Recap: Wakaan Music Festival 2019
To say that Martin Stääf’s debut Wakaan festival was a success, is quite an understatement. Everyone we encountered had nothing but positive things to say about the experience. This is the only festival I’ve witnessed to sell out on its inaugural year. Not only that, but it was ~90 percent sold out even before releasing any sort of lineup. I think that really tells you something about Liquid Stranger’s following and the state of bass music nowadays.
The single stage layout for the main acts was a genius idea! From 2 p.m. – 2 a.m. you knew exactly where to go if you wanted to get your wobble on. This eliminates one of the more challenging aspects of trying to decide which act to crawl to every hour or so. Even with the single stage, there was plenty of room to get your freak on throughout the ~8,000 attendees. With Class A acts such as Kursa, Mersiv, Rusko, Subtronics, Space Jesus, who even invited Freddy Todd on stage for a very special Guccimen set, and two from the man himself: Liquid Stranger. The main stage was an intimate, intergalactic, space fiesta. You could tell that everyone brought their A game to the stage, hearing songs that you never thought you’d see live and feeling the pK sound making you breathe funny. I’m sure everyone finally caught songs they’ve been chasing for some time now, I know I did.
Not only was the main stage area on point, but the rest of the grounds were colored with art. From spray paint murals, to tv installations, to neon string art woven to hypnotize the wooks. Imagine if Electric Forest and Infrasound had a baby, and that baby had a Wakarusa view. It’s truly a recipe for bliss.
The other two stages started music when the main stage ended, from 2 a.m.-7 a.m., you could head to either the “Chakra Stage” or the “Halo Stage”. Jaenga and his Jaenga Bus hosted the Halo Stage and provided us all with the largest Henessey sound rig built to date! Eighteen battle axes to be specific. With the likes of Kursa, The Widdler, Onhell, Meso and a Trifinity sunrise set, you could feel the history being made. As you enter the Chakra stage all you can see are lasers piercing through trees and hammocks as you hear the pK sound coming from the bottom of the hill. A haven for those who want to rage with the option to rest in a hammock, if you set up early enough.
The fact that there was no running water or water pump stations for hygiene purposes is a detail that next year will hopefully implement. Cleanliness and sanitation are key to good health at any camping event. Cleanliness and safe spaces are the details that turn good festivals into great festivals. Wakaan seemed to have forgotten these important details. I am also hopeful that Space Jesus will have merchandise for sale next year, because I’m trying to spend all of my money on it.
For year one, I’d say it was a success. Wakaan surely felt like it was a family gathering, and for a first year festival, that’s not easy to accomplish. I know next year will be even better.
Photo’s Courtesy of: Travis Hamilton/ Vanessa Vega/ robbie t
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