The What The Festival 2013 Experience
Posted by: Alex Gaynor on November 19, 2013As we drive through the night, down the windy Oregon roads our sense of anticipation and excitement is palatable. As we push forward for what feels like endless hours, we finally stumble into What the Festival 2013, we are in a delirious euphoria. Already, we know our long trek was worth it and when we wake up we find ourselves in the most delightful of places.
This festival experience really promotes creative freedom. Walking around WTF you never know who you might meet. And when you meet them, things happen. Maybe its just a jolly jig or an exuberant smile. Maybe you start painting a mural or playing chess. The entire place seemed to cultivate magical experiences.
The epic location nestled under Mt Hood really helps the entire atmosphere. There is a little something spiritual about the looming mountain peak that is Mt Hood. The meadows that lie below are both protected and enchanted by the beauty. This remarkable feature of landscape brings the festival into its full glory.
The summer climate of Oregon is hard to beat. The temperature range is ever so slightly warm during the day, perfectly conducive to pool parties in the sun or naps in the shade; which just happen to be two of my favorite things. At night it just so happens that dancing equipped with an epic costume feels just right.
If you don’t know who played, just check out this line up for plenty of shivers up the spine. To quote myself “I’ve never danced like this before.” The music is scheduled way into the night. Much later than the average festival can afford. At WTF the official set times go all the way until 6. There is music all night long. WTF supports and thrives on this aspect of festival culture.
The WTF Stage on Friday night did not stop. Polish Ambassador brought the dance party all over the stage and beyond. Followed by Flosstradamus whose unique style of trap anthems didn’t disappoint. Their giant underground sound was a crowd favourite. Finally, A-Trak closed out the stage with his perfected DJ set. It was a performance that cruised through an unbelievably massive gambit of genres and had the dance floor packed until the very end.
On Saturday Yacht played like she meant it. She was in her element, surrounded by her people. Yacht delivered a dancy set combined with minimalist messages. The local crowd support came through. They may have grown bigger than their roots in Portland, but there’s nothing like coming home.
Like a beautiful fire consuming itself, the music consumes the dancer. Given the choice, we’d dance forever; but instead we dance until we drop. And when that time comes, there is a lovely welcoming campground 5 minutes away, in the populated forests under Mt Hood. The music fades away when you can’t dance anymore and drift off to sleep. It is a strange mix of emotions at the end. We had reached the end of our journey at WTF?! It was an amazing, beautiful experience but we were sad for it to be over. As we packed up our car and started to make our way back home I couldn’t help look in the rearview mirror and smile knowing that next year we’d be back.
For more What The Festival 2013 photos check out our album on facebook.
All photos by Alex Gaynor Photography.
About author
Related Articles
-
-
Boomtown Fair: A Photo Journal by Black Dahlia Photography
October 1, 2016 -
Motion Notion 2016: A Photo Journal by KreateLove
September 19, 2016 -
Astral Harvest 2016: A Photo Journal by Jeff Cruz
August 23, 2016
-
FASHION
Festival Fashion Round-Up: November 2012
November 16, 2012It’s about time I share some more of my festival fashion finds with you all…
-
#HYHT
HYHT: Jnana – Wanton Agency EP
April 15, 2013Canadian producers from the West have been killing it in 2013. With guys like Defunk,…
-
HUMOR
Bassnectar Quits Music to Fish Bass
April 1, 2015After a three-week fishing excursion ‘splorin Lake Erie, Ohio, Bassnectar, AKA Lorin Ashton, announced he…
-
INTERVIEWS
Chatting With Rhymestar Ahead of Metropolis 2016
June 15, 2016A great MC is hard to come by. They host the night, curate the vibe…
-
MORE
Jersey Shore Killed the Video Star
April 16, 2012The music video has become something of a bit of an unappreciated art form. Videos…
RANDOM ARTICLES
-
Festival Fashion Round Up: May 2012
One thing I love about bass culture is the fashion that is starting to blossom…
-
Slow Jam Sundays: Justin Timbreline
It finally feels right to use the word summer here on the West Coast. The…
-
Festival Do’s and Don’ts: A Guide to not Playing Yourself
I am sure that we have all felt like we had “the best time ever”…
-
Waving like a boss
This morning I was memorized by watching this guy, Tim “Randm” Salaz, move his body like…
-
Calgary Celebrates 20 Years of Fright Night
I’ll never forget my first Fright Night party. It was back in the days when…
-
Sync Festival 2012 Wrap-Up
When the cats over at Sync Festival dropped us a note and asked us if…
-
HYHT: Mochipet – Wiz Khalifa vs Gigan or Too Short vs Moguera?
You can’t go wrong with a track that starts off with cowbell because as the…
-
Lovers at a Dangerous Time
We loved hanging out at the Lovers Ball – The liquid music was erotic and…
-
How DJs & Artists Chose Their Names #5
Here we are with a new all Canadian edition of How DJs & Artists Chose…
-
HYHT: The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up (Noisia Remix)
I remember going to underground raves in dark warehouses, and hearing remix after remix in every genre possible of…
-
Festival Fashion Round-Up: February 2013
One thing we love about bass culture is the fashion that is starting to blossom…
-
AllieKat’s Motion Notion 2013 Picks
A few of us here at All You Need is Bass are getting hyped up…
-
Jersey Shore Killed the Video Star
The music video has become something of a bit of an unappreciated art form. Videos…
-
I Heart Art
One of my favorite things about attending a new festival or one that I have…
-
Dance Like Nobody is Watching
Sometimes you’ve just got to dance.
-
HyHt: J.F.Killah – Inspiration Mix
Mondays mean a few things round these parts. Firstly, it usually means that I try…
-
HYHT: Mista-Levi – Death By Breakbeats
When we all piled back into our slightly cramped vehicle last Monday morning after Sync…
-
The Village Sessions: Arlen Live at Shambhala 2013
There is not a better person to be able to translate the beauty that is…
-
HYHT: Jnana – Wanton Agency EP
Canadian producers from the West have been killing it in 2013. With guys like Defunk,…
-
Interview with Harry Shotta
There are few MCs in the world who have earned the type of praise and…
-
#FBF – Metropolis 2015 – The Party of the Bass Face
Last year, 403 DNB brought Calgary an all DnB multi-venue party, a completely new concept…
-
Awaken x Burning Man
A two-part documentary film about the Burning Man community, the support of dreams and the…
-
What’s In My Baggie? (Documentary)
“What’s In My Baggie?” is a documentary on the rise of misrepresented substances, as well…
-
Marten Hørger Interview: A Night Out With Ze German of Geile Sheize Sounds!
Hello fellow bass-children! We quest for music that moves our bodies. We love music that…
-
HYHT – Glitch ‘N’ Blues
A brand new mix by Glitch Hop Community came through my stream today and immediately…
-
No Cameras Allowed
Fake it until you make it might be the best way to go with this…
-
An-Ten-Nae Talks Raindrops on Roses, and all Things Low
An-Ten-Nae, an artist synonymous with many things. Acid crunk, 1015 Folsom, California, West Coast bass,…
-
Glow Stick Chronicles: The Pirate and the Ninja
Pirates Vs Ninjas – The age old question is finally answered in today’s Glow…
-
Hertz Donut Interview: Dangerously Glazed to Delicious Levels
Hertz Donut’s profile has recently been raised by the news that they’ll be headliners at…
-
HyHt: Kraddy – Into the Labyrinth Dub EP
I’m stoked to showcase the new EP Into the Labyrinth Dub from Kraddy and Heavyweight Dub Champions, because…
-
This Contest from Unsung Heroes will Change Someones Life
KJ Sawka and ill.Gates have been knocking it out of park all summer long and…
-
Slow Jam Sundays: Galactic Wind – Gaia Chill Live at Give Festival
Here at AYNiB we really look forward to our Slow Jam Sundays.That’s because after a…
-
HYHT: Fat Pat – Psychic Salami
I hope you are all hungry for some crunchy beats for this week’s Have you…
-
Our Top 5 Fall Season 2013 Bass Music Festivals
I know many of us are feeling this amazing 2013 festival season over. With temperatures…
-
Jamie xx (ft Young Thug and Popcaan): I Know There’s Gonna be Good Times
Well, our summertime anthem is here. Jamie xx from revered and loved band the xx…
-
CompREST: The camping bed designed for festivals
Imagine your at a festival in the middle of a sea of tents. What do…