A few weeks ago I got to experience my very first music festival. Let me clarify, I’ve been to many concerts in my life, just never to a music festival. The festival was FORM, a fairly new music and arts festival that takes place in the advanced-lost civilization looking permaculture complex, Arcosanti, designed by the talented and visionary Italian architect, Paolo Soleri. The place is run by volunteers, staying in all sorts of intervals of time. The mystic place draws attention from all sorts of people, from engineers, filmmakers, sculptors, to music artists and producers; such as Gainesville, Florida native band “Hundred Waters”; lead organizer and curator of the festival.
One of the unique things about this festival is that it is guest list only. My story was a fairy tale as I wanted to go to this festival, submitted my application but unfortunately did not make the list. It was a sad day; I also found out my co-worker and his girlfriend, had both been invited and was going. Later my friend Gabriel; a Phoenix local along with his brother Isaac, well known in the art scene; told me their artwork would be put up during the festival. A friend of theirs in their guest list was not able to go, enabling me an open spot. Last minute I was able to cover my shift for work and I was set to be on my way.
As we arrive to the place, we park our cars, go through registration and get our wrist bands. We get on a bus that takes you from the parking area to the main facilities. Many people have already arrived at this point. You can feel the hype and energy inside the bus. Once there we start walking around, to the right stands the complex and soothing sound of music coming from one of the amphitheaters; to the other side, nothing but silence. A tent city rose for the remainder of the weekend, for some, even for the entire week. We decide to stroll around tentlandia, everywhere you look there’s people setting up camp, even saying hi to strangers whenever unfamiliar sights would cross. The energy of the place was a very refreshing warm and welcoming atmosphere.
I walk back to the complex and meet up to Gabriel, Isaac and Miguel setting up paintings to display for the evening. They also designed a map of the complex with a schedule of the event with some unique designs and distinct fonts. Their set up is right outside one of the main amphitheaters, where bands like Autre Ne Veut, Mija, DAWN and Ryan Hemsworth play and warm up the crowd for the main event later that night. Finally a guest appearance by skrillex takes the night into a raddled atmosphere getting everyone moving. There’s a small break in the middle of the set. People go to this lounge-looking room behind the amphitheater. No one is rushing to get any autographs or pictures. It’s like there’s a mutual understanding of the culture the place carries with it. You may find yourself having a drink and striking a random conversation with a stranger and later find out he or she is a co-founder to a production company, a music artist, a photographer, a videographer, or a painter; such a dreamy atmosphere with endless possibilities. A beautiful platform made by people like you and me, enabling many others to create and branch out into other projects.
In time everyone climbs down the side of the hill into the canyon, where the main stage built by art collective and cooperatively run record label ELESTIAL SOUND is set up, ready for the afterhours show. Skrillex along with DJ’s like MIJA and BONOBO share the stage and turn tables getting the whole crowd plugged and bumping. I walk behind the stage towards a small hill that wrapped around the area. I look back and I’m able to witness the entire scene, feel the atmosphere of the people as they’re dancing to the music while being able to see arcosanti on the background. Little lights glow as they move down the hill from people lighting their way towards the ELESTIAL stage. The stars lit up and fill the dark navy blue sky and for a moment a perspective of wholeness makes you feel small where you are but at the same time how much of a family we all are onthis earth. I go back to my tent and go to sleep at around 4-5 ish, the show is still going at this point.
At an elevation of 3,732 feet, I’m woken up by the cold; because, regardless how hot it may have been during the day; it gets very cold at night. One could only see so many people wandering at around 7:00 AM, the last of the people are wrapping it up at the canyon finalizing the first day/night/day. A line begins to form at the showers, which consists of a shared space divided by non-see-through plastic (thankfully the water is warm). The second day is a bit mellower. Food trucks set up for breakfast as well as t-shirt and art vendors. People mingled a tad more during this day and keep moving around from stage to stage. David Moore from BING & RUTH takes over the act and places a grand piano next to one of the cliffs overseeing the canyon. While the crew finishes setting up, people begin to grab a spot on the ground and eventually surround the area. Everything becomes silent, keys begin to be pressed. I lay down and closed my eyes surrendering to the vibrations. Moore’s instrumentals are as serene as the soft sound of the wind moving through the cypress trees. The echo of the arpeggios would delicately fade away into thin air, leaving nothing but the sound of silence.
The complex also includes a pool area where another DJ boot sets up along with Don Julio vendors providing drinks for the crowd. The water is cold but doesn’t keep some of the people from going in for small periods of time. Every so often I wander by myself and just ponder on thoughts. I become very gratified of this time filled with random encounters with both breathtaking views and amazing new groups of people. Such is the group of people that forms WALTER PRODUCTIONS, with whom I got the pleasure to meet. I walk around tent city and find Devin; one of the team members who I’d met the night before at multiple occasions. I sit down and one by one I start meeting the whole gang. A random Samaritan with a ukulele walking around the tents like me offers us some fresh avocados and oranges and joins the group. Seeing this guy with the ukulele starts an ache within me for a guitar, I’ve made this known out loud and in turn my friend Ryan Jahr goes to look for a guitar comes back and delivers, I was so happy and amazed by his finding; a jam session takes place for the rest of the time hanging out. Once again dust arrives and vibrations take over the atmosphere; another great night with great music before heading back to camp.
The last day for me consists of hanging out by the pool, packing up and enjoying some breakfast while hanging out with some of the people I have come with and also with new people I have met throughout the weekend. Bands like LNZNDRF, THUNDERCAT and TORTOISE play on this last day. Getting close to the end of the day, I say goodbye to friends that are staying one extra day past the festival. FORM is definitely a festival worth checking out or at least try to and submit an application for next year, we may meet. I leave with a great experience of my first festival, many new friends and with the ache of going to new festivals from now on.
