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Posted: 11/2/2011
As a veteran of the festival scene, having been to Bonnaroo three times, all five Langerado festivals, as well as plenty of others over the years, I was excited, ready, and aware for what was in store for me at The Echo Project. It was a novel idea, to produce an ecologically friendly and aware music festival on a grand scale in the middle of October in the South. I found it to be brilliant, as did many others.
My friend and I drove through the night Thursday night with my dog from midnight till 8 am. We arrived at our hotel to find our room was given away, after we had confirmed it numerous times including late that night. After searching and finding a new hotel, we checked in and left for the festival. I hadn't forgotten, but certainly was brutally reminded of the intense clouds of thick dirt and dust that fill the air at many festivals.
The thousands of people tracking it all up constantly with their cars, all of the walking and the dancing. It was nearly impossible to breathe, and almost anywhere you walked you would find people with bandannas and handkerchiefs around their nose and mouth. I should have taken influence from these wise individuals, as I am still suffering from severe bronchitis and respiratory problems. The forty degree drop in temperature from getting sunburned and baked at 80 degrees and then trembling through the night at 40 degrees didn't help the situation much either.
While all of this sounds rough, and well, it was; the festival was still magical as all festivals tend to be. It had all of the beauty and character of the many festivals I have been to before. It had its notable performances from The Egg to The Disco Biscuits (kings of the late night festival scene). It had the myth and wonder of the old and faithful in Phil Lesh and Friends closing out the festival, and it had the excitement of the new with mind blowing body slamming electro clash funk outfit MSTRKRFT. The vibe was still invigoratin