Ok, so I like electronic dance music, more specifically Trance. When I started in the 1990's, the US was a bit behind in that department.
Still, with San Francisco and San Jose nearby, I've had some opportunities to see some great EDM/Trance DJs. Back in the early 2000's, they sadly played club music in the US that was nowhere close to the hits they had composed and were known for, but over the years, as Trance started becoming more popular, those DJs finally started playing their good tunes in the US too, and maybe from 2004 on, it's only been getting better. Popsicle Halloween 2004 was really the beginning of great music parties in the San Francisco Area, and thankfully things have gotten even better since then
As a matter of fact, after another 10 years (2015 and beyond) the good news is that Trance has grown quite a following in the US, and places like the SF Bay Area, and while Trance has been declared dead a few times in the last 10 years, it's still going strong here.
Trance Family SF is definitely strong in the area, we've been getting more big trance parties every year, including many top DJs that come visit us what feels like every other week now (as of 2018-2019), and through those events, I made many friends in Trance Family SF. Thanks to you all.
Over those years, I got the chance to meet a few of my favourite DJs, including Armin more than once, and my last hobby has been to work on lights for my shirt and pants (version 3) and (version 4)
It had been 3 years since our last weekender at the gorge with Above and Beyond and this year we also have an Above and Beyond Group Therapy 500 in LA, but given that it's going to be at the Banc of California, which I now know after ASOT 1000, is a terrible venue, I was looking forward to the weekender as a much better event, which of course it ended up being.
Glad to be back and great to be able to see and meet some of my favorite DJs:
Like last time, we rented an RV, and got one from Pasco (tri-city) airport, which was closer to the venue adn where we were able to pick up our rental RV from (thanks to Alvin for finding it for us):
technically it can sleep 10, but it was comfortable enough for 7
Pre-party on friday
The pre-party started at 18:00 on friday, we had DJs play on Walter the Bus, from burning man. I only got there around 19:30 since it took us a bit of time to arrive and get setup and by then the party was already well going despite the blazing sun:
getting the LED totem ready
Paavo and Aname (formerly gardenstate), were already playing
As usual, ran into some friends:
Natalie came with us
Finally it got dark (late due to north location and summer hours):
People and Friends
As always, great to run into fun people and friends:
Smmary of pre-party at Walter the Bus:
Saturday
We stayed in gold camping, close to the venue, but far from the pivit in general camping where all the paries, are
this is a bit burning man like :)
The venue opened at 14:00 (or 13:00 for merch), so I got there then:
got to check out walter the bus
then got a free tmobile chair and a nice viewing point in the shade
nice views of the gorge of course
Again, a late sunset, but great views:
I went to check out the pit for a short while, but it was packed, and honestly the views weren't as good.
but I got to run into my friend Bryan
so I went back up for a good view of the Above and Beyond set:
we're all we need indeed
I was ready for it :)
surprise, push the button is back!
Then, there were the lasers, those were impressive:
Smmary of Day #1 at mainstage:
Genix was last from 00:00 to 01:00 but instead I went to the afterparty in the campgrounds:
Gem and Tauri joined
Party shut down around 03:00 and it was time for a bit of rest for the next day
Smmary of afterparty:
Sunday
Sunday was Deep House day, not my favorite, but still fun
let's do this again, this time it opened at 13:00
some cool acro yoga
A few views from the ferris wheel:
Then I went to check out the flow state yoga/meditation with Paavo, it was really good:
It was really good, here is a video recording:
I went to scope a chair and nice shaded spot to watch the show in 100F heat:
kudos to those who went dancing in the sun
good day to enjoy the great view
I'm still not quite ready for Qrion :)
lots of people went to enjoy the sun despite the heat :)
Thankfully, the sun did eventually set, giving great views again:
hard to beat the view
Back to the show:
Got to go on stage, great views:
Smmary of Day #2 at mainstage:
I then tried to go to the afterparty. The main one was cancelled due to sound concerns I think, but there was a smaller party from the Instigators, although it was hard to get in due to limited space:
and I then went back to the RV to get a bit of sleep before the 09:30 departure the next morning to catch our flights
Smmary of afterparty:
Obviously we had a fantastic time, it was great to be back after 2019, and thank you to all the DJs and people who were the life of the party. Hope to see you next time.
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