It’s a fun time of the year at the Shambhala office. We’re transitioning from the “planning” phase of the year into “implementation”. Which means we’re starting to get down to details.

I love details. Especially details that smell as good as what spurred this blog.

It occurred to me today, as I watched two of my coworkers open little bottles and jars and containers, smelling the contents and taking notes, that most people probably have absolutely no idea just how much thought and care goes into the selection of the products that will be sold at Shambhala.

There are a couple determining factors in what we make available. For example, wherever possible, we source things that are locally made. We consider, if something is consumable, its health benefits. We look for high quality. We choose products that we would (or already do) use ourselves.

Above all else, the things we select must be something that adds to the overall festival experience.

As I made my (locally roasted, Oso Negro) coffee, and observed the two in their meeting with the woman who had made the bath and body products laid out on the couch, I became aware of how grateful I was for the standards we hold our potential products to – we want what’s sold on the grounds to be as unique and home-grown as the festival itself.

Personally, I’ve had an interesting few days. With the release of our lineup last Friday, I’ve been observing the reactions to it. There’s been a lot of positive feedback, but of course, there are people who are disappointed as well. There’s a lot of comparison to lineups of other festivals, and it seems like every event I research that someone’s compared us to is an event with a lot of sponsorship money behind it, so of course they have no problem securing the biggest names in electronic music.

Somewhere along the line, it’s getting lost to people that we’re a non-sponsored event (or maybe some people just don’t care?), and there’s a level of expectation that we’ll match these other events when there’s no possible way we can.

I’ve been mulling over how I can effectively communicate to people 1) we’re non-sponsored, so no, we’re not going to be able to match the headliner list of Festival X who has a beer garden, alcohol ads everywhere including their website, and is sponsored by a major cell phone company 2) we never have been about booking the biggest headliners – our mandate is to book the best in up and coming talent.

And I’m at a loss. The message isn’t sinking in. I feel like I say the same thing 50x a day on Facebook. I wonder if people get tired of me being a broken record.

Anyway, I’ve been slightly wrapped up in this conundrum. ricardO, wonderful man that he is, noticed that I was a bit stressed out, and recommended that I take a nice long bath, and try out one of the products he was shown at the meeting – a mango lime “butter scrub” made in Nelson, BC.

I jumped at the chance. A bath sounded like just what I needed. Also, I’d just run out of my usual exfoliation treatment this week and hadn’t had a chance to pick up more, so the timing was perfect.

After dinner, I drew a hot bath, got in, and read the product description on the side of the jar… Maybe it’s weird, but I really enjoy reading product descriptions.

Trillium Mango Lime Butter Scrub – “Reveal silky polished skin with this creamy shea & mango butter scrub. Pacific sea salt, sugar, and 16 exotic butters and oils are whipped into a buttery perfection that will reveal smoother rejuvenated skin. In the bath or shower, rub handfuls of butter on your skin in a circular motion, rinse & wash as usual for the most refreshing feeling.”

I removed the lid, closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. It was heavenly. The smell reminded me of a few things… a chilled tropical drink with a little umbrella in it. Jelly beans. A childhood memory of my mom opening up a bag of those multi-coloured marshmallows, and what they smelled like. All associations that made me smile. Off to a good start.

I dipped my fingers in, scooped some of the thick, grainy, buttery substance and rubbed it into my legs. Divine. I find some exfoliants don’t have enough ‘grit’ to them. This was just perfect. Most of the exfoliants I’ve used in the past have been oil based, and I found that the shea butter base was a really nice change. There’s nothing wrong with oil, but there’s a  nice rich quality to shea butter that just feels so good on your skin.

Smells good, feels good? Check and check.

I rinsed off my legs and revelled in their moisturized smoothness for a moment before applying some of the butter scrub to my face. As I rubbed my palms in circles across my face the image of that chilled tropical drink came to mind again, even more so when the scrub came in contact with my lips and I tasted the saltiness of it. It was like I’d just taken a sip from the salt-rimmed glass of a margarita.

I came out of the bath wondering why the hell I don’t do this more often to de-stress. And very much more aware of the fact that a scent can transport you somewhere else.

One thing I’m sure of after using the scrub is that it’d be a great thing to stock at the festival. The measures we use to determine whether we carry something or not? It hits the mark.

While a butter scrub may be a little bit indulgent for use during the festival, I think about how wonderfully it helped me relax – and how great of an experience it would be for someone to use it post-festival, back in their own tub, unwinding and reflecting back on the events of another amazing Shambhala.

I know I’m looking forward to using it after Shambhala, and again after Burning Man.

Much love, Shambhalovlies. We’re excited about working out more details for Shambhala 2012.

~Britz

The Living Room is the local stage run by locals. The Pride, a production company from the Kootenays, has been running this stage since 2000 and continues to keep the Kootenay artists and musicians involved.

The Living Room always been the “chill stage” more than any other stage, and caters to the more organic and ambient electronic sounds, but is also deeply rooted in funk and dub (without the step).

The Pride aims to have mostly Nelson locals help out with the stage which gives it a real “home” kinda of feel.

Being located on the water makes it the perfect place to chill when the sun is out or when it gets too crazy everywhere else.

See you at the beach.

~Hoola

Rock Pit

The Rock Pit stage is the one stage at Shambhala where all musical style collide, commingle, and commune.

We strive to push Music forward into the future and introduce new talent to our audience year after year.

We are not interested in big names but Big Talent with new ideas and creative minds.
We believe all style of music are equal under the Rock Pit roof.
We remain the Underground of the Underground and Alternative to the Alternative. Like a Rock!

Brought to you by “The Dirtiest Team In the League” Rock Pit Crew 2012
“It’s all about the people on the dance floor!”

The Village Stage

Get ready for a new exciting Village Stage for 2012! Since it’s the end of the world and all we figured we might as well blow the roof off and the budget too!!! We are tearing down everything under the big dome for a complete re-design of the stage area. Look forward to an intense new visual environment with the signature Village twist. This year will showcase not only our favorite DJs but also some superb live acts and incredible visual artists!

The Labyrinth

Welcome 2012 with a trip thru the Labyrinth… Discover a mythical treasure of the modern world that reflects the secrets of the ancients. A place to tend to your soul through dance and communication. Choose your journey well… alone or with your entire crew you will feel at home. Pace yourself, dance hard then relax in the Chill zone.

This year has produced a wide range of styles. From ol time Blue grass to pure techno!! Whatever your into, our international line up is sure to take you there. Psy Trance & Psy Dub, Progressive and funky… Tech house, and electro swing, a whirl of world of music… All styles fuse in the Labyrinth as technology and people experiment with each other. From pure organic sounds to the spooky electric….Uptempo and down… Experience the Labyrinth.

The visual wizards also have much in store as the multimedia aspect of the show develops. Many acts are designing a synchronized experience with dancers and custom graphics that will amaze. A fully immersive visual experience is what you get in the Labyrinth…

Don’t forget to take a stroll in the forest, with its interactive displays, four direction bridge and hands on Art tent. Lose yourself in the myriad of activities day and night. Experience advances in low and high tech tools that you can touch and feel. A chance to interact with the designers and the artists in the Gallery and Chai bar.

You can become a muti-dimensional time traveler in the Labyrinth. Just remember… Keep at least one foot firmly planted in all dimensions.

The Pagoda Stage

Get ready to bust out your best ninja dance moves at Pagoda 2012! We have big changes planned for the temple with a redesigned stage and a MASSIVE new projector. The lineup this year is out of control with some of the best contemporary DJ’s and artists in the world banging over the mountains with PK sound.

Fractal Forest

Rich-e-Rich and Fractal Media present Fractal Forest™ 2012, “The Funkiest Show On Earth!”

Get ready for the next level as the most unique stage in the world takes its passengers on a journey into enlightenment. The sacred starship in its 14th year of evolution is pulling out all the stops this year in order to bring you the most amazing audio visual experience ever witnessed.

With cutting edge mind blowing 3D Video Mapping of the entire forest environment to spectacular Video DJ sets from none other than DJ Yoda, Bobby C Sound TV, JFB, DJ Woody’s Turntables in Technicolor™ and the premier of The Funk Hunters A/V experience. Expect to see and hear the craziest show ever assembled by the legendary “Team Fractal”. No less than 30 bassbins will be massaging you with 100,000 watts of crystal clear PK sound. Our lighting team have been putting together a stunning new bag of tricks that are sure to melt your mind with eyegasmic sensory overloads while Neon Green will rain down out of the tree tops from the awe inspiring 60 watt Yag lasers that would make even Pink Floyd gush.

The Fractal Forest™ is a show within a show within a show. DJ’s play in the heart of the forest out of a burnt out old growth cedar tree stump while being surrounded with 360 degrees of the most beautiful dancers on the planet. Pyramids and flowers are everywhere in the enchanted woodland and if you keep your eyes peeled you may see friendly forest creatures as well as gnomes, fairies and pixies galore.

Please join us on the funky spaceship for this epic journey to the 12th dimension and back and your guaranteed to have a life altering conscious awakening, now boarding at 4:20PM, August 10th, 2012 in the Fractal Forest™

.

Breakspoll caught us off guard last year – we didn’t even know we’d been nominated until the last week of voting. If it weren’t for the fact that Simon Shackleton (Elite Force) had played a show in Nelson just the previous week, and had joined us for one of our big Farmily dinners – we would have been at a loss when we were asked who would accept the award for us if we won (thanks so much for that, Simon!).

This year, we had a representative firmly planted in London – our former Site Manager, Mike Brewer, who packed up and moved to the UK for a job with the 2012 Summer Olympics just days after we’d wrapped Shambhala 2011. He was kind enough to do up a little blog post about his Breakspoll experience:

As anyone who’s been to Shambhala can tell you there’s something about the place, the people and the atmosphere that makes you want to keep coming back. This made packing my bags after the festival last year to move to London, England a tough choice. Despite the vibrant music scene in London I found myself settling comfortably in to the local pub culture and the world of electronic music seemed a far off memory…until the finalists for the 2012 Breakspoll awards were announced. Obivously the chance to attend and potentially accept an award on behalf of Shambhala was something I couldn’t miss!

When the black cab dropped us off under London Bridge you could already hear the beats thumping from inside Cable and there was a line up stretching the length of the block. The club had three rooms with different DJ’s playing in each one and every room was packed. Shortly before midnight everyone crowded in to the main room and the awards were presented. For the second year in a row after announcing the finalists in the “Best Large Event” category they called out Shambhala Music Festival as the winner. Accepting the award on stage in front of a club full of pumped up, breakbeat music fans is an experience I won’t soon forget. As someone who normally works behing the scenes to make events happen, the opportunity to be on the main stage and feel that energy from the crowd was amazing.

Other big winners on the night included A-Skillz, Ghetto Funk, Krafty Kuts and Stanton Warriors as well as The Freestylers for Outstanding Contribution to the genre.

After the awards wrapped up the club came alive again with world class breakbeat DJ’s playing sets until the wee hours of the morning. As I wandered between the three rooms taking it all in I got to meet all sorts of people. There was a Canadian couple who were huge fans of Shambhala and who had planned their European holiday around being able to attend the Breakspoll awards. There was a group of Spanish festival producers who had been nominated as well and were keen to exchange tips and ideas about what goes in to making a world class festival. There was also Elite Force who took a few minutes out to chat about his experiences at other festivals like Glastonbury and how they compared.

For everyone that wasn’t able to be at Cable with us last weekend, I want to say again: “At Shambhala we always say ‘It’s all about the people on the dance floor’ so winning an award that’s voted on by the fans means the world. On behalf of everyone back in Canada, thanks for voting and we hope to see you on the dance floor this summer!”

Mike Brewer

New Beginnings Blog #2

by Rhiannon Daloise, Accounts Receivable

Well, this is it – my first attempt at a “blog”.

Considering I had to ask someone what a “blog” was – well, this will be a learning experience. Another one to tack onto all the other learning experiences I’ve had during the past few weeks.

You see, I was hired by Shambhala in December with my first day of work being January 5, 2012. One of the things that I have learned is that I’m part of the 2012 Shambhala Virgin crew. Yep, it’s true – I’ve never been to Shambhala! Luckily for me, Anna, Jimmy and Corrine decided that wasn’t a mandatory requirement to do the job I’ve been hired for. Whew!

Every day I leave work, and I’m simply amazed at all the new things that I’ve learned. Everyone here has been so patient and supportive, and I’m learning how to relax – something I’m not that good at accomplishing. The people here are amazing! I’ve worked for government offices where they talk about being diverse, but here – it’s just a way of life. I’m super excited to be working with people that have such interesting backgrounds and history – all of which they have been willing to share with me.

I might be new to the group right now, but I can see that one day in the future I’ll look at the calendar and realize that I’m having my 10th year anniversary. And I’m excited about that! Thanks Shambhala!

(Welcome to the Team, Rhiannon! ~ Love from all the Office Farmily!)

Click HERE for the official blog posting.

This year of the big 2012, we invite photographers, videographers and lovers of Shambhala to apply to be on our Media Team! We are looking for an exceptional team to capture an exceptional event.

Starting on March 12th 2012, for two weeks only, we will be accepting your portfolios and applications.
Submissions will be judged according to their artistic merit, ability to capture emotive moments, storytelling and professional quality. The SMF Media Team will have an all access media pass (with some restrictions), access to our Media Centre, early entry ticket, meals while on shift and also have your work profiled on our website.
Shambhala will reserve the right to use this material in our festival promotional material. Applicants are expected to use their own professional gear.

I look forward to hearing from all you talented peeps in March!

@heart,
ricardO

*if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me, ricardo@shambhalamusicfestival.com
**please note, this is a volunteer based position.

The Breakspoll Awards voting period ends soon – Monday, February 6th at 6am PST, in fact – so please, spread the word and get your vote in before it’s too late!

11th Annual Breakspoll International Breakbeat Awards

The International Breakbeat Awards started life back in 2001 with an online voting competition amongst a small group of breaks fans and producers. Over the years, the idea and event has grown massive in size – now taking over some of London’s hottest and biggest nightclubs for multi-day events every year, as well as taking the brand on tour across the World, including a 10,000 capacity Festival in Spain. A Breakspoll award is the ultimate accolade in the breaks scene – voted for by thousands globally, a Breakspoll award is the recognition that most people yearn for and work for, and is a celebration of an artists hard work and dedication.

Support Shambhala by voting for:

• Best Large Event – Shambhala
• Best Blog – our friends at ghettofunk.co.uk

(There are also a handful of Shambhala favourites on the ballot, including BC local & Fractal Forest staple, Stickybuds! Vote with your dancing feet! <3 Special thanks to Elite Force who picked our award up for us at the ceremony last year!)

Be sure to check your email after submitting your ballot – you will need to click the link they send you to confirm your entry!

CAST YOUR BREAKSPOLL 2012 BALLOT NOW!

27th Annual International Dance Music Awards

One of the most anticipated annual events on the global music calendar (and the only longstanding awards event dedicated to the dance and electronic music industry), the IDMAs generate over two million votes from music enthusiasts in 206 countries and territories every year to recognize and honor exceptional achievements in 57 award categories. This is the industry highlight at the epicenter of WMC week. Another unique aspect of the IDMAs is the convergence of industry legends and emerging talent alike. As part of its mission statement to serve as a platform for the advancement of the industry, the IDMAs place particular emphasis on innovative artists and industry. As music continues to evolve the IDMAs have emerged as an essential platform for career launching appearances.

Support Shambhala by voting for:

• #41. Best Event – Shambhala
• #48. Best Club Sound System (Manufacturer) – PK Sound
• #52. Best Manufacturer of the Year – PK Sound

Be sure to check your email after submitting your ballot – you will need to click the link they send you to confirm your entry!

CAST YOUR IDMA 2012 BALLOT NOW!

~Thanks for all your love and support, Farmily! The International recognition Shambhala has received in the past few years is such an honour, and we wouldn’t be here without you! Shambhalove! ~

2012 Work Applications – CLICK HERE

We’re happy to announce crew applications are ready as of Monday, January 30th, 2012!!! Hooray!

Want to Help Out?

Thanks!

Shambhala is not just run by fairies and unicorns; it takes lots of people to make it all come together too! Whether you want to give back a little or a lot, please take the time to fill out an application so we can get a better idea as to who you are.

If this will be your first year ever coming to the farm, we suggest applying for a volunteer position. If you do apply for a staff position, please understand that you will be committed to work nearly the entire duration of the festival.

Returning to the Farm?

Hey Farmily!

Are you in for another wicked year!? Please take the time fill out an application this year, and be sure to include all your previous work history. Whether you were a volunteer, staff member, or even management, all crew members will be required to fill one out. These applications will turn into your new worker profiles, so help us to keep all your info accurate and up-to-date.

We welcome all to re-apply, however, only those who have received an invitation back will be guaranteed a position.

Work Details For Volunteers and Staff

We cannot accept workers who:

- Are under the age of 19

- Cannot legally work in Canada*

Non-Canadians who are in the country on a valid Canadian work visa, or have permanent resident status can volunteer. Documentation must be provided in these cases.

Selection & Placement:

All workers are chosen based on skills, experience, attitude, and the needs of our teams. Preference is given to those who have a good past working relationship with the festival, though we do consider new eligible applicants for almost every position.
Volunteer Deposit:

All applicants are required to pay a $300 deposit upon submission of the application.

Deposits are gathered to ensure that new or limited experience workers will fulfill their minimum required hours for the festival. Shambhala Music Festival does not keep deposits, except in the event that a worker does not fulfill their shift requirements.

Deposits are returned to workers upon verification that they have completed their shifts, and the majority are returned by the end of the festival. If the worker does not pick up their deposit at the festival or additional verification is needed, deposits may be held for up to two weeks after the festival, and will be mailed to the individual.

Workers with 2 or more years experience with us will be refunded their deposit within 60 days of application.

Workers who are not eligible for a position will also be refunded within 60 days of application.

If you are not accepted for the 2012 festival, please do not feel discouraged. There are only so many positions available (approx. 450), and that many more talented folks who want to help out. We hope to see you apply again next time.

As you may or may not know, we added a new service for travelers from afar in 2011 – we now offer an accommodations package for a pre-assembled campsite!

Let us set up a tent for you in the cool, shady forest with ShambhaLodging.

Quiet, pre-assembled campsites await your arrival, complete with tent, mattress, reserved parking spot and more!

Didn’t get your tickets in the online rush? Fear not! Tickets ARE available with the ShambhaLodging package. We’ve allotted up to two (2) tickets per site.
Check out the previous ShambhaLodging blog for details about how we can cater to your needs.

The application for ShambhaLodging will be available on Friday, February 3rd, 2012. Remember, there are only 200 sites available on a first come, first served basis – so book as soon as you can! See you there!

Melissa Shulga, Director of Human Resources – Big Cranium, Nelson BC

“As we pulled up to the store on that chilly Saturday morning, it was easy to identify the hard-cores,

all set up in their lawn chairs and full winter gear. The doors opened, and the place was packed with smiling faces. One of the best parts of the whole day was seeing everyone’s expression as their tickets were being handed to them. It was as if things would go into slow motion as they played and moved the holograph to reveal all its secrets.

Only a handful of people had heard about our raffle in advance and prepared for it, the rest took the time that day to either go back home or to the grocery store… or raid their friends pantries in some cases. We even had at least a handful of people who insisted on donating without entering the raffle, including Paddy and the rest of the crew at Big Cranium! I was stoked with the amount of donations we received – approximately 150lbs worth of food in 8 hours!

All in all I just feel so proud to have played a small a part of this. Thank you so much to everyone else who made it happen!”

Britz Robins, Social Media Director – Big Cranium, Nelson BC + online

“Instead of sitting in the office by myself, I went mobile with my “Social Media Command Centre,” and set myself up at Big Cranium. In fact, that’s my computer sitting on the counter in the photo above.

The store itself was pretty quiet, but there was a steady stream of people coming in all day to purchase tickets.

Online was another story. You guys kept me busy! Between tweets, updates + photos coming in from other locations, and answering your questions on Facebook (not to mention too many cups of yerba mate), it was a busy day!

From the time the first person posted that they had their ticket in hand, to the first ticket picture posted, to the inevitable following video of the hologram, you guys were connected, and it was a pleasure to chat without throughout the day!”

Sara Victor, Ticket and Vendor Administrator — Grassroots, Calgary AB

“It’s December and I’m in Calgary, yet I’m feeling the energy of Shambhala in the air.

As I park my car and turn the corner approaching Grassroots on 10th St, I see the end of a line-up that appears to be a couple blocks long. My pace quickens as I approach the crowd, and I pull out my camera to catch a shot of what seems to be over two hundred people waiting to purchase their Shambhala ticket. Some folks are even dressed in their festival wear – giant hoods and colourful scarves – the excitement is tangible as the legendary wave “Shambhalaaaa!!!!!” passes through us. I couldn’t be more stoked that all these people will be coming back to the Koots in August.

Hanging out in Grassroots that day was as magical as being at the gate on opening day. The sheer exhilaration experienced by every person just to get their ticket infused me with love and even more passion for what I do. About a third of people waiting in line had already purchased their ticket online and went to support their friends – waiting in line for five hours just to support their friends – truly the spirit of Shambhalove. There were parents, Shambhala veterans and virgins – everyone talking about how much Shambhala inspires them to be filled with love, and that having this little “get together” reminded them why they are waiting in line to get their tickets.

The energy in the store was contagious! The store owners Jenn and James were bubbling with happiness – and Jenn thankfully didn’t go into labour until a few days later – congratulations on your new baby girl!! David Lee of Electrofur brought in his glowing fuzziness, and Chris Stubbs, Rock Pit all-star, was taking food donations and giving out raffle tickets. Together we collected 235 lbs of food for the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank – thank you so much to every one of you!

By mid-afternoon we had numbered up to three hundred people – and the line didn’t start to die down until the snow came. By 5 pm things had calmed – though we were still reeling from the intense experience. I was so touched by the lovelies I met in line, so enforced in my belief that Shambhala truly is a creation of love that is fed and maintained by those who attend the festival. Now, sitting in my office watching the snow fall on the mountains, I package tickets for online sales with a smile in my heart, thinking about the excitement every person feels when they receive their golden ticket. From my heart to yours, I love you all.”

ricardO Hubbs, Cultural Development Dir. – Grassroots, Calgary AB

“Calgary, I love you. The Shambhala energy you so beautifully expressed in the line-up was infectious. Thank-you for making my job worth gold, you are all treasure!”

Caitlin Gladdish, Talent Assistant – Shell Shock, Edmonton AB

“My experience at Shell Shock on the first day of Shambhala ticket sales was extremely fun and also very inspiring. Seeing all the dedicated Shambhalites lined up in -20 weather – some even camped out from the night before – with deep hopes of getting their frozen mittens on the much desired 2012 tickets.

Watching all their frigid rosy cheeks come into the store out of the bitter cold and leaving with big smiles, warm on the inside and out – with the excitement building inside them for their favorite festival.

Many people brought lots of food items to support the food bank here in Edmonton. At the food bank they were very pleased and thankful to receive 180lbs of donations from the festival goers – especially since it’s held in a different province. The thoughtfulness and caring of all you guys that make the festival what it is touches everyone…

I would also like to give many thanks to all the crew at Shell Shock, who made the day even brighter with their awesome uplifting spirits – everyone left happy and satisfied.”

Christine Hunter, Talent Manager – Beatstreet, Vancouver BC

Lowpass TV Presents: Shambhalove!!

“The day started off nice and early at 7:30AM when Holly Thompson (1 of 4 of my amazing kick ass show time assistants, and one of my closest homegirls) awoke on my old roommate’s couches Jake ‘Dubconscious’ Langmuir in East Van. Quick trip to a coffee shop where a triple shot espresso was on the order and a quick drive to downtown and we were there.

Upon walking up to Beatstreet Records, where our release was, we were curious if Vancouver people would be waiting in-line and sure enough upon our arrival at 9:30AM we were greeted by 200+ ppl wrapped around Homer Street off Hastings. We were wearing our purple showtime lanyards, so people figured out quick as we approached that we worked with Shambhala. As we got closer the excitement built up with the people in line and the cheering commenced. We quickly went inside to prep with Avi and Hubbz Beatstreet employees for opening in 1/2hr.

We commenced the ticket release at 10:00AM sharp with enthusiastic Shambha-veterans, virgins, parents and cousins entering the store to start buying their golden tickets. Our first lucky ticket purchaser was Julia Stuckenberg who started to stand in line at 12:00AM! Throughout the short day we had all walks of life come into the store, telling us their stories and experiences.

One of our favorite quotes from the day was from a Jarod Dixon here in the plaid shirt, “I can already taste the dust”. This will be Jarods 9th Shambhala!

By noon we we’re already about 60% sold-out. Shortly after 12:00PM our DJ’s arrived to lay down some music down for us on the 1’s & 2’s: Bevvy Swift (Scratchy of Glitchy & Scratchy who performed on the Pagoda Stage 2011), Application aka Darby who works with the Pagoda Stage at show time and is also a local from Kaslo and DJ Dubconscious who graced the Living Room Stage in 2011.

6:00PM and we we’re officially sold out!! What a day we had chatting with everyone and seeing all the happy faces. I’d like to thank Beatstreet Records Avi & Hubbz and especially the DJ’s and Holly Thompson for coming out and supporting our community we call Shambhala!

Big thanks to everyone for bringing in the food donations – we collected about 150 lbs of food for the local Vancouver food bank! Huge congrats to Zoe Collins, raffle winner, who is pictured on the right w/ the black jacket, joined with her sister Christie and the Avi from Beatstreet in the background holding it down!

Until next year, Steener”

JGirl Footwerk, Fractal Forest Store Manager – Hemp City, Kelowna BC (Dec 30th)

“That was a lot of fun! Woohoo!! Everyone in line were SUPERSTARS! There were a few dedicated people who planned for the wait and brought home made sandwiches. Good thing Kelowna’s weather is mild during the winter. The thermometer checked in at a sunny and balmy +11. Grizz Lee played tunes as folks got their sunnies out and grooved out until the ticket sale began. Congratulations to our two ticket winners Mike Arnally & Manuel Kopp. They were the first two in line! Everyone else had smiles from ear to ear as they got the gold coloured tickets into their hands. People in Kelowna are now extra stoked for the countdown to Shambhala.”

Official Stats:

Congratulations to the happy ticket winners of the food drive draws!

Nelson – Theron Geeraert

Salmo- Kourtenay Olson

Calgary- Roxanne Avray

Edmonton- Andrew Brown

Vancouver- Zoe Collins

Thank you to everyone for the amazing amount of food donations! Together we collected 765 lbs for your local food banks!!

Nelson Food Cupboard- 150 lbs

Salmo Food Bank- 50 lbs

Calgary Interfaith Food Bank- 235 lbs

Edmonton Food Bank- 180 lbs

Vancouver Greater Food Bank- 150 lbs

Holy Fudge, Ticket Sales Are Crazy!

Wow, Shambhalovlies – in a record shattering 17 days, online ticket sales for the 15th annual Shambhala Music Festival, August 8th-13th 2012, have sold out. This is completely unprecedented.

We are so grateful to have an amazing crowd like you. THANK YOU! We are honoured to create an annual home for this incredible community. You truly are our inspiration. It’s mind-blowing to have come to a place, at year 15, where our attendees trust our programming to the point that we will see our first complete sell out well before our lineup is released. We were expecting them to go faster than last year, but nothing like this.

Together, We Make A More Beautiful World. You inspire us. <3

Event tickets selling out well in advance is a trend we’ve observed gaining momentum, especially where electronic music is concerned. Many electronic-focused events are experiencing quick sell-outs, at a rate that has accelerated considerably over the past couple years. Over the past year especially, electronic music has been gaining popularity in North America, and we’re seeing that reflected in ticket sales in a big way.

If there are other events on your 2012 ‘to do’ list – plan in advance, and make sure you’re able to pick those tickets up as soon as you can, preferably the day they go on sale. The culture of acquiring event tickets is quickly shifting – and there is no room for indesicion. Plan ahead, or miss out. That’s pretty much where we’re at. I know I’ll be picking up my Burning Man tickets as soon as I can (although, their ticketing system is in the midst of a major change to a lottery system. Still waiting for more info on that one).

This is uncharted territory for us (and many other events), so we thank you for your patience and understanding as we learn to navigate the new challenges we are facing. It’s more important now than ever that we shine our beacons of Shambhalove, and pass that on to the Shambhala Virgins who will be joining us for their first time this year.

Orders Already Placed

If you’re waiting for a ticket you’ve already ordered, it will still be a little while. We’re still processing orders and have not begun shipping. Due to volume, we’re expecting that orders placed in the first 24 hours of sales will be shipped before the holidays. The rest can be expected in the New Year.

Tickets on Sale in Stores Dec 3^rd, 2011!

If you missed out on online sales and still need a ticket, fear not! Tickets will be available in stores on Saturday, December 3rd. Tickets are $280 + HST & store fee (note: if you are buying tickets in Alberta, they are not exempt of HST. The ticket is being used in BC, so our tax rate applies).

Tickets will be available at the following locations:

BC

AB

Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis and are limited to 3 tickets per customer. Shambhala 2012 is 19+, and ID will be required to purchase tickets.

A Shambhala representative will be available at all retail locations on the first day of sales.

Based on the volume of sales we’ve experienced so far, we are expecting a SAME DAY SELL-OUT at the ticket outlets in major cities, so if you want a ticket from a retailer, make sure you or a friend can be there on December 3rd.

If you find yourself without at ticket after the store sales have sold out, check outStubb’s advice blog that we posted last week, and always be careful when purchasing tickets from 3rd parties. Since we have not shipped any tickets yet, and expect we won’t get all orders out until sometime in January, we highly recommend waiting a couple months before purchasing from websites like kijiji and craigslist to protect yourself from fraudulent sales.

TICKET GIVEAWAY at Store Locations!

Want a chance to win a ticket to Shambhala 2012, and do a little bit of local good for the holidays? There will be a food hamper at each ticket store location on December 3rd. Bring non-perishable food items to be entered into a draw for a Shambhala 2012 ticket. Food donations will be given to a local food bank in each city for the December holiday season.