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Adham Shaikh (Cananda)

When you grow up in a town like Takaka, New Zealand, which has hosted Entrain, The Gathering, Stardust, Visionz, Uprising and Canaan Downs Festivals (to name a few), you might start wondering about this place and what is vibrating in the earth here that makes people want to get together and dance. Luminate Festival took that energy and blasted it in so many other directions – an earth- friendly event encompassing not just music and dance, but art, creativity, sustainability, education, performance…the list goes on.

Held from January 27th to February 2nd 2011 at the magical 200 acre Canaan Downs site on top of the Takaka Hill, the community-focussed Luminate will bring together families, individuals, performers and participators from around New Zealand and further afield for a fourth year.

Luminate Festival, the main event organised by the Luminate Festival Educational and Spiritual Trust, happens exactly mid-way between the summer solstice and autumn equinox – a time when usually there is an abundance of crops and the summer harvest festival of Lughnasadgh takes place. A time for people to gather together and share food, music, stories, information and send gratitude to the earth mother taking care of us all. Why not carry on the tradition here in our fertile and abundant land, with a big heaving bunch of conscious, like-minded people?

This is a family-friendly event, where you can actually bring your children and watch them take off in a mob to try stilt-walking, poi, juggling, hula hooping, puppet shows, storytelling, face painting or nature walks. Anywhere there is a child-friendly atmosphere sounds lovely to me; where space is created and dedicated to providing fun, educational and interesting activities for the growing hearts and minds of our future generations. It also means Mums and Dads can come knowing their children can participate too.

Beats Antique (Usa)

And for the adults out there: a line-up of musicians, djs and workshops to inspire, elevate, enliven and make your feet itch for the dance floor.

Over 100 confirmed acts include Adham Shaikh (Canada), Beats Antique (USA), Mamaku Project (NZ), Pacific Curls (NZ), Hikoikoi (NZ), Perfect Stranger (Israel), Khainz (Switzerland), Dick Trevor (UK), Hedflux (UK), Heyoka (USA), Jamie Janover (USA) and a plethora of other wicked New Zealand talent: Karen Hunter, Matiu Te Huki, Boom Shanti, Chimuka, Mama Yeva, Grouch, Organikismness, Pan Electric, and many more to be announced.

The wide range of musical styles covers live music, world grooves, gypsy, roots, folk, dub, psytrance, minimal tech, progressive, breaks, dubstep, glitch, d&b, house, ambient, soul, funk, esoteric beats and more…“Find your rhythm at the live stage or electronic zone, get primal with the drums of the tribal zone, take it horizontal in the chillout lounge, or bring an instrument and join in the fun on the buskers stage” said Co-Organiser Jules Harper.

When you’re ready for a break from wiggling about on the dance floor using muscles you didn’t know you had and generally being inspired by the talented musical acts, there are also many interactive workshops or Knowledge and Inspirational Sharing Sessions (aka KISS…yummy!). With quality presenters and facilitators, you can really get involved in holistic, environmental, healing and cultural topics. These cover permaculture, alternative energy, african drumming, harakeke, electronic music production, creativity, mayan calendar, circus skills, yoga, zumba, bellydance, food self reliance, intentional communities, NVC, poetry, relexology, holistic healing techniques, spirituality and many more…

Jamie Janover (USA)

A special guest workshop facilitator and musician not to be missed is Jamie Janover (USA), who will be presenting Nassim Haramein’s fascinating research on cosmology, ancient civilizations and quantum science including a unified solution to Einstein’s Field Equations. This groundbreaking theory has led to a change in our understanding of the fundamental structure of the universe and consciousness.  Janover is also an innovative musician, so make sure to catch him on the live stage playing the dulcimer – an ancient percussive stringed instrument – along with laptop computer and percussion.

That, my friends, is not all. There are many more features to take in, imbibe and nourish yourself with: Organic and locally sourced food and refreshments, arts, crafts & market stalls, healing zone, drumming circle, the Flaming-Juggle-Poi-Toy zone with fire performers by night and circus skills workshops by day, VJs, enlightening movies & documentaries, spacious camping, eco-showers and amenities, spectacular mountain location surrounded by native bush. Bring your bike, because it’s a large site and you’ll want to see it all.

With such a beautiful but large and all-encompassing festival taking place, you might be wondering how exactly it is considered an earth-

Mamaku Project (NZ)

friendly event. It is stated straight-up: this is a clean environment event, with no rubbish bins or recycling on site. What you bring in, you must take out, simple as that!

However, there is a composting system on site for your biodegradables, and you are encouraged to bring your own eating utensils, cups and plates to be re-used and washed by you (or by someone else, for a small fee). This way, the bulk of rubbish that usually builds up at an event of this scale and heads for landfill is minimised or eliminated. This in itself has spin-off effects: community education – demonstrating that a different way is possible and that Zero Waste can be achieved; practical solutions which can be carried out into our communities; and also is inspirational to other events.

This is Luminate’s Clean Environment Strategy. By dealing with waste at the source (generally it mostly comes from refreshment stalls, drinks bottles and cans); it has given the Luminate creators a chance to expand that vision and reduce waste in other ways: constructing the festival infrastructure and decor from re-used, recycled and natural materials; sourcing second-hand t-shirts for crew and screenprinting them by hand; re-using envelopes and other packaging; promoting the festival on recycled paper and recycling waste materials that cannot be reused. Everyone can benefit from the Clean Environment Strategy, from the festival and on out into the community through education, financial savings and the ever-present environmental aspects. With such focus and intention, the Luminate creators are clearly manifesting sustainable fun in our region.

Chimuka (Marimba Band)

Tickets: The ticket price from now on of $185 includes one weeks camping, entrance to all workshops throughout the week, all performance and entertainment, and provision of amenities. Teen Tickets ($85) are available for youth 14- 17yrs old. All Teens must show proof of age to gain
admission, and be accompanied by an adult guardian who is responsible for them at the festival. Children 13 and under, and seniors over 70 can attend for free.

As usual, alcohol and dogs are not permitted.

Next year if you are interested in working in exchange for a ticket, the Luminate creators have developed varying ways for doing so. They have established some guidelines for your straightforward work-for-ticket type requirements, but have also created a course for those interested in learning more about the ins and outs of creating such a festival, incorporating the Maori teaching of Manaakitangi ‐ hospitality and kindness for the common good of all.  Keep your eyes out for opportunities by visiting the website and signing up for their newsletters, or follow on facebook.

For more information or to read more, visit www.luminatefestival.co.nz or better yet, join us on the Hill!

Tags: green