Om

Subsonic Chronic · Jun 18, 2001

What a great weekend!!!!
I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said, the whole Om experience was once again incredible.
The BLA tent was amazing. Of course the mixing wasn't perfect, but it never is, and it's never expected. The tracks were pretty cool though, although I do wish that there had been a bit more full on goa, and less of the stompy techno stuff. The decorations totally surpassed all the other tents, and most parties for that matter. Lots of black lights, sweet artwork and a glowing webbing above the dance floor made it into a truly psychedelic experience.
I didn't spend a whole lot of time at the other tents, except a stop by the Guelph tent to see my old friend Solis tear it up on Saturday night, and a lot of other random wandering of course.

Kind Kitchen and the Krishnas once again fed the masses. It's so great that Om can organize for thousands of people to be fed for free, and fed with such good food! The land was absolutely beautiful, plenty of space for everyone's tents and stages, and none of the logistical problems that continuously plague the WEMF 3-day parties.

The crowd was Om, and they are what makes Om so special. People there seemed to be there for all the right reasons, and no matter what can be said about PLUR being dead and whatnot, the true vibe that brought like minded people together in the dawn of the scene, and in similar eras before ours, was alive and well at Om. The site looked as clean when we left it as when we arrived, and the mutual respect between everyone there was never more evident than during the opening ceremonies when the owner of the land was given a standing ovation by the thousands in attendance, in thanks for allowing the Om crew the use of the site.

Such a great weekend, definitely as good, if not better than last year's festival. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who made Om possible.

Pete

DarkRave · Jun 18, 2001

What a fantabulous weekend!! Woooofrickenhooo!!

What a trip that was. From the visually stunning stages/artworks (The mushroom field rocked!), To dancing so hard that you find yourself huffing and puffing, To the Vibe, OMG the Vibe!! and of course this years location. It felt soooo good to be sooo alive that weekend..

Dunno what else to say at this point because there are no words that I can use to describe the moments I have experienced and shared with others. I cant wait untill next years' OM!

Norm it was great to hang with you again!! Happy Birthday!!

With Peace and Love..
Pen

PS. Did anybody take pictures of the fire dancers? (They were amazing!)

echo · Jun 18, 2001

Hmmmm...what more is there to say that hasn't been said already???

Once again...Om did not disappoint! This was my third time out to this fabulous event....and it was absolutely incredible yet again this year!!

The weather, the people, the music, the stages, the site, the friends, the opening ceremony, the swimming,.....it was a magical fairytale land!!!

Remember how you felt when you attended your first party?? When you got that feeling of awe and wonderment....that feeling of acceptance and love....that understanding of what the music and the people were all about....

But then you continued to party more and more.....and you kinda lost site of why you first fell in love with the party scene??

....well I think the best way to describe Om is that it is the party that reminds you of why you first fell in love with the scene....and the party that helps you to fall in love with it all over again.....Om sweet Om

echo

Klubmasta Will · Jun 18, 2001

one of the best weekends in recent memory. great music, great weather, great friends great swimming, great food (although we did sneak to town twice - for pancakes and burgers), great sights, great sounds, great campfires, great bonfires, great experimentation, great tent villages, great opening ceremony, great stage set-ups, and great company.

(i think it is silly to compare om and wemf as they are two completely different events. i love both weekends for different reasons.)

Jennika · Jun 18, 2001

Originally posted by Gunark:
I'm a little confused.. who was it that played the breaks set at the Sumkidz stage (the castle stage?) after midnight on Saturday night/Sunday morning? I thought it was SirCut Breaker or something... or was it Rollin' Cash? I've never heard either one play(does SirCut Breaker even play breaks?)

But either way, that was by far the best set of the weekend. The timing was perfect too.. I just wish they had some more uptempo sets like that on Saturday night.

I agree,

and it was the ever fabulous Rollin' Cash who played that breaks set.
When I spoke to him on sunday he said that he had his whole playlist all planned and than it just flowed out toally differently and spontaniously- much to his satisfaction of course since people were freaking out. Definately one of the most emergetic and loved sets that weekend.

Ah, the keg! Those guys were great. I ran out of my own beer too early on saturday and they were definately my saviors with their genorisity. Especially to the guy who lost his voice, what a sweetie.

Ah, it sucks being back in the city!

Jeffsus · Jun 18, 2001

Saddened at having become a somewhat disgruntled WEMF 'customer', I was intrigued by OM's promises and overjoyed by their fulfillment. OM really did live up to all my expectations; which can be fairly picky at times.

Why did I enjoy OM so much? In no particular order:
1. The venue was absolutely beautiful. The OM crew must have a good reputation to have a landowner entrust to them such a perfect location.

2. Minimized sketch. 'Rumour' has it there was widespread recreational use, but no one's use interfered with any else's enjoyment.

3. Relaxed atmosphere. There wasn't an overwhelming Gestapo presence. The security that was there was reasonable and friendly.

4. Good logistics. No long line ups. No needless waiting. No A->B->C hassles.

5. Good goals. Finances were not at the core of this festival. Free food is available to make your weekend easier, and we were permitted to bring in large vessels of my favourite hops beverage; clearly, and unlike other 3-day events, there was no profiteering going on.

6. Good company! It was like partying with 2000 friends I hadn't met yet (in addition to those cooky folk around the firepit)

Though I agree with Will that WEMF and OM are two quite different events, I don't think that that precludes WEMF from learning a few things from OM.

Anyone who enjoys WEMF would certainly enjoy OM. I doubt that most people who enjoy OM also ejoy WEMF. Especially as OM grows in attendance, OM can offer as much, entertainmentwise, as WEMF. WEMF on the other hand doesn't appear to even be trying to accomodate in the sincere, convenient way that OM does. This highlights a gradient that seriously undermines WEMF and should be a source of conercern for WEMF organizers.

Having been to OM and having seen what a 3-day can be like, I have little interest in ever returning to WEMF again. I will still go this year, solely out of prior commitments, but unless there appears to be some improvements over the last few years, I won't even consider it next year.

A big thank you to the OM volunteers and creators, as well as all you attendees who made it such a great time.

-jM
Adquiro et Devoro

gsnuff · Jun 18, 2001

Originally posted by Jeffsus:
4. Good logistics. No long line ups. No needless waiting. No A->B->C hassles.

Well.. except for putting the kind kitchen right next to a mass of outhouses.

My only other complaint is banco de gaia.. not only did their set suck but they completely disrespected Toronto techno/breaks producer sourfly in the middle of his live PA by driving a truck into the middle of the dancefloor and loading up their gear.

Those two observations aside, it was an amazing weekend. Props to the om crew for running such a tight ship.

gsnuff
http://www.techno.ca/clonk

green_souljah · Jun 18, 2001

Originally posted by echo:

Remember how you felt when you attended your first party?? When you got that feeling of awe and wonderment....that feeling of acceptance and love....that understanding of what the music and the people were all about....

But then you continued to party more and more.....and you kinda lost site of why you first fell in love with the party scene??

....well I think the best way to describe Om is that it is the party that reminds you of why you first fell in love with the scene....and the party that helps you to fall in love with it all over again.....Om sweet Om

echo

I HEAR THAT!!!

Oh man do I ever!

My friends actually were worried about me lately. I was doing a lot of thinking about my life recently and was honestly ready to throw out my dancing shoes...

Om was kinda planned for a while and I didnt want to back out on my friends who I had promised I would go with.
So I figured that I would hit Om and then thats it.

Om saved my dancing shoes.
All the things that I was really getting unnerved by in the Tdot scene were non-existent this wknd and a lot of others I had talked to thought the same way.

So thanks Om.
"last weekend....a festival saved my life...."

stargurl* · Jun 18, 2001

I had a great time this weekend.. I managed to see Ricky and Karen, who I hadn't seen in years, but Will and Pete, I was sad that I missed you. I camped right by the BLA stage, too. Next to the van parked by the generator. *sigh* so it goes.

My favorite sets would have had to be the Jungle at the Guelph stage Saturday night.. it was like whoever was spinning was just reading my mind. They played all my favorite tracks and had me shaking my ass the whole time.
Then saturday morning... Guelph stage once again. Kraftwerk! So much Kraftwerk! Insert much more dancing here... then a HUGE grin on my face when I looked up and saw that it was Ricky spinning.. I hadn't seen him in over two years, then he's at om spinning such amazing music.
The BLA stage blew my mind as well.. and Mmmm firedancers.

For sunkist and darkrave:

green_souljah · Jun 18, 2001

Originally posted by stargurl*:

My favorite sets would have had to be the Jungle at the Guelph stage Saturday night.. it was like whoever was spinning was just reading my mind. They played all my favorite tracks and had me shaking my ass the whole time.

Are u sure you dont mean Friday night?

If so I TOTALLY AGREE!!

What blew me away was that I heard all the tracks I was into even before I started going to raves......like 94-96 circa jungle.

And not the anthems that most people know about either....more unheard of stuff that I just went right off too!

I still want to know it was spinning!

stargurl* · Jun 18, 2001

Er, yes. That would have been Friday.

green_souljah · Jun 18, 2001

Actually something else I got a kick out of was meeting a bunch of people outside of the gate.

After we arrived and set up I wanted to go see if I could find some friends I was supposed to meet up with outside in the lineup to get in.

Ended up having numerous conversations with lots of people about the new "techno" beverage...Zoom!

Unfortunately didnt meet up with any of them again (especially the car full of girls from London...u guys were cool!)
but I guess thats what happens when you are at a festivel with 5000 other people right?

stargurl* · Jun 18, 2001

Originally posted by green_souljah:
Unfortunately didnt meet up with any of them again (especially the car full of girls from London...u guys were cool!)

Car full of girls from London?
I went up in a car full of girls from London. (Well, one boy in the car.)

Hm.

green_souljah · Jun 18, 2001

really?

I was wearing a black and white plaid shirt..no hat on....and I was with a girl with red hair.

The girls I was talking to were in a silver car...I think it was a wagon..??

about 11:30-12ish?

I was drinking a Zoom..

maybe it was you ...!!

JEMZ · Jun 18, 2001

Originally posted by stargurl*:
Car full of girls from London?
I went up in a car full of girls from London. (Well, one boy in the car.)

Hm.

I went up from London, I'm not a girl though.

btw, I thought Banco de Gaia rocked!!! And they had a full set-up what else were they supposed to do, just make their sound guy ait until the music was turned off to break it down? It was too bad they had to load the truck at that time, but I think it was necessary.

d.code · Jun 18, 2001

Best birthday ever.
OM is another world... If I move away to Affrica or Japan- I will have to come back to OM every year only because OM is something that is too powerfull and incredable to do with out..

Perfection!

Tyler

SUNKIST · Jun 18, 2001

Originally posted by JEMZ:
^^^^^^^^^
Sorry I missed you Lori

Glad you had a great time though

See you soon I hope

same here Jer...hope its sooner than later!!

bmd · Jun 18, 2001

What can I say except pure perfection!
I thought last year was good, but this year was equal, if not better! i couldn't have asked for a better weekend. Period.

Lets start with the camping. The site was perfect. It was a vast place with lots of hills and grass, perfectly used to accomodate the music and the campers. The sky was absolutely incredible both during the day and night. Everywhere I went, I ran into a familiar face, and every new face had a tremendous smile. I camped by the BLA stage, which was perfect cause I got to hear the sweet sounds of the activists whenever they were on. The highlit of the site was being able to walk around a lot of the site bare foot. I hate wearing shoes unless I have to, so this was a bonus. I didn't have one walking wound.

The music was tremendous. Even though I spent the majority of my time at the BLA tent, ( to me, this was the tent to be at! Such good music and killer design under the magical stars...it was always kicking!) other tents rocked as well. I heard the kickin'est breaks I've ever heard EVER at the SUMKIDZ stage on saturday night before Banco De Gaia's set. I don't know who this fiend was, but props to you my friend. I'm not a fan of breaks, but you definitely got me dancing. mcbee can attest to this as she was bustin' it up right behind me.

The people at this event were amazing. Friendly, happening and clean! I've never seen a place so clean after a party. Everywhere I went, amazing people were around. It was sp cool to see people bringing their children and their dogs. It like they knew their children would be part of something special.

By the way, Kind Kitchen RULES! It was so awsome to see that a LOT of people donated food for the cause. The concept of it all is amazing. If everyone brings in a little food, then everyone is fed and happy...not to mention the fact that the food was AMAZING!

So, thats about it. Big thanks to the organizers, volunteers, collectives, musicians and people for making this a weekend to remember. After last year, I thought this years event might start to sour because of popularity and more people, but I was definitely wrong! This is what the scene should be like, but isn't.

Bruno

"Om is where the heart is"

DJ Rhyinem · Jun 18, 2001

Well...
I usually don't post, but I think i feel the need to. I am a volunteer for OM and have done so for the last few years. I fully respect and love everything the organizers and visionaries of OM set out to do, and I will support that fully. This weekend I was moved to tear at a few separate instances. It was just overwhelmingly beautiful and serene. It was almost like on that particular weekend, at that particular time, everyone that was there was meant to be there, and they all knew it. So much love for fellowship, enviroment, music and dance. It really was a beautiful thing. Mind you it always is. I only get the chance to go to 1 "party" a year... years of getting down in dirty ass warehouses kinda soured my taste of "raves"... im so glad it is something as beautiful and perfect as OM. I fully celebrated the day time (although i fell asleep for the ceremony)swam, danced, walked, rode bikes and chatted. There really is nothing like smokin a fatty and going for a nice long bike ride though rollin hills. I really have to give it up to RHYMESTONE. On Sat. afternoon @ around 3:30 (after my shift in the store) I saw probably the tightest, funkiest, most moving bands ive ever seen.... RHYMESTONE blew me away. I saw them last year and told everyone that i could to go and see them, and I believe everyone that did see them were very, very impressed. Such groove, tight ass rhythms, wicked rhymes. But anywhey, I really don't think that there are proper words in my vocabulary that could describe OM.... spiritual, beautiful, magical and exciting are about all i got. Care to elaborate?

PS. To my buddy in the RV with the espresso machine, thanks again for the latte, it was one of the best ive had, and RYAN... you kick ass your cd is on its way buddy, don't you worry...
And to mah bruva, sunday afternoon, dancin and chillin to DIGABLES from out the car, you also kick ass!!

DJ Rhyinem · Jun 18, 2001

I would also like to thank everyone that came out this year to OM. Walking around on Sunday evening I really noticed exactly how much respect that everyone that came out had.... SO LITTLE GARBAGE TO CLEAN!!! I think that I picked up 3 cans... that's IT!! You guys kick ass...Thank you all soo much, no glass, no bottle caps, there was hardly any ciggy butts around for f*** sakes!!!

green_souljah · Jun 18, 2001

I could see myself hanging up my ravin shoes within the next year.

But I could see myself going to Om for years to come....

nelf · Jun 18, 2001

Om sweet Om.

This was my second Om, and it went beyond expectations! The space was so huge! And I met so many incredible people, I can't even begin. Om is all about the vibe, and just about everyone there had it.

The rippled clouds over the daisy covered hills near SumKidz at sunset on Saturday were unbelievable. And I've never seen so many stars. I've never seen that mushroom-shaped constellation before either, but there you go.

The music was pretty good, but it was a bit mellow on Saturday night. I should've brought more warm clothes too, it got nasty chilly in the wee hours.

Swimming naked in the lake all day Sunday topped it all off. Did anyone else meet Shiva, the boa constrictor? She was gorgeous and really friendly.

Speaking of nakedness, did anyone else catch Kristian's set at SumKidz Sunday afternoon?

I brought a bunch of Om virgins with me, and I'm happy to say that it completely blew them away.

Kicks to the organizers and everyone who came and lent their spirit to the collective wonderfulness that is Om!

-Neil

Shorty · Jun 18, 2001

I wanna go back damn it!!!

EWWWWWWW is all I could say coming back into the city, specially coming back to hamilton, god everytime I leave this city and come back the smell only seems to get worse, I miss that sweet sweet om fresh air!

-Can't wait till next year and the years to come

Booty Bits · Jun 19, 2001

i've always wondered what kind of food they serve at the Kind Kitchen.
anyone care to tell?

labRat · Jun 19, 2001

Originally posted by Booty Bits:
i've always wondered what kind of food they serve at the Kind Kitchen.
anyone care to tell?

i referred to it as *slop*. but it was good *slop*. actually usually very tasty and considering the cooking conditions - giant wok / pot on a fire or propane element - it was very well done.

the mornings usually had oatmeally stuff with various grains mixed in, while lunches and dinners had various forms of meals with various forms of vegetables all mixed together with a good amount of spices.

i'm no vegan, and this didn't turn me to that side, but i do have to say that it was always very tasty.

i never ventured to the hary krishnas (sp?) but i saw that they had 'pitas' 'n stuff.

--craig

Om

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