The Green Parent
Raising kids with conscience
Blog - Tag: music
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Aug 08 2011
Carbon conscious festival
Waveform is a festival with an admirable green mission, to achieve carbon neutral status. From energy reduction measures to tree-planting, They are aiming to make this event, taking place in Taunton from 2-4th Sept, the greenest dance festival in the UK and possibly the world.
Eco-Rangers will be going around the site gathering carbon information from the punters, production crew and main stage artists this year. This information will form part of the Waveform Carbon Footprint Scheme; enabling the organisers to work out how much carbon the event is creating. This will ensure year on year improvements can be made to carbon reduction measures, showing areas for celebration and those that need further work.
Festival goers can expect the best in cutting edge dance music with green roots. You can enjoy a full programme of talks, workshops, saunas, showers, healing, therapies and organic food to feed the mind, body and soul in the Green Village. Waveform 2011 is all about keeping the same lovely vibe and cutting edge electronic music, whilst upping the conscious element.
I am super excited about the Psy Trance arena hosted by the legendary Tribe of Frog (check out the line up!), the WorldShift workshop space including solar cinema and collective consciousness experiment (yes!) and the wealth of organic food available; all traders have to commit to at least 75% of their food being organic. Tickets are still available up to 28th August – find out more at waveformfestival.com
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Aug 08 2011
Secret Shambala
If you like a bit of mystery in your life, then you might like to think about going to Shambala festival. I can tell you the date (25th – 28th August) and some basic info about it (4 days, 200 acts, 9 stages, 99% powered by the wind, sun and vegetable oil for starters), but other than that it’s a secret. I exaggerate a little – they keep the exact programme and location of the festival a secret, but from a bit of sneaky internet research it appears to be around the Northamptonshire area (on a country estate no less!).
Music is a big focus; and with nine different stages you will have plenty to choose from. There really is all sorts: dub step, drum n’ base, dub, acoustic, reggae, latin, jazz, folk and blues. They like to focus on new talent, mixing new acts with previous performers. Whatever your style, you’re sure to find something to groove to.
There is, of course, much much more available. I’ve heard many shambalaphiles giving excited about the famous Shambala Fancy Dress Carnival Procession on Saturday night. Plus there’s a “Lost Cinema”, live poetry, a woodland sculpture trail as well as comedy, workshops and even swimming in the lake.
The aim of the festival is all about discovery. Discovering fresh and cutting edge music, discovering new friends, discovering hidden talents through trying new things, discovering your inner peace and tranquillity in the secluded meadow. As far as I can see, pretty much everything you want from a festival – you can get here.
If this sounds like your cup of tea – you better get in quick as the early bird tickets have already sold out. Full priced tickets are still available however – children can go for £29 (under 5s are free), teenagers for £79 and adults for £119. If you fancy arriving in green style, there are guided cycle rides to the festival from £10 (see the website shambalafestival.org for more info)
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Jul 01 2011
Buddhafield here we come
I have long wanted to sample the delights of Buddhafield festival, having heard so many amazing stories about this family friendly event which takes place from July 13-17th in Somerset. This year we are finally going to get to experience it and I’m so excited!
The theme for 2011 is Abundance, which is cosmically timely, with the incredible heart opening, expansive feel of the spring and summer so far this year. The whole festival is about getting out of the head and into the body. A challenge for many Westerners but one that I am looking forward to fully embracing in a couple of weeks time.
Workshops, talks and demos fill the five day event and festival goers can learn everything from Buddhist chanting to how to make your own digeridoo. I am especially looking forward to the full yoga programme which starts at 6:30 every morning, singing workshops with the legendary Mahasukha and women’s sacred intimacy workshops with Jewels Wingfield. And of course, I won’t be able to resist a few 5 rhythms sessions and shamanic trance dance. Oh and Carolyn Hillyer will be there leading a sacred song workshop and there’s plenty of NVC workshops too. Squeal! Excited? Moi? Yep!
All this, plus there’s music from Undercover Hippy, Seize the Day and a poetry set from the brilliant Paradox, as well as lots of other inspirational sounds and speakers. When it comes to relaxation and eating, Pachamamas will be providing chai and crepes, Buddhafield cafe will be providing the best vegan breakfasts ever known to man and the on site health food shop, Sunseed will be selling everything else you might need.
I’m pleased to note many eco initiatives that Buddhafield are already involved in and look forward to discovering more as we explore the site. From compost loos to liftsharing policy, renewable energy use to a comprehensive recycling programme, the organisers have really thought about every aspect.
So, we’ll keep you posted and let you know how much fun we have, when we get back. And if you are interested in going, there are tickets still available – find out more here.
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Jun 15 2011
Full Moon Drumming
A few weeks ago, my sister treated me to a weekend on Dartmoor, making drums with Carolyn Hillyer. It was an amazing experience, camping just outside Postbridge, creating instruments with beautiful people and coming home with our very own drums!
Carolyn is an incredible woman – I have long loved her work and it was a real treat to be able to make drums with her during this weekend of crafts, especially with my sister by my side. Making a drum was an intense experience – I love creating things with other people – but have never worked with animals in this way before. Cleaning, cutting and stretching the deer skin was at first, challenging and later, humbling, as I got into the flow. Appreciation for the spirit of the animal that gave it’s skin began to bubble up and the final stages, including tightening the skin across the frame were filled with awe and excitement. As well as red deerskin drum workshops with Carolyn, her husband, Nigel Shaw led a group of flute makers, creating wind instruments from the wood around their smallholding. Once we had all finished, we were invited into the roundhouse for a fire ceremony to bless our creations. The flautists were able to play a magical refrain on their instruments but the drums required more time to dry before they could be struck.
So, my drum came home with me and dried (and gave off strong smells) and finally she was ready to be played. I wanted to wait for a magical, auspicious time for her first unveiling and that, I believe, will be tonight. The full moon is in sagittarius and there will a lunar eclipse just after 9pm. So, my incredible drum will come out and play amongst the trees, blessed by the intense lunar energies of the fullest moon. I’m so excited!
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