Synopsis

Shambhala is the story of a festival, a movement and an underground electronic music scene that has captured the imagination of a generation. This sixty-two minute film documents the first ten years of the festival by following the family that began it all, the internationally renowned music performers that come to play and camp out on the festival grounds, as well as festival organizers and a Shambhala virgin. Shambhala is about the people, the music and the visionary spirit that make the Shambhala Music Festival what it is. The festival, first held in 1998, is the longest running electronic music and arts festival in Canada. How does a word-of-mouth festival with no corporate sponsorship come to attract crowds of over 12,000 and top DJ's and producers like Krafty Kuts, Z-Trip and Fort Knox Five? Shambhala offers a glimpse into how such a thing is possible when a community of visionaries come together to turn their dreams into reality.

Geshe Lakhdor, translator to the Dali Lama, gives his view on the meaning of Shambhala - a Sanskrit term that means 'place of happiness' - as the film opens. Later, as the opening credits roll, we see Lorin Ashton (Bassnectar) playing a set at the Village Stage. Bassnectar, a San Fransisco based DJ/producer, embodies certain crucial elements of the festival - he is known through word of mouth, is not corporately sponsored and has a dedicated legion of fans across the globe.

Shambhala is held each year in early August at the Salmo River Ranch in southwestern British Columbia. The 500-acre cattle farm is owned by Rick and Sue Bundschuh. Their three children, James Bundschuh (Producer), Anna Bundschuh (Administration) and Corrine Zawaduk (Production Manager) are all part of the festival and have received help from family, friends and volunteers. The early parts of the film explore the family's farming past, how they came to purchase the ranch and what the parents think of the festival.

The film then delves into the origins of the festival through the voices of Juno award nominated DJ/producer Adham Shaikh, DJ/promoter Sarah Spicer and DJ Audio Architect, who once resided in Nelson, a town close to the festival site. "It was very local and very ambitious at the time," Audio Architect said of the first year of the festival. A couple hundred people attended the first festival and there is no concrete answer as to how it all started, as Zawaduk concedes. "There are so many different things that play into what actually birthed Shambhala," she said.

There are many things that draw crowds to Shambhala. The peacefulness of the lush, green mountains, the good vibrations that permeate the festival and of course, the music. Well over 100 DJ's, producers and musicians attend every year and Shamhala has featured the likes of Adam Freeland, FreQ Nasty, Shpongle and Ed Rush and Optical. "The guiding part of it is the music," said DJ/producer Mike Realm. DJ's and producers like Ali B, Bassnectar, Fort Knox Five and Ott all camp out at the festival, a big change from their usual routine of restaurants and hotels. It can be a challenge to convince world-class musicians to camp out, but once they do, they are shown such a good time and are treated which such respect that they can't help but love it. "I've never had one minute of attitude or darkness from anyone so far," Ott said. Z-Trip, an LA based DJ/producer, was one of the biggest names at Shambhala in 2007. He had some major praise for the festival. "This is the best crowd I've ever played to," he said. "Shambhala, you guys have some special shit going on." Shambhala gives an intimate snapshot of French DJ and producer Stephane Holweck's experience at Shambhala, which, in all, is a positive one.

Shambhala also follows Justine, a Shambhala virgin who heard about the festival through the grapevine, during her experiences before and during the festival. She has a great time at Shambhala, although a few days into the festival, a cameraman asks what is frustrating her and she replies, in a somewhat haggard, yet humouous tone, "you fall asleep and then you wake up and it's hot and there's people talkin' about stupid stuff."

While over 12,000 routinely attend the festival, accidents are rare, thanks to a top-notch security and first aid staff. A tense moment came on a night in 2007 when a man climbed about seventy feet up a tree. Luckily, staff were able to talk the man down. "When my husband talked the guy down out of the tree, that was a pretty beautiful moment," Zawaduk said.

In addition, the film gives some gorgeous overhead footage of the festival site and also discusses the slower pace of life in the Kootenay's (the region the festival is held in) and Kootenay culture, which is renowned for being relaxed and friendly. We are also given a brief history of the festival's six stages - the Portal (now the Labyrinth) the Village (based on the Ewok village) the Beach, the Rock Pit, the Fractal Forest and Main Stage.

The DVD succeeds in capturing the spirit of the festival, as it uses a somewhat random, non-linear approach. "By using a narrative that wasn't linear, we were able to create what I'd consider a more objective narrative," said director Malcolm Levy. Within that approach, however, is a solid structure to the way the story is told, loosely through the five days that the festival typically runs.