music festivals in the outdoors

What a summer of music festivals! From Coachella to SMMRBMMR to the recent and well-attended Burning Man in Nevada, this summer was filled with awesome music and artists. Tragedy over-shadowed the German Love Family Park where hordes of young adults were trampled in a tunnel and several died. And, of course, Teknival's free raves peppered abandoned military installations and other locations in the outdoors in the UK, France, Bulgaria and other countries. We are now entering the Fall music festival season.

Burning Man has influenced so many music festivals, raves and happenings around the world, and we thought we would share some of our favorites. Big Poppa was a bit disappointed in this year's Burning Man as he felt that the participants weren't true Burners, but he is a purist. Here are his photos and thoughts...

"I'm NOT a burner.

Yes, I've just come back from Burning Man event (I skipped 2009) and I'm NOT a burner. My first (as they @ BRC say..."Virgin") visit was approached like a wilderness river trip. I packed up the Dodge with waterproof metal boxes with food, sun shower, cooking gear, LED lights, solar batteries, toys and water. I also packed marine coolers with plenty of ice, beverages, and fresh food for a full crew. Adding to the pile were two bikes for myself and my crew of one: Mizz Maggie. The Dodge bed became a shelter, and I brought a shade structure and another tent for stowing gear out of the sun and wind...no dust. We went out for 4-days and had an amazing time; but, we left before the actual "Burn".

This year, I rolled out ultra-light; yet, still self-contained on my Kawasaki KLR 650. I still had everything I needed: food (freeze dried), water, tent, pad, bag, and solar-powered LED garden globes (that changed colors!).

In 2010, the winds whipped up the dust constantly on a record (reportedly) 65,000 "burners" and the party raged. I saw the "Burn". I also saw fewer happy, healthy people and fewer themed camps and out-of-date Art cars. Maybe I had a different perspective... after the burn... no shower, no bike, and no crew left me in that boat (maybe it was also the folks across the street (yes, it was called "That Camp") that had a club-sized sound system that blasted from 9am to 5am... with 4 people mulling around and stomping in the dust (oh well, they were from Philadelphia!). So, I packed up and rode the KLR home the long way over Monitor pass where I saw the signs of fall in changing colors and a nip in the air.

Next time (yes, I might skip next year)... I'm rolling hard and deep! Motorhome? Airstream? Dome?... who knows?

I'm not a Burner."

~~ Big Poppa 2010

Upcoming this weekend: American River Music Festival is ideal for families and music lovers and includes whitewater rafting, camping, music and food!

Music Festivals Around the World:

Burning Man : early September; theme camps, Black Rock Desert; art, raves, performance (began in San Francisco, California and influenced many festivals below)

Edinburgh's Hogmanay : Dec 30, 2010 - Jan 2, 2011; Concert in the Gardens (KT Tunstall, The Proclaimers, Madness, etc)

Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival : mid-April Indio, CA; cutting-edge indie, alternative, official opening for summer festivals in US (The Black Keys and more)

Bonnaroo : Manchester, TN 2011 tba (Weezer, Tori Amos, Norah Jones & more this year)

Rocking the Rivers : mid-Aug, Three Forks, Montana (Collective Soul, Commander Cody, etc)

Love Family Park : early July, German Techno Rave (dj Sven Vath, Ricardo Villalobos, etc)

Paris Techno Parade : late Sept; 1/2 million people dancing in street (djs David Guetta, Mark Knight, Django, etc)

Teknival : free parties held all over the world; France, UK, Bulgaria, Czech, Italy (summer raves; grassroots, Burning Man influenced)

Vans Warped Tour : several sites in US from West Coast to East Coast (Dickies, Fear, Green Jelly, etc)

SMMRBMMR : alternate, indie music in northwestern US (G.Green, Mayyors, White Fang, etc)

Live Oak Music Festival : blue grass, jazz, world music held over Father's Day Weekend

American River Music Festival : whitewater rafting and music; folk, country, alternative (last year Jackie Green; this year Jesse Winchester and more)

Rio Carnival : mid-February Rio de Janeiro; world famous, colorful parades (Brazilian, world, jazz, etc)

New Orleans Mardi Gras : mid-February French Quarter; jazz, food, parades

No matter what music festival you attend, remember you are there for friends, fun, music, food and goodwill. Rave on and see you on the river!

Thanks to Big Poppa for his Burn pics and sharing his personal view.

WET River Trips photostream

NorCal Music News from the Indie Crowd

Here's a music blog for ya!

The start of summer has finally arrived with sun shining into your bedroom window. While sitting with a nice, cold Hefeiwzen in your hand, do you start to worry... " What record do I put on to keep me in this effen awesome mood?"

No worries! Here's a mini list I've compiled of the best bands to listen to in the blow-up pool in the backyard! (Note: or on the way to that rafting trip you just organized....)

Lizzzzzzen:

Thee Oh Sees - "I was Denied" off Warm Slime on In the Red Records released May 11th

Fresh and Onlys - "No Second Guessing" off Grey-Eyed Girls

Gories - "Yaya Baby" off Complete Bandin' Sessions

Lightning Bolt - "Assassins" off Wonderful Rainbow

Ariel Pink - "Alisa" off House Arrest

Gun Club - " Sex Beat" off Fire of Love

Eat Skull - "Heaven's Stranger" off Wild and Inside

Music RagNag!

Last month, The German Measles, The Beets, and Ganglians played at Sol Collective in Sacramento. This show was the last Ganglians show in Northern California until they got back from their Europe tour starting in md-May. The bands all played and after crashed out after the show at the Funcastle.

The next morning local filmer, Sean of TerrorEyes showed up to try and get the bands to allow him to film them. We set up their gear and recording equiptment in the backyard and had the band play two songs as sean filmed them.

Right after the second song, the cops showed up, but luckily we got all the sound and footage! Make sure to check on terroreyes.tv to see the video.

Also, last month, Zach Hill, drummer for Hella and a million other bands, left for the ATP festival in England. Headliners of the show were: Iggy Pop and the Stooges, The Residents, Joanna Newsom, James Chance and the Contortions, etc. Zach did not play solo this time, but with the highly acclaimed Japanese noise band BOREDOMS.

Update: check Zach's latest video story, Green Bricks; released a few weeks ago.

Word,

~~ picketfence

Written and Submitted to RAFTWETblog.com

Bachelor Party

From Rafting Pictures of Northern California Whitewater Trips NFA Race

The wedding is only 5 more months away! The planning started the minute I said, "Yes!" I want a big wedding with all my friends and all my relatives. We know we want to keep it simple as far as the location. I really don't want to ask my dad to front mega bucks for an overseas wedding... not even to Hawaii! We plan to keep the wedding in California at a local church that is known for its beautiful interiors and stain glass windows. We will have the reception outdoors at a very cool place that specializes in wedding receptions. So, I am feeling pretty good about the plans.

From Spring Middle Fork 2009

I do want all the details to be set in stone at least 3 months before the wedding, so I am scrambling now to get that done. My maid of honor is throwing me a bachelorette party and the best man is doing the bachelor party for my future husband. OMG! My future husband... that sounds so nice.

From Spring Middle Fork 2009

My soon to be hubbie is not the stripper-party-type of guy. Been there, done that... he wants to see his old buddies from college and get together for one last hurrah. Me, too. I just want to hang out with my girlfriends that I've known since high school. Both of us want to remember these bachelor parties forever! We already know we will remember the wedding... as long as we live.

From Cal Salmon, Burnt Ranch, Spring 2008, Whitewater Rafting Trips, W.E.T. River Trips

One of my close friends did a whitewater rafting trip in California. I was there and I had a blast. We are still talking about it! So, I want to do something like that and maybe go to Tahoe after for a night on the town. My beau wants to do something similar but he wants to do a really tough class 4 river to challenge his friends... an adventurous group of guys who do a lot of stuff in the outdoors.

From Spring Middle Fork 2009

California trips include so many things and my goal is to have these parties organized before we do the other details. I am planning now and talking to the rafting company to help me organize it. My future husband has already booked a North Fork American class 4 run with this company to get his party started, and they are going in late April.

This wedding will be memorable... not only for the wedding, but what we share with our best friends! ... now it's time to look for my wedding dress!








Wedding dresses from the-weddingvendors

whitewater rafting in california

whitewater rafting in california
Originally uploaded by W.E.T. River Trips

Oh, don't get me started! I love this river. South Fork American is a jewel of a river in California, USA.

Gold rush history surrounds this river rafting trip with glimpses of the old West. Gold panning is still done by many miners and enthusiasts.

Golden poppies surround the hillsides in the spring. This should be your first whitewater trip. User friendly but absolutely thrilling, many group rafting organize their activities for this whitewater trip.

Group discounts make this rafting trip affordable. Whitewater outfitters provide everything, so it is simple for the guests.

California is blessed with not only incredible weather, magnificent mountains and beautiful oceans, but the rivers that flow in the Sierra Nevada are the magnet that attracts paddlers from all over the world!

See you on the river!