well.
Patrick Holland (formerly 8prn, now Project Pablo)
When was your first Shambhala, and how many have you been to?
2014 was my first time at the festival, was great playing a set on my first visit.
What was your most memorable moment, and why?
Max Ulis’s set at the Living Room. After experiencing so much heavy, over-compressed, maximalist music over the course of Friday night, it was great to be at the beach dancing to a highly dynamic, two-hour set till 5am. The positive fam vibe on the stage was also a nice touch.
How was Shambhala 2014 for you?
It was a little fatiguing in terms of the energy level every night on the big stages. Coming upon the smaller diverse acts, like 123mrk, was definitely my saving grace.
What does Shambhala mean to you?
A big place, filled with different people, down for whatever.
Britz Robins (Shambhala’s Social Media Director & Press Liaison)
When was your first Shambhala, and how many have you been to?
I went to my first Shambhala in 2003. I was 17, it was in the days before age restrictions, and it was my graduation present to myself. The festival was much smaller then… maybe about 3000 people. It was the first festival I ever went to, and it absolutely changed my life. 2014 was my 12th consecutive Shambhala, my eighth working for the festival.
What was your most memorable moment, and why?
My first year or out of all the years? That’s a tough question. My first, it would probably be that my ride drove in with my purse & ticket while I was helping a girl who’d locked her keys in her trunk, leaving me stranded outside the gates for about 6 hours. I made lots of new friends with the crew working the gate in those 6 hours, haha. I even met Sue Bundschuh, the owner of the farm, though I didn’t know it at the time. Eventually, a crew member got permission from his supervisor to leave his post for a bit and walk me in to find my ride. We found him within five minutes and all was well. Second most memorable that year would probably be walking into the Fractal Forest for the first time… wow! And then I think one of my favourite Shambhala memories ever was this year when I teamed up with Betty & Kora and Nick from the Funk Hunters to carry the giant FUNK sign through the Fractal Forest during the Funk Jam.
How was Shambhala 2014 for you?
It was absolutely my best Shambhala out of 12. I was actually a bit nervous going into this Shambhala, because we’d brought in so many more press than we ever had before — 90 vs 40 or so in previous years. We also had our incredible L.A.-based PR company, the Confluence, visiting the farm for the first time. So I hosted the Confluence and the press this year. So many of the press crew were new to Shambhala, and many who’d come up from the states had never even been to Canada before. It was like having my own personal crew of wide-eyed Shambhala virgins. Nothing short of incredible. I mean, it’s fun enough when you have one Shambhala virgin to show around. Now imagine 50! And I even managed to balance in some time for play this year.
What does Shambhala mean to you?
Shambhala, for me, has always been about the people. From the moment I set foot on the Salmo River Ranch when I was 17, I knew I’d found my tribe. I love the music, the art, the food, all of it… But when it comes down to it, Shambhala is a big family reunion to me. It’s the culmination of so many of the beautiful souls I’ve connected with over the past 12 years. There are people I see only at Shambhala, or maybe a few other festivals, and when we connect out there, it’s like we haven’t skipped a beat. It’s the most incredible thing. It refuels my faith in the goodness of people. It inspires me. Shambhala is almost… pure, energetic love. It’s pretty cool to have been involved for so long and still feel that way. It finds a new way to open my heart more every year.
Max Ulis (also of Sabota with Robbie Slade)
When was your first Shambhala, and how many have you been to?
I am not sure, but it’s the last year they had a skate ramp… 2004 maybe? Approximately nine.
What was your most memorable moment, and why?
Tag-teaming a set with Skream on the beach, tied with a reggae morning set by Michael Red on the beach, when I danced my butt off and drank five smoothies. Also tied with a time I took LSD and shape-shifted into a snake, but that is another story.
What does Shambhala mean to you?
Shambhala time means I get to hang out with a lot of friends and family that I barely get to see during the rest of the year. And I get to watch close friends get the props they deserve on Shambhala’s amazing stages.
When was your first Shambhala, and how many have you been to?
My first Shambhala was 2004. I knew about it before that, but didn’t think it was something I would fully appreciate. That year was a “fuck it” year for me, and I decided I needed to just go. I started DJing in 2005 and have played every year since. This year was my 10th in a row playing in Fractal Forest.
What was your most memorable moment, and why?
Shambhala is full of memorable moments, many of which run together in a jumble of years. However I would have to say that one of the most memorable moments was the first time I went to Richie’s closing set on Monday morning. I danced around the whole Fractal all morning laughing and crying and loving everyone the whole time. That was about six or seven years ago and since then I never miss the closing at Fractal on Monday morning.
How was Shambhala 2014 for you?
Shambhala 2014 was another excellent year. I always go into it with an attitude of having a great time no matter what and I don’t think anything could phase me. Over the years I have had enough hurdles to overcome that I know I will always make sure I have a great time and this year was no exception. We chose to arrive on Thursday instead of Tuesday and that made our entry process flawless and fast. It was a pleasure to avoid the rush and breeze through the gate. All the staff and security were excellent and treated us with the same respect that we always offer to them. This was so much smoother than our entry had been over the previous five years.
What does Shambhala mean to you?
I am always grateful that I have been given a residency at the Fractal Forest. It is an absolute honor to get the opportunity to play Shambhala 10 years in a row, and I don’t take it lightly. This year I got a prestigious time slot of 10pm on Friday evening, and I wrote a brand new set of music just for it. The meaning of Shambhala for me is most simply the privilege of sharing my music and positivity with so many people and this continues to grow. Playing in the Fractal has been instrumental in helping me spread the good vibes to people all over the world.
Andrea Graham (Bass Coast co-founder, a.k.a. the Librarian)
When was your first Shambhala, and how many have you been to?
I first discovered Shambhala back in 2000, when I was living in Nelson. I just happened to go up for one night with some friends… little did I know that would be a life-changing event. I’ve actually lost count of how many I’ve been to. I’m pretty sure I attended 7 years of Shambhala before I started getting involved. Then in 2009-10 I started helping in my friends vending booth, which was hard work but a welcome change. Over the last four years I’ve been fortunate to play a number of stages and it’s a dream come true. The Living Room, Rock Pit, Pagoda, and the Amphitheatre have all been incredible and always become the highlight of my year. It means a lot to have the opportunity to play at the same festival that motivated me to move from live music into electronic music.
What was your most memorable moment, and why?
This year I was fortunate to play on Thursday night at the Amphitheatre, and five minutes into my set I looked up and realized about 60 of my friends had made their way onto stage to dance with me. The crowd was spilling out of the amphitheatre and the energy was electric. It felt amazing to be surrounded by my peers and to have such a connection with the crowd. Being the first night of the festival, everyone was full of excitement and ready to dance. Blondtron was doing headstands on the DJ table and the party was wild. That set is etched into my memory and I will hold onto it forever.
How was Shambhala 2014 for you?
This year was one of my favorites. It was a life highlight to play Thursday night to such an incredible crowd. Then I relaxed and took in a lot of great music over the rest of the weekend. As usual, my friends played my favorite sets: Mat The Alien, Self Evident, J.Phlip, Max Ulis, Daega, Westerley, Lorne B, Sergio Levels, Dan Solo, Michael Red, and so many more. The energy in the Pagoda during Bassnectar’s set was really wild and amazing to witness. I also love the new layout with The Grove. My days were spent lounging in the river and there were many, many laughs. It was an incredible weekend and I’m already looking forward to next year.
What does Shambhala mean to you?
Shambhala has a special place in my heart because it was my first introduction to electronic music festival culture. The nature, creativity, community, and freedom that came along with the music was and is inspiring. Shambhala was the first time I’d experienced sound system culture and it motivated me to change my direction in music, which has had a huge impact on my life. It’s also been incredible to watch the festival grow and change over the last 14 years. It has become a world-class festival that is unlike anything else, and each year it gets better and better. I feel very lucky to have experienced the festival as an attendee, and then now as an artist. It’s a dream come true.
