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Electronic Awakening – A Full Moon Film Screening and Dance Party

April 14, 2012

Electronic Awakening – Awakening the Underground Vibe in Calgary

 

This past weekend Calgary’s EDM community was treated to a unique underground full moon event from the Evolver Group. Besides a certifiably rowdy dance party, the event also featured the screening of two great documentaries centered around the dance community, the feature Electronic Awakening and a local short Tribal Spiral. In addition, there were local artists displaying their works, dance performances and Bassbus was onsite to provide chillroom space and extra viewing space for the films. It all went down at The Area, a one-of-a-kind venue in Calgary’s historic neighbourhood of Inglewood.

DJ Bruno and Monk-Key Marc, hip hop goodness

The theme of the Electronic Awakening full moon event was definitely community. The Evolver Group is an international network that aims to tackle a variety of issues whilst also building and developing community through their regional grassroots sectors. There are currently over 40 of these regional sectors worldwide. The main ambition of the group is to gather like-minded individuals in hopes of creating change in the mentality of the wider world. By involving several different Calgary groups in Saturday’s event, Evolver achieved this goal in full. Often times it begins to feel like the events I attend are just a cog in the wheel of the money making machine for giant tours and promoters. Although we all enjoy the production value put into these big shows it can start to feel a little soulless and vacant at times. Maybe it was having an all local line up, maybe it was the variety of music attracting all different types of people (as in hip hop, glitch hop, techno, drum and bass, psy, ambient, beatboxing … the list goes on) or maybe it was the films being at the forefront of our minds. Whatever it was, not trying to sound like a hippy, there was a serious vibe of love and togetherness going around that place. The group’s member roster gained 100 new names during this event, a true testament to the effort put forth from current Evolver members and organizers.

 

The two films Electronic Awakening and Tribal Spiral were both a look into the events we attend and the mysticism that keeps us all returning again and again. Electronic Awakening featured a lot of famous people in the conscious arts and music communities across North America, including author Ken Kesey and artist Alex Gray. The music in the film was provided by Shpongle, the Crystal Method, Random Rab and a host of others. I particularly enjoyed the part about California’s Moontribe parties, however it was the local short film that stole my heart. Directed and filmed by Alberta locals Ken Hacke and Lisa Archibald, the film featured footage from a multitude of western festivals including Astral Harvest, Inshala, Faeries and Fools and of course Shambhala. Here’s the film.

A big thank you goes out to everyone involved in this event. Congrats to the Evolver crew, I have drank and enjoyed your hippy kool aid. Next thing you know I will be wearing patchouli, joining a bicycle co-op and practicing yoga in a public park. But for real, amazing job everyone!