Photo Credit: Miles Najera
On December 21, Subtract Music, Light Tribe and Ohm Bass came together to throw a free and completely magical beach party celebrating the winter solstice as well as the longest night since 1912. Located at Granada Beach in Long Beach, this event was family and dog friendly, with puppies, children and adults skipping and dancing through the sand, coexisting in perfect harmony. The psychedelic aesthetic brought out fire and light dancers, hula hoopers, staff twirlers, and a colorful mix of festival folk.
There was a modest dance floor covered in a webbed, purple tent which was encircled by vivid, spiritual tapestries. Dancing in the sand while surrounded by deities was a surreal experience to say the least. The party began at 12pm and people sauntered in, setting up tents, tepees, picnic blankets, lawn chairs and day party accouterments. Couples were swooning, families were bonding, and good vibe tribes were reuniting. While many places in the US are blanketed in snow right now, we spoiled Californians are welcoming in the winter on a sandy dancefloor.
Anton Tumas and Tara Brooks of Subtract Music were headlining the event with an intravenous injection of techno and deep house. Having closed out the Midnight Tea Party in Los Angeles which went until 6am that morning, Tara Brooks hit the decks like a true professional, keeping her pulse up as well as ours. Anton also kept a steady beat, never wavering his energy and keeping the dancefloor alive with his soulful and stratified sounds. Even the sand was dancing.
Photo Credit: Miles Najera
The magic of this gathering was its ease and location. With no walls to confine, no bouncers to control, and the ocean at our toes, the Winter Love Soulstice Celebration was a testament to the human need to gather. Our innate desire to come together and celebrate life without the purchase of a ticket is a gift that is not too often given. The combination of music, beach, friends and family created a timeless dimension where we could simply be.
When the great disco ball in the sky began to set on the shortest day of the year, the sky was painted like a Dali sunset. Everyone collectively turned toward the surreal cloudscape, appreciating and worshiping this mysterious planet upon which we reside. As pinks and peaches faded into reds and oranges, the fleeting scent of kerosene wafted through the air. The fire of the sun was replaced by fiery staffs and poi, blazing and cutting through the night sky. One by one, hula hoops and LED lights began to twinkle on. Suddenly, the landscape was transformed into a nocturnal paradise.
Talented dancers performed upon pedestals, with plenty of adoring eyes to appreciate their talents. Even dogs were on the dancefloor, enjoying the vibrations of the bass. A completely donation based event, the Winter Love Soulstice Free Beach Celebration was beyond a success. One of the aspects I admired most was Anton Tumas' consideration for the nearby neighborhood. Though bass-heads always love it louder, he kept the music at a reasonable decibel to show the community that it is possible to party respectfully. By the end of the night, I heard several people say, "there needs to be more events like this." So long as we stay happy, humble, helpful and respectful, there will be.
Photo Credit: Miles Najera
Photo Credit: Miles Najera
Photo Credit: Anton Tumas
Photo Credit: Anton Tumas
Photo Credit: Anton Tumas
Photo Credit: Sarah Lim
Photo Credit: Sarah Lim