Reprinted from the Kalistani Republic
Ganjam "Highest success ever!"
Four Day Festival goes off without a hitchEshar, Odufaray District
May 7, 4406This year's annual music and recreational drug festival, the Ganjam, was a spectacular success, by all metrics. The four day music festival, which is one of the staples of Kalistan's cultural scene, was attended by 220,000 concert goers, or about 50% more than was anticipated. The additional attendees came for the last two days of the festival when entrance is free to the general admission section, and the best bands play. But tickets were sold out within two days of them going on sale, so the concert remains a money making operation for investors.
Governor Barajas opens this year's Ganjam to a crowd of over 100,000, record attendance for the first dayThis year, the concert kicked off with a message from Festival Organizer and Governor of Odufaray, Ana Barajas, who welcomed fans and quickly pointed people to the ODEN tent. After Barajas left the stage, the music kicked off. This year, the first day's music was given over to international acts. Crowd goers were treated to reggae, ska, bananti, hiphop, and alternative rock from more 15 countries, including Kizenia, Beluzia and Zardugal. The opening night was headlined by Bananti sensation Mughal Ravshanti, who actually blew out one of the stacks with his deep bass and sonic riddims.
Mughal Ravshanti, Bananti superstar, before blowing out a 36 inch woofer with his dope bassDay Two of the festival included the extremely popular Legacy showcase, that allows older fans to experience the festival by listening to music that they enjoy as well. Headlining Legacy Night was Bill Wilson, who brought his outlaw sensibility to the stage. Wilson sang several of his hits, but treated the crowd to some new material as well. As expected, Wilson regularly served as his own smoke machine, and it was calculated that he smoked about a quarter pound of marijuana during his set. But, as expected, Wilson's performance did not disappoint.
Bill Wilson prepares for his record breaking 2 hour 47 minute set by taking the edge off, courtesy of ODEN productBeginning at 7:30 am, on April 19, dosage of the crowd began as L Night kicked off. More than 75,000 doses of LSD were passed out with breakfast and within an hour, the psychedelic portion of the festival began. The day's standouts included fusion act Bwah Krew, The Chimpos, Brittany Ananto and the Facetious Five, and Orange Green Implosion. During each set, aerosol LSD was sprayed over the crowd, and by the time Bonkers with Callie Malta took the stage at 10:30 pm, the crowd was composed of nearly 125,000 stark raving lunatics. The Party lasted late into the nights, and few who attended really remember it ending. The Bonkers set was, as one can imagine, bonkers. There were inflatable disco balls, strange videos playing on monitors which could only be described as either ship wrecks or some sort of industrial films for building bridges, a forty piece ensemble cast of dancers all dressed up as characters from classic Anantanese stage and screen, naked men and women running pell mell through the crowd splashing glowing paint on the crowd, and an impromptu beach party complete with imported sand dunes. It seemed incredibly incoherent, unless you were there, and then it made perfect sense. And the music itself was great, but at a Bonkers show, the sonic layering and soaring operatic themes set to blistering guitars, wild synthesizers and seven/nine timing is only half the show.
Bonkers singer Wayne Country joined vocalist Callie Malta to create a sonic experience that most were too fried to fully appreciateThe Final Day of the Festival began early with MC's SaShan Jones and M-Boogie kicking the day of headliners off at 7 am. M-Boogie sang a rendition of the old Kalistani National Anthem, in support of the Socialist Party's political efforts to return the song to its proper place in the Nation, and then SaShan and M-Boogie traded riffs during their 45 minute, non-stop set.
SaShan and M-Boogie bring a groggy and fried crowd back to their feet early in the morning on the final day of the FestivalThe day continued as the show burst into an explosive set by hardcore punk legends Sick of Them All who brought a touch of leftist anarchy and moshing to the crowd. Sick of Them All was seen as the real reveille of the day and as they left the stage at 11 am, the crowd was pumped. Throughout the afternoon, alternative superstars Sonic Arboretum blasted jams, followed by roots reggae superstars Earth Rawka, rock band The Saltacious Leopards, and the band sitting at the top of Kalistan's R&B charts Firestarter.
Sick of Them All Blasts people awake with a blistering moshfestThe show ended with 2 45-minute sets from Kalistani Reggae legends Ras I and I and I, who performed much of their new music throughout their first set, and then, during their extended second set, performed "Tower of Iron" in its entirety, live on stage. "Tower of Iron" is viewed by their fans to be the greatest album released by the band in their 25 year long career, and is held by most critics as a seminal record in the history of Kalistani reggae, noted for its complex arrangements, 3d engineering techniques, and accompanying album artwork. The "Tower of Iron" set will go down in Ganjam history as one of the greatest sets ever performed, and the crowd that was present when music history was made was well over 225,000 attendees. Ras I and I and I solidified their Reggae god status this year.
Ras I and I and I, festival Headliners, close the festival with a complete performance of their seminal album "Tower of Iron"The 4406 Ganjam is now in the books, and promoters are already drawing a line up up for next years festival that is aimed at topping this one. But this Ganjam, already declared the "Highest success ever" will be difficult to outshine.