Bali Spirit Festival 2014 wrapped Sunday night with a 7 hour concert at ARMA museum. Rio Helmi went down to check the action, took plenty of shots, stayed all night, edited all morning (almost losing a whole card’s worth of pics in the process) and with the help of spell check even managed to pen a couple of paragraphs.
The traditional Bali Spirit Festival wrap concert is one of the most eagerly awaited in the circles of smiling, loving, and generally fancifully (yeah, scantily to0) clad yogis and yogini people who flood Ubud for this annual happening. This year was no exception.
Nosstress, a popular local band came on as the warm-up. It was unfortunate that they were only on for thirty odd minutes – they have great stage presence and really interact with their fans, mostly Indonesians of different ages who know the words by heart: their lyrics tend to be social comment couched in very humorous but biting terms all set in an easy going style. By the end of their gig they had quite a few expats swaying along. Co-founders Kadek Gun and Meghan agree that next time they deserve a better (bigger) slot!
Denpasar based group Nosstress are, er, relaxed, but fun with great lyrics and an easy style.
Nosstress’ fans know their often biting but humorous lyrics by heart and love to sing along.
Above photos: It’s a kind of a shadow thing sometimes – the three guys from next door who are Nosstress.
Then vocalist Peia came on with her musicians, and I have to say she has a knockout voice, beautiful sound. By contrast though, her moody music wasn’t really quite the mood of the evening which was really rearing to go. After a couple of numbers (okay half way between the second number) I wandered off to the organic plethora of stalls to grab a bite.
Peia from Portland, whose voice is mesmerizing.
I got back in time for a fast and furious series of Latin tinged numbers from the mix and match local expat group Garden Underground, plus the antics of much liked Dustin Thomas who, despite minimalist lyrics and a repetitive repertoire, does have plenty of chutzpah and a following.
Dustin Thomas, whose energy is irrepressible.
Something about Zion. It’s a Reggae thing…
The main gardener of Garden Underground sings his song..
Africa is to Bali Spirit Festival what India is to Ubud Writers and Readers Festival… Oh wait is that Baba Bubba?
And isn’t that Rob Weber, one of the BSF co-founders? Oh cool, he plays music. And with Garden Underground.
This is Levy. She is not a musician, she goes to school. Green School in fact. She is 11 years old, and she’s looking for a million signatures to stop people using plastic bags in Bali. They’re on Facebook. Somebody help, I can’t remember the exact name – if you know it, please put it in a comment below.
Then finally the star of the evening appeared: Aussie musician Xavier Rudd. And the crowd came alive. He switched instruments in an almost seamless flow of string and wind. Girls swooned, guys swayed, and then the whole house just rocked as he and percussionist Charles Wall just kept it all flowing fast and sometimes furious. It being Bali, and it being Bali Spirit Festival inevitably there was some extraneous entertainment. Some brother (from another, not Aboriginal mother or maybe not even father it would seem, but I could be wrong) dressed and painted in Aboriginal gear did what I can only hope is some kind of Aboriginal dance. Are rabbits part of the animist thing? Then there was the glowing hula hoop girl, who despite dropping one of the three a couple of times maintained that the show must go on, and what self confidence. Again, an evening with chutzpah. But none of this seemed to faze either Xavier Rudd or his firecracker percussionist Charles Wall.
What is it? Who is it?
IT’S XAVIER!!.
Slowly he opens his eyes…
then his fingers start start plucking.
And the crowd starts rocking – we’re off!
Ladies and Gentlemen: Charles Wall, percussionist extraodinaire!
We like. Security also likes.
We all like.
Oh wait a minute….. Ummm… A brother from another mother? It’s Ummm, right, not Ommmmm?
Do these really need a caption?
Okay, so let’s chill again..
Embrace the one you’re with.
Or whatever…
Why don’t you come down here…
“Here, take this instead!” (Nah, not a Pete Townshend moment after all, thank goodness, what with those bare feet and all)
Obviously by this stage (ahem) the BSF 2014 staff are off duty as well,
G’night. Good Morning. It’s over. Come back next year!
Then, after the obligatory BSF staff line up (hey give these guys a break – they bust their ar..s all year to pull this huge crazy thing together, give them their 30 minutes in the limelight!) Baba (or is Bubba?) who as BSF’s cosmic love MC has kept the crowds on track for years now, told us that “You don’t have go home, but you have to leave now…” So as the hardy wandered off to after-parties, I rode home to a hot shower. As I got into bed I looked at my watch: 2:15. It’s almost the time I get up in the morning!!! Most definitely a wrap.
Bye Bye Plastic Bags Bali is the group you were asking about. https://www.facebook.com/plasticbagsfree?fref=ts
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Byebye_Plastic_Bags_On_Bali/?pv=5
Leah, Thank you!!!!! I knew somebody sensible would remember!
Nice festival, nice pictures. 1.) Who is the photographer? 2.) Would be much more honest to change the name of this event… Don’t see much of Bali or spirit there…
1. As it states in the introductory paragraph, Rio Helmi went and took the photographs. Clearly he is the photographer 2. As to the name of BaliSpirit Festival, it takes place in Bali, Balinese do attend to perform, participate and work there (for example the first six photos in this series are all of Balinese, including the band which is Balinese from Denpasar). Much of the proceeds goes to social causes in Bali. However we didn’t name it and it’s not our festival, so perhaps you should take the matter up with the organizers and find out why they named it so?
As xavier’s and oak’s photographer and a real “professional” photographer for many years,then some i find these images from “Rio” a so called festival photographer very weak! i usually refrain from criticising others work but i am very disappointed with the unprofessionalism perhaps no money was offered to a real photographer?? and yes many people have made the same observation about not many balinese actually their enjoying it.. Think about it. They are works getting rice for labour and wouldn’t dream of spending the VERY OVERPRICED entry fee even if they had it!
The only spirt at this festival was the spirit brought in by Xavier from MY LAND and the other beautiful souls who played.. Otherwise I’m afraid it was just another dying marketing money festival machine..
Oh and the organiser/director is
Megahn Pappenheim.
She is also owner of Kafe (in ubud) where if you order the traditional Indo dish already over priced then you have to pay extra for the traditional serve of rice that ALWAYS comes with the dish in any other eatery..
This lady needs to stop riding the hippies and tourists for their money and give back Ubud to the people she is walking over by western tactics..
also has many things to explain to the real community of Ubud
Maaf.. just my opinion
Please feel free to contact me regarding my thoughts or to see my eyes perspective on the event
Facebook: Benjamin Sherack
Dear Benjamin,
You are of course entitled to your opinions regarding my photography, and I am not about to argue with it, as this is about opinion and we could go on forever, and as you are a “real professional” I would probably be out of my league. That said, evidently I have my own subjective take on the event. But there are a couple of factual things I would like to put straight: 1. I am not a “festival photographer”. I am more of a documentary/reportage photographer who has been working on many different aspects of Bali for decades, in between assignments in other places. 2. I am not paid by the BaliSpirit Festival, this was an assignment for this website, it being something which cropped up in Ubud and is of interest to this website because it is a phenomena that is undeniably making it’s mark, and the website chooses to report on ALL aspects of life in Ubud: the good, the bad, and the ugly . 3. The website is not owned by Meghan Pappenheim, or Kadek Gunarta or Rob Weber who are the founders of the festival. It would be more effective if you addressed your criticisms regarding the festival to them, don’t you think?
Best wishes,
Rio Helmi
Hi Benjamin,
To address your comments regarding the festival, as Rio points out, we are not owned nor run by BaliSPirit Festival but you might find interesting some of what co founder Dek Gun has to say regarding the comparatively expensive fees, where the money goes etc here on this post: http://ubudnow.webhost66.com//bsf-2014-filtering-tourism-through-yoga-giving-back-to-the-community/
regards
the UNT team
Dear Benjamin
I work for the festival already 6 years. Even actually this is not the proper place to answer , I may can give you some answers about the festival:
1. About Festival
a. Yes If you see the festival with the quantity it will seem it’s a very expensive festival. But how about if you can see about what people get from this festival? The festival offers more than 150 workshop and programs that people can attend. Happiness and knowledge is priceless. If each workshop people must pay let’s say $ 10, it means actually people must pay $1500 right? We also have KITAS price ( for people who already permit to live in Indonesia) , and also special price for Indonesian. FYI, for the night concert, for Indonesian student we gave them the price IDR 75 if they showing their student card. For Foreigner I think paying IDR 350 is not much, how many dollar if you go to the concert in you country? Let’s say $ 25? The price is around that.
b. Since the first festival until now we have what we called Outreach program. First until 3rd festival we give more than $ 300.000 to Bumi Sehat , then since 4th festival we have what we called AYO BICARA HIV AIDS, that already giving edu spirit workshop throughout more than 50 high school in all Bali and every years we make the HIV AIDS awareness concert and since the last 2 years we have what we called Bali Regreen Project in East Bali. That also funding by Balispirit Festival.
c. Balispirit Festival also give economical impact to Ubud people, up to now they can producing more than $ 3,000,000 ( hotels, drivers, foods, spa etc) and during the festival we are more Balinesse works. And if you go to Purnati, people around that area also have opportunity to sell their durian, foods, motorbike taxi etc.
d. FYI, we have Family Day at the last day, and that’s by donation IDR 50 which all that donation goes to our outreach. The first festival until 5th festival thid day is FREE.
2. According to the last nite of the performance, actually all art, music etc are very personal taste. Do you see KANDE on Friday nite? Just like you go to the food court, you favorite is spagety, my favorite is nasi goreng. No one is better than others when comes to taste. Better we learn to appreciate others. Love and Compassion that Xavier sings need to be apply in real life right? When we judge others actually we shows our weakness right? Because what we see outside is reflect inside. Maybe Xavier is good for you but others people he can be another alien right? So better not easily to judge because sometimes is just show our weakness. The word “I” and “MY” actually just showing the ego right?
3. About Meghan, It’s not my capacity to answers.
Finally, FYI every year we try to improve a lot of things based on the feedback not only the visitors but also the media. We know that this festival is not perfect, but nobody perfect right? If you still need any information better send to : media@balispiritfestival.com
May all the peace be with you
Noviana Kusumawardhani
Media Relations Manager
Balispirit Festival
Ps: thank you so much Rio for supporting us.