What an amazing experience
Way better than I had ever expected
Before last night, I had never been to an EDM Music Festival. But now I am HOOKED! It was such an amazing experience. It is hard to describe how these festivals can be and there is a lot more going on than just music, so hopefully I can explain it in a way that makes sense.
We got there pretty early. Like right when the doors opened and we were one of the first cars to park. I had no clue how many people would show up to this, but by the end of the night, it was totally full.
The event was held at the Great Saltair in Magna, Utah and this is one of the coolest venues that I have ever been to. It is near the Salt Flats here in Utah and there is an amazing view of the Salt Lake and the backdrop of the stage was a mountain. There were seagulls and other birds flying around, just adding to the whole experience.
Let's talk about the people... When we first got there, we saw girls and guys wearing next to nothing, which seemed a bit odd at first, but after a while, I began to understand that this event is all about expression and love. It was amazing to see all the different races of people all coming together and really building a strong EDM community that embraces everyone.
Utah is a very hard place to live for people that aren't part of the Mormon religion and it is even harder for those that are gay. We have such a high suicide rate here in Utah and this place can be very tough for kids to grow up in if they aren't part of the Mormon mold. That is one reason why my daughter has lost so many friends to suicide in the past couple years.
Whenever we hear of another kid taking their life, our hearts hurt for the kids here and it is amazing to be able to see these younger kids all being able to live their authentic self, even if it is just for a few hours. I know a lot of them have to change their clothes and go back to being "normal" once they leave and get home. It really sucks that so many people live in fear of being themselves here.
It is just really cool to be able to see people all coming together and having an amazing time.
When we first got there, there was a DJ that I had no clue who she was, but she was holding things down until Hi I'm Ghost got on stage and started killing it. I had never heard of Hi I'm Ghost before, hell, I had never heard of any of these guys, except for Excision, before last night. I did recognize a few of their songs, but never had any idea who performed them.
Hi I'm Ghost was awesome though and he really got the energy started for the rest of the night.
Now let's talk about drugs... One of the things that I had always heard about raves and music festivals is that there is a lot of drug use going on and that people are just fucked up the whole time. Well, there is a lot of drug use going on. Mostly weed and psychedelics, but the whole thing wasn't as crazy as I thought it would be. People didn't really seem too fucked up off of anything. There were a few people I saw having a bad trip and their friends were trying to console them and get them through it.
I am an advocate for cannabis use and I really think that cannabis can change people's lives. After last night, I believe that even more. Ever since I spent almost three years in combat and then spent another 6 years in law enforcement, I have had a problem with being in public and with crowds. A music festival like this was something I would never have thought I was going to be able to attend and actually enjoy, but cannabis has given me a way to let my guard down and enjoy life again.
I brought some Pineapple Express with me to the event and as the night went on and the crow got larger and larger, instead of feeling anxious and overwhelmed with everything, I was starting to feel like I fit in with everyone and that was when the night truly became amazing. Cannabis gave me the ability to be present in the moment and to really enjoy myself instead of thinking that something was going to happen or that someone was going to try and kill me. It is hard to explain what goes on in my head, but it was nice to feel "normal" out in this type of situation.
The weather was perfect last night as well. It was in the mid to upper 80s, but when the sun started to set and a breeze came in, it started to feel amazing.
Each DJ got better and better than the last one and the set started to get more and more elaborate as well.
I am so sore today from being up and moving for so long. Good thing they had several water stations for people to fill up their water bottles and camel backs too. We had to fill up our bottles so many times.
It was so cool to be able to experience this with my best friend. We were joking about how so many people told us that we got married too young and that we were missing out on so many things. Now our kids are older and we are both still young enough to go travel and do awesome things like this.
We did learn a few things though. Like that we need to remember to bring our camel backs for the next one. We also need to get some rave necklaces and beads. There is a whole culture that we want to be a part of now. There is a multiple day music festival coming up in August that we are deciding on whether or not to go to. LSDream and a bunch of my other DJs like BoogieT and Feed Me will be there.
It will be here at the Saltair as well, so we will get to see these amazing views while listening to awesome music.
Once the sun had set and it got dark, things started to amp up quite a bit. This is where the whole EDM experience really shines.
The visuals that the artists had to go along with their music was mindblowing. I really wish that I was on mushrooms for this event. These visuals would have been so amazing. Just taking in the whole experience while on mushrooms would have been an amazing trip.
There were people spinning lightsabers, glowing orbs, finger dancing and just having an amazing time in their own world. I think that is one thing that I really enjoyed about this whole experience was that you could really interpret the music and visuals in your own way and make it a magical experience.
I was introduced to so many awesome new artists last night and my EMD library just keeps growing. Next time my wife and I go, we will be more prepared with knowing the songs. It was so cool hearing everyone singing along with them. I did know some of the Excision songs so it was cool to be able to sing along with them.
When this song by Excision came on, it was such a cool experience. It is hard to describe how seeing this stuff live and with all the visuals, it is like you are a part of the music. It is totally different than going to a normal concert.
Just being able to be a part of this crowd here was so cool. I really loved every second of this and I can't wait to do it again.
By the time Excision came on, the stage had been transformed and he was up higher on a large platform with a bigger screen in front of him. They had also set up lasers and fire. Before he started, they had an intermission as they set it all up and they were filling the air with fog. So along with the clouds of weed smoke and the fog, it really made the lasers stand out.
I was no prepared for how amazing Excision would be. The energy was crazy by the time he started and it just got even better as the night went.
I really can't wait to be able to experience this type of show again. I have really enjoyed dubstep and EDM over the years and to be a part of it now is so cool.
This was one of the greatest nights of my life and it was so cool to be able to experience it with my wife. The whole EDM scene is really amazing and it is so cool to see how accepting this culture is. I don't really know how else to explain it, but it really is a place for those that have felt lost or felt like they don't fit in.
This has been a healing experience for me and one that I will cherish forever. I hope that you enjoyed my post and photos. I will have a video coming soon, but I wanted to just make a post about the experience.
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Looks great. It's fantastic to go to these events and feel right at home. That's what I'm missing the most about going abroad for rock festivals. Everybody's there just being cool to each others and having a good time together.
Ya. It was really nice to feel comfortable there.
Awesome, what a great night! I love the photos, especially all the shots of the crowd against the blazing lights onstage.
Thanks. The pictures don't even compare to how awesome it all looked.
Wow lovely 💖🥰💖
So cool
Such an awesome post!
I knew you were going to be shocked at how perfect the environment feels. I’m happy for you and your wife to get to cherish such an adventure together forever. Many more to come. The more you go to, the less you have to worry about being sore after.
Another thing I highly recommend is trying out the shorter shows that are hosted inside of clubs. They surprised me a lot too. I thought of it’s in a club it’ll be all about getting fucked up. Nope. The energy is super positive and the bass is trapped inside bouncing off the walls. It’s a similar vibe to the festivals, but more tight-knit and low key. I actually prefer clubs, although I do love the outdoor air on a breezy night like you had last night.
I’m sure you can’t wait to go see LSDREAM.
I have some older EDM posts. I need to make a collection with all of them. Here are a few.
The video here: https://peakd.com/dtube/@daltono/065seevt is of the night I saw LSDREAM with my brother.
Then of course this old video from 2019 that showcases several different shows I went to...
Ahh the great fucking memories. I need more ASAP. Reunion on July 17th can’t come soon enough.
Ya, the Das Energi Festival is August 13 and 14th. So many awesome people will be performing with LSDream. That is going to be a ton of fun.
I've never heard of the smaller club type shows. Those sound like a ton of fun. Everyone that performed last night was in your video except for Hi I'm Ghost and Calcium.
Check out https://edmtrain.com/ to find all of the shows you could ever imagine.
Awesome. There are so many here in this area over the next few months.
I love the detailed writeup and to be sincere I feel like I was at the scene.
I hope to be there on the nest visit it would be so awesome😍
I wish for you to be able to experience something this amazing. It is a great way to help remind yourself that our world is still a wonderful place to be breathing.
Very nice one. The pic are the best.😁
Thanks. It was such a cool place.
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Very nice place and I wish I could be there also
It was amazing. Hopefully you can experience something like this.
awesome! welcome to the community! :) If you ever make it out this way to California, Stilldream and For the Funk of It are two great festivals that are happening here this summer. (they are annuals, so they def put on a great fest!)
I would love to go to those. I was talking to my wife last night about traveling around the country to go to festivals once our daughter is moved out. Electric Forest in Michigan is one that we are looking at going to once everything opens back up.
awesome! ya I know a lot of folks who do the festival "circuit" through the summer, traveling through multiple states hitting up festival after festival. Some people go to close to 30 by the end of Oct! Its pretty insane. The most I've done in a summer is 10 and that wiped me OUT! I've never been to Electric Forest, but its def on my list of go to's! I have a couple friends who fly out every year and go to that one, and I hear its pretty epic!
30 days of festivals? That is crazy. I wouldn't be able to last that long. That's gotta be super expensive too. Memories are worth more than money to me at this point though so hopefully crypto explodes soon so my wife and I can do it.
A lot of people volunteer so they can go to the festivals for free actually! I volunteer or live paint(which is considered like dj/vendors). I haven't paid for a festival ticket since 2016, but I go to multiple festivals every summer! When I volunteer, its usually 3 to 4 shifts of 4 hours each, then the rest of the weekend is yours to enjoy. Another plus side is you get in a day early (premo camp spots) and if you volunteer, sometimes they feed you too which saves even more money. It's possible without much money, but there is a bit of sacrifice to it in terms of giving up some time. But honestly, integrating yourself into the community like that with volunteering is so worth it! You meet so many amazing people that way and you feel accomplished and full that you helped make that fest stay on its feet and helped keep it going (because without volunteers a lot of fests would not flow well). All the best to your and your wife! Maybe I'll see ya guys at a fest someday soon ;)
That is awesome
First of all I would like to say that photographs are amazing.
What is Mormon religion or Mormon mold? These types of dresses are common there then why it seemed you a bit odd?
The Mormon religion is very oppressive and conservative. This way of dressing at this festival is not something the church would ever allow.
Thats so amazing! Also the fact everyone is there having a good time, not letting the fear porn coming from the media scare them.
Nice coolll ;))
Simply amazing, from the nice photos, to the beautiful scenes, to the message of love and acceptance. It's just so beautiful.
It's amazing to be able to enjoy such nice moment with your wife. I m glad that you both happy.
Thanks man. I appreciate it.
If mere reading about it was this much fun, no doubts, you had a helluva fun at the music fest. I love EDM too, though I do not know all those artistes you mentioned there.
It's a good thing you were able to let go of your paranoia and flow with the music at that amazing beach. I wish I was there too
It was so much fun. I cant wait to go to the next one.
Images are perfect.
I'm wondering what Mormon means? How come Utah has a high suicidal rate, bullying?
By the way, true it's nice to be in a place like this after how pandemic ruined every.
Mormon is the predominant religion here. The suicide rate for kids is so high because of bullying from the Mormon community and because the parents and church put unrealistic expectations on them and then treat them like shit if they don’t follow the church. It is a very strict cult and I can’t wait to get away from this state because of it.
Wooow i wanna be thereeee
Reminds me the Rave's in 98/99/2000 here in My country. Awesome event
I need to dance and share with people in a live concert. I love metal and electrónic músic too (I make some electrónic músic in the past)
Amazing that You went there and take this awesome pictures
Thanks for stopping by. I am hoping to go to another rave next month. I had a ton of fun.
Wooow My friend. Enjoy that músic festivals and have a Lot of fun for me
Nice post..there is nothing better than a good rave 😉 ive not stopped for 30 years lol
!PITY
Command accepted!
Rejoice for I have graced upon your existence worthy of my PITY. The token has no value. It only serves to remind you that you have been given PITY. It has no use. It mirrors you. And your post too
Hi @derangedvisions wao awesome, thanks for sharing, it looks amazing.