Trisha Shanks
Arrow Lakes News
Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is coming to Nakusp in the form of a festival being held over the May long weekend. EDM is electronically produced music, which gained popularity in the 2000s and is played by DJs on mixing boards using computer technology. It encompasses a range of styles from dubstep to trance and house. Fans tend to follow particular DJs to the clubs and festivals at which they perform because they like their particular style of mixing, and the Forest Moon Festival is no exception.
“We think each of the DJs will bring a portion of their following along with them and it’s a way of introducing more young people to the area,” said Gordon. The festival will feature an array of DJs who ‘spin’ EDM and Godron has already confirmed 17 artists for the festival to include Calgary’s Box Master, Vancouver’s Longwalkshortdock and Kelowna’s Blontron and Waspy.
The first event being held at Sun Lodge Farms is the brainchild of Cameron Gordon, president of Lone Tree Events. The event management company was founded to support the efforts of the community being created on the large plot of land, which spans between Highway 23 and the Hot Springs Road, formerly the old Coates farm. It is landmarked by the giant solitary tree, which stands on an otherwise flat plain when viewed from the Hot Springs Road.
Gordon put up a website and Facebook page to gauge interest in the event which he named the Forest Moon Festival, inspired by Endor, the forest moon of Star Wars fame. This got the rumour mill going before he had a chance to explain the hows and whys of the event.
“I needed to see if there was interest before deciding to hold the festival and the news got out before I had a chance to explain it really in depth,” Gordon said. He understands that people are inclined to draw a comparison between this and another famous area festival. “We are not Shambala. People don’t have to lock their doors or worry about their personal security. We are forbidding drugs and alcohol. This is a dance party.”
On site, Lone Tree will have a strong security presence whose instructions are to confiscate and dispose of any drugs and alcohol they discover. Lone Tree will be looking to the community for event volunteers, artisans interested in having booths at the on-site market, and Food Vendors who are registered and practicing Food Safe standards. For further information, see www.lonetreeevents.com, on Twitter @forestmoonfest or on Facebook: Forest Moon Festival.