Harmony Festival Picks

[Barry]

It's time for the Harmony Festival again! (https://www.harmonyfestival.com/) We are really blessed to have such fabulous festival in our backyard. There's so much that is offered over this weekend that I thought I'd share my picks of what to look for, and I invite you to post yours too!

As the festival has grown over time with bigger and louder acts on the main stage, it has reconfigured to accommodate the crowds and amazing sound coming from there. The first step, taken a few years ago, was to move the yoni-shaped Goddess area from near the main stage to its new home in the Goddess Grove, near the Grace Pavilion. This new location is excellent and they feature many fine smaller bands the Goddess/Oasis stage in this more intimate environment. I find myself spending more and more time there. I'm not familiar with many of the bands playing there this year, but often the highlight of the festival for me is seeing a band on the Goddess stage that I had never heard of before. Last year it was Diego's Umbrella!

After the main stage sound also impacted the great speakers program in the Eco Area last year, the Eco Grove has now been moved to the west side of the festival (towards the race track). This should provide sufficient isolation from the main stage, and is conveniently located next door to the Goddess Grove. Once again they feature a wonderful line up speakers, including Mike Farrell (of M*A*S*H) , Lori Grace, John Robbins, James Tyman, Brock Doleman, Caroline Casey and Will Durst. There's a speakers stage inside the "Well-Being Pavilion" as well.

I'll chime later with some more picks. In the meantime, what are your picks for Harmony this year?

[Imagery]

Last year, I found out that they have an app for that (iPhone). It lists the stages, the acts, an entire program for your phone, which reduces the usage of the paper programs. Just something some might find useful.

[Barry]

Last year, I found out that they have an app for that (iPhone). It lists the stages, the acts, an entire program for your phone, which reduces the usage of the paper programs. Just something some might find useful.

There does not seem to be an app this year. (Any body know of one?) However, there is a downloadable .pdf which ends up getting saved and accessible through iBooks. It works pretty well! There are no fancy controls or links, but you can leave the schedule for the day open and lock your phone and it will open back up to it when you return. You'll need to flip pages, just like the paper guide, to find more info about each of the offerings.

You can bookmark specific pages and then access the bookmarks from the list view (second button on top) and then press the bookmark icon.

You can download the program guide here:
https://www.harmonyfestival.com/imag...DE_HF_2011.pdf

So the thing to do is to download it on your phone and bookmark the pages of interest in advance.

[Barry]

Friday has always been my favorite day at Harmony (since they added it a few years ago), and this year it looks really strong again!

To start with, everything is clean and fresh, and the crowd is typically lighter on Fridays (though this year, with Michael Franti headlining, might be an exception). Plus you get first pick at all the fabulous groovy shopping booths!

Being a semi-retired Deadhead I'm particularly attracted to the strong line up of Jam-friendly bands this Friday on the Main Stage, starting with Moon Alice ( 3pm - featuring my favorite keyboard player - Pete Sears, along with John Molo, Barry Sless ), David Nelson Band ( 5pm), Railroad Earth (6:30pm) and Michael Franti and Spearhead (8:30pm - not all that jammy in my book, but still worth while).

While the Techno-tribal show gets all the PR, there's also a very strong Friday-late night show in Harmony Hall (separate ticket than the Day ticket). It's a Deadhead's dream show, with Steve Kimock, David Nelson among others, and lots of ancillary stuff including vintage hippy artwork by all the greats including a collection of blotter art! Also of note is that the "ambiance and interactive experientials" are produced buy the consummate deadhead scholar, Johnny Dwork.

Heads up! According to the schedule below, the penultimate jam begins ay 1AM Harmony Time! Given that this is a tribute to Owsley that's understandable.

[Debra Giusti]

Our very own Debra Giusti, Founder of the Harmony Festival, has chimed in with her picks to her festival!
I must say I concur!

Anybody else got some favorites you want share with us?

- Barry

Harmony Festival is better than ever again this year! 33rd Annual HARMONY FESTIVAL June 10-12, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa Check it all out here: www.harmonyfestival.com It will be warm, fun, and enlightening as your community comes to gather and share once again, as they have for 33 years! I offer you my Guide to Heath & Harmony at the Festival… Health & Harmony Village, now happening near the Goddess Grove: Well Being Pavilion – Products and services for your harmony Well Being Speaker’s Stage – Amazing Line –up Wisdom Speaker’s Stage – More great Presenters! Eco Village- Presented by Sustainable Living Road Show Kid’s Zone- Entertainment and Activities for all ages HARMONY TEA HOUSE – Delicious foods, tea, music, and vibes day and night GODDESS GROVE – Always the sweet spot! Debra’s Goddess Dance- 8th Year with 15 amazing Gods and Goddesses with the Living Tarot HARMONY ALTAR- The Heart of the Festival! on the main field NIGHT OF BLISS – Sat night with Krishna Das and Lost At Last Tribe This ticket also gets you into the amazing Techno Tribal! See you there! Wishing You Well! Debra Giusti WISHING WELL PRODUCTIONS

[Barry]

The Harmony Festival App is now available in the App Store! Free!
Click on the link below or the image to the left.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/harm...318913421?mt=8

[Imagery]

The Harmony Festival App is now available in the App Store! Free!
Click on the link below or the image to the left.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/harm...318913421?mt=8

My app from last year updated yesterday afternoon with the information for this year.

[Barry]

News Flash!
Krishna Das will be preforming on the Goddess Stage tomorrow (Sunday) morning, rather than the Main Stage.
This is part of a special Sacred Sunday line up there (more info below), which includes one of my favorite diva's Suzanne Sterling. The schedule has been changed from both the printed guide and the iphone app. I suggest you check at the Goddess Grove and/or at the Harmony Info booth for an updated schedule. Here's what I remember, for what it's worth:

Note the Goddess Grove has been completely re-oriented. It seems a bit less intimate but can accommodate a bigger stage/audience area. I plan on hanging out there tomorrow. I'll let you know how it feels.

Michael Franti showed up for unannounced set (with yoga?) on the Goddess stage on Friday! Anybody out there that caught it want to tell us about it?

Note that ticket prices are $60 at the door, but there are still some advanced tickets for $45 available around town. Find outlets here: https://www.harmonyfestival.com/2011...t-outlets.html

And a nod to Braggi who saved our butts last night! from me and a from Mrs. Wacco!

Sacred Sunday at the Oasis Stage/Goddess Grove at the Harmony Festival

Yoga Tree Shakti
DATE: Sunday, June 12th
TIME:10:00 AM until 11:30 AM
LOCATION: Oasis Stage


Suzanne Sterling, Dasi Karnamrita and Krishna Das
DATE: Sunday, June 12th
TIME: 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Oasis Stage

Krishna Das
DATE: Sunday, June 12th
TIME: 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Oasis Stage

I'm also told that the Soft White Sixties are not to be missed - Sunday Goddess Stage at 2pm:
https://www.harmonyfestival.com/the-...e-sixties.html
DATE: Sunday, June 12th
TIME: 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM
LOCATION: Oasis Stage




More info at www.HarmonyFestival.com