When you need a distraction, RAVE! (video)

Caitlyn Trudnich (kroq.cbslocal.com); Dev, Crystal Quintero (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

(Tove Lo) "Habits (Stay High)" She's Not on Drugs, just in love. See Sunset Strip Music Festival

Summer concerts, Los Angeles (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/kroq.cbslocal.com)

Sigh. Coachella, Outside Lands, and HARD Summer have officially come and gone.  We’ve hung up our flower headbands and put away our wellies.  But don’t worry, there are still plenty of awesome music festivals coming up in a nearby location. From indie rock, to hip hop, to EDM, these upcoming events have something for every type of music-lover.

DIY Fest, Pomona

What's so "spiritual" about a concert? It's a communal experience with matching physical moves to a single cue, dancing to the beat. That's a way of peacefully nonverbally communicating, NVC, it's fun, it's a distraction, it can even be a celebration. We get out of our left brains and into our bodies. Then there are the lights, the stars, the other people coming together for a single purpose. It doesn't have to be a spiritual experience, but it can be!

• Dead Kennedys' singer Jello Biafra
• Unlocking The Truth to play Hollywood! (Coachella)
• Sweden's Lykke Li in L.A. ("Get Some")

Together Pangea

Echo Park Rising – August 15th-17th

Now in its fourth year, Echo Park Rising is a FREE festival, combining live music, art, food, and activities celebrating the eclectic neighborhood that is Echo Park.  Live performances from over 200 of LA’s best up-and-coming acts, including Local’s Only band Together Pangea. Enjoy strolling the local businesses and restaurants, including Blue Bag Records, Origami Vinyl, and Mohawk Bend. And it wouldn’t be a festival without yummy food!  Food trucks in attendance include Coolhaus and The Grilled Cheese Truck – mmm!

Located on main routes of Sunset Blvd., Glendale Blvd., Alvarado Ave. and Echo Park Ave. Friday 4:00-10:00 pm, Saturday 12:00-10:00 pm, Sunday 12:00-10:00 pm. Free Admission.

(Courtesy of Getty Images/Kevin Winter)

Uforia Music Festival – August 16th

Sponsored by the Hispanic American music service Uforia, this festival includes two stages, featuring popular acts in both Latin and hip hop genres, including Kid Cudi, Ludacris, and Mexican rock group Camila. Held at LA’s Exposition Park, the festival will also include a Vendor’s Village and tons of food-trucks all day.

Exposition Park, 700 State Dr., Los Angeles. 2:45 pm-12:00 am. Gen. Admission $46.05 + fees.

(Courtesy of Getty Images/Robyn Beck)

Venice Beach Music Fest – August 23rd

Whenever we visit Venice Beach, it’s guaranteed we’ll find an eclectic mix of cultures and unique arts.  The 9th Annual Venice Beach Music Fest perfectly reflects the spirit of the area, with an all-day fun and FREE experience! Live performances include legendary singer Willie Chambers, funk rockers Zen Robbi, and Middle Eastern bellydancing from Ya Harissa Bellydance Theater.  And don’t forget to hit up the after-party, featuring a founding member of Black Flag, Chuck Dukowski!

Windward Plaza Park, 1 Windward Ave., Venice Beach. 11:00 am-7:00 pm. Free admission.

(Courtesy of Getty Images/Trixie Trextor)

FYF Fest – August 23rd-24th

What began as a small music event in Echo Park created by an 18 year-old Sean Carlson, has now become a massive music festival that tons of LA festival goers look forward to every year!  Now in its 11th year and located at The LA Sports Arena and Exposition Park, this upcoming SOLD-OUT festival (like all other sellouts has lots of tickets available at the window, scalpers out front, people with a few extras, dealers, brokers, and craigslisters) promises to be a massive talent fest. With names like The Strokes, Phoenix, Interpol, Haim, Against Me!, and more, it’s sure to be a blast.

 

LA Sports Arena and Exposition Park, 3939 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. Saturday & Sunday, 2:00 pm-12:00 am.

Long Beach Psyclone August 29th-31st

SoCal rockabilly lovers will definitely love this music festival, featuring tons of rockabilly and psychobilly performances happening all Labor Day weekend long. Held at the Seaport Marina Hotel, the weekend includes internationally known performers like The Sharks (UK) and The Long Tall Texans (UK), as well as fun record hop events, and a pool party and BBQ to culminate the weekend!

Seaport Marina Hotel, 6400 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach. Weekend Pass Admission $80 + fees.

Shoreline Jam Music Festival – August 30th-31st

This awesome, Labor Day Weekend event, sponsored by KROQ, features a jam-packed live music lineup, including KROQ favorites The Dirty Heads, Pepper, and Seedless!  Located at the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach, festival-goers can enjoy a cold drink and yummy food as you stroll through the many vendors and take in the scenic views of the Long Beach harbor!

The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach. General Admission $25.  VIP Admission $75 (includes 2 drink tickets, VIP Lounge access, and access to explore the Queen Mary!)

(Courtesy of Getty Images/Theo Wargo)

Made In America Festival – August 30th-31st

Co-created by hip hop mogul Jay Z in 2012, this successful festival originated in Philadelphia. But this year marks the first time the festival will be held in Los Angeles at Grand Park. The Rocky Stage, Liberty Stage, and Freedom Tent will feature performances from some of the best in rock, hip hop, and EDM, including Imagine Dragons, Kayne West, John Mayer, Iggy Azalea, Weezer, Rise Against, Capital Cities, Steve Aoki, and many more.

Grand Park, 227 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles. 2-Day Pass Admission $200 + fees.

Mad Decent Block Party – September 13th

Created by Mad Decent founder Diplo in 2008, this Block Party tour will be visiting Los Angeles in September. Taking place at the LA Center Studios, this vibrant event will include performances from members of the Mad Decent family, including Laidback Luke, singer Elliphant, and Diplo himself!  Hey, who knows?  Maybe even rapper Riff Raff will make a guest appearance.

LA Center Studios, 1201 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles. Doors 1:00 pm

(Britt Bickel)

Sunset Strip Music Festival – September 20th-21st

One of the most happening music events in LA is the SSMF! Since 2008, the iconic Sunset Strip has been filled with performances on the street and on the legendary stages of venues such as the Whiskey A Go-Go, The Roxy Theatre, and Rainbow Bar & Grill. This year, expect the Strip to get rocked with major performances including, Jane’s Addiction, Empire Of The Sun, Cold War Kids, Mayer Hawthorne, Tove Lo of "Habits (Stay High)" fame, and more.

Saturday, 2:00-11:00 pm, Sunday, 2:00-10:00 pm. 2 Day Pass Admission $125 + fees.

What we saw at Bonnaroo 2014 (photos)

Crystal Quintero, Wisdom Quarterly; Christopher Weingarten, Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone

I was at Bonnaroo! Look at my see-thru shirt!

Bonnaroo 2014 has just come to a close. Dogs were corned, potties were ported, and the jams were indeed super. Here are the 45 best things we saw, from Kanye West's killer comeback to Skrillex's homage to music that makes people freak out, to Neutral Milk Hotel's weep-a-thon. PHOTOS

Ukrainian folkdrone Björkpunk quartet Dakhabrakha went in as unknowns but ended up with one of the most receptive crowds of the weekend (Dana Distortion/rollingstone.com)

The Big Irish Fair Music Fest (June 14-15)

Pat Macpherson, Seven, Wisdom Quarterly; IrishFair.org

Irishman Che Guevara Lynch

The seashore town of Long Beach in Los Angeles' famous harbor is the location for this year's Southern California cultural celebration known as Irish Fair, like the earlier one held at the Pomona Fairplex. There may be more people with Irish ancestors in greater L.A. than in Belfast or Dublin because there are 100,000,000 in the worldwide diaspora.

The many activities help us remember we did not grow up with, like listening to traditional music, Irish food and drink, and many other engaging aspects of Irish culture. Can Irish Americans play the Irish bodhran, commune with the Fay (faeries), dance like the island youth, or shop for Irish crafts? They can now.

Hollywood Fringe Festival (June 12-29)

Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly; HollywoodFringe.org

It's not okay to be gay (video)

Dev, Pfc. Sandoval, Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly; ViceMag.tumblr.com (facebook)

Even after it's leader died recently, the family-run Westboro Baptist Church is still causing trouble. This past weekend a group from the church, protected by L.A. County Sheriff's deputies, was out at the West Hollywood Gay Pride Parade Fest with harsh and offensive signs. Who are these Christian crusaders?

But I'm a Yankee doodle "dandy"!

VICE follows the story of the Westboro Baptist Church as families split and children are "brainwashed" into picketing the funerals of dead American soldiers fighting for a doomed gay nation and bashing homosexuals at every turn.

During that time, VICE interviewed more than a dozen members of the reviled group, including some of the only members not related by blood, the Drains. They welcomed VICE into their homes and gave them access to 17 years of home video footage. In return, VICE produced an unbiased look into the lives of one of America's most despised Christian fundamentalist organizations.

• Watch PART 2
• VICE.com  (full video catalog)
• VIDEO: How to Sell Drugs (Fringes)
• Los Angeles loves festivals
• Gay marriage, pandakas, and kinnars
• There are no gays in China 

The Make Music Festival (FREE)

Seth Auberon, Amber Larson, Ashley Wellls, Wisdom Quarterly; MakeMusicPasadena.org; Key of Awesome; Katy Perry "Dark Horse"; Bart Baker

(Key of Awesome #85) Katy Perry, "Dark Horse PARODY," not featuring Juicy J.

Katy is awesome, but this parody is more awesome. And seeing 100+ bands in a day for free is also way awesome. While Dev and a half million others march for gay pride on June 7th, we'll be at the Make Music Pasadena day from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. The next Kitty Purry is sure to be there. If only we can find her!

We found a teacher! (Issrasai/flickr)

While the Buddha did not have a lot to say about giant festivals, his two chief male disciples sure did (See Hilltop Festival of Rajagaha). Ven. Sariputra and Ven. Maha Moggallana used just such entertainment-overkill to launch their careers renunciants as wandering ascetics in search of truth and liberation form the round of rebirth/disappointment. After days of excess, one turned to the other and said, "These people are all without exception going to be dead in 100 years. What is the point of it all?" The other answered, "That's just what I was thinking, friend." They renounced with all their friends as their retinues and went in search of an enlightened teacher. The surfeit of that cloying concert/celebration inspired them to find answers to the ultimate questions.

 

(MakeMusicPasadena.org) (Facebook) (PDF Program)

• KROQ FM Saturday: Santa Anita Racetrack micro brew fest featuring New Found Glory ($5)
• VIDEO: Singing nun wins Italy's "The Voice"
• Top 10 most violent video games (Ask Men)
• Did Catholic Church dump 796 babies into an Irish mass grave? (Tuam)

Bart Baker as hybrid-devi Avril Lavigne (and Taylor Swift)

FREE "Weenie Roast" Concert (videostream)

Kat, Seth Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly; KROQ.radio.com (CBS, Inc.)

SEE: AVICII, Beck, Foster the People, Fall Out Boy, The Neighbourhood, Bastille, Fitz & The Tantrums, Capital Cities, Phantogram, The 1975, American Authors, Kongos, and Bleachers.

KROQ Weenie Roast Saturday, May 31, 2014: Watch the live Webcast TODAY at 1:00 pm | Set Times/venue info | Lineup 

   

SoCal: the crowd at the 22nd annual summer modern-rock L.A. radio bash (kroq.com)

BuddhaFest (June 19-22, 2014)

Ashley Wells and CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; BuddhaFest.org via Tricycle.com

BuddhaFest 2014: A Festival for Heart and Mind. The fest is inspired by the principles of mindfulness and compassion and features four days of films, talks, Buddhist meditation, and music at the Spectrum Theatre at Artisphere in the Rosslyn area of Arlington, VA, just outside of Washington, D.C. (See complete BuddhaFest Schedule)

Opening Night Film: "Blood Brother," Sundance Grand Jury and Audience Award winner!

"Good Morning America" (GMA/ABC) panicky Weekend Anchor Dan Harris will speak on opening night about the spiritual odyssey that led him to Buddhist principles and mindfulness.

Sign up for updates, and events (buddhafest.org/sign-up-for-updates/)

News of the Day: Terrorism in Uigyur, China

I. Rony, Ashley Wells, Pfc. Sandoval, Wisdom Quarterly (NEWS OF THE WORLD)

"Jumble Fever" turquoise silver ring meditation pose (NY Times Style Mag/models.com)

Rain clouds loom over Orange County and L.A. just like Scotland, a fitting start to a Memorial Day weekend of Scottish activities: Highland sports, dress up, and "Daddy, do I have to kill Bambi?" practice (ScotsFest 2014/scottishfest.com)

Yoga exhibit, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco (asianart.org)

Hey, childrens, yer friends at Scientology Incorporated want you not to use drugs. Psychiatrists are bad people. Uh-huh! Have you seen the Museum of Death? Come to Hollywood and have a look. Psychologists, too. They have been in cahoots with the military, CIA (with their acid research) and mass marketers to brainwash, hypnotize, and make us robotic consumers. Speaking of CIA brainwashings... Oh, look at that, Nigeria suddenly "knows where the girls are." No need to exchange ransom now, just go in with heavy military assault and establish martial law, a police state, then set up a dictator more friendly to the West. So long, Goodluck Johnathan. It was nice almost knowing ya. Good thing the posting hashtag campaign didn't, oh no, spoke too soon. Well, we did it. We were fooled again. Did you hear about the "Christian terrorist" and his anti-female rampage in Santa Barbara, partytown, USA?

Are these the real girls, or is the media still using the fake and debunked video stills?

 

Nigeria army "knows where girls are" Nigerian military say they know where 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the "Boko Haram" in April are but admit they cannot risk "going there with force [at least not without CIA support and American troops on the ground or at least the NSA and NATO]."

• Teachers won't stand for the "Boko Haram," go on strike

China media: Xinjiang attack

Police state "security" has been tightened in Xinjiang after Thursday's attack (reuters.com)

 

Papers call for "unity" in China's "fight against terrorism" after the latest violent attack in Xinjiang. 

 

Attackers in the restive region, which is home to the China's Muslim Uighur minority, crashed two cars into shoppers at a market on Thursday, killing 31 people.
 
China's Ministry of Public Security has called it a "violent terrorist incident."
 
State-run papers, including People's Daily and the Liberation Army Daily, have condemned the attack in their front-page commentaries.
 
"The terrorists have carefully chosen the timing to harm the innocence to instil fear, gain attention and to pressurise the party and the government. However, the increased number of such attacks shows the terrorists are reaching their end," says an article in the People's Daily.
 
The Xinjiang Daily calls for unity in the autonomous region to "fight the terrorists with determination" and "maintain social stability and harmony." More

Strong earthquake of 6.4 magnitude hits Mexico
(May 8, 2014) An earthquake of 6.4 magnitude has shaken parts of Mexico, causing buildings to sway in the capital. The US Geological Survey said it was centered...

• Mexico shaken by powerful earthquake (April 19)

• SoCal Scottish festival "ScotsFest" kicks off today
• Brussels' anti-Jewish attack, Belgium
• VIDEO: Russian jets over Crimea, Ukraine
• VIDEO: War is fun, and being a soldier is cool
• Models keep us buying clothes, styles we don't need
• Beauty Bytes and Fashion Week (models.com)
• Judge orders serial rapist to be released in Palmdale
• Angeles Forest lifts most Station Fire closures
• Astral Projection subject on Facebook
• PHOTOS: Secret lives of young Iranians
• What's your experience with the VA medical centers?

Relics Tour, Free Public Exhibition, Grass Valley, California (maitreyarelictour.com)

 

Topanga Days Hippie Fest (May 24-26)

Wisdom Quarterly; TopangaDays.com

Once a year, typically Memorial Day weekend in late May, a dance, contemporary crafts, performance art, and music festival is held to support the activities of the... in Hollywood's back yard. More

13th Annual WorldFest (May 18, 2014)

Xochitl, Ashley Wells, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; WorldFestEvents.com UPDATED

WorldFest: LA's biggest Green, Compassionate-Living, Music Festival

(WFLA) Come spend the day with fellow lovers of Earth. Get inspired while having fun! Woodley Park is next to the Metro line, with easy freeway access, in the San Fernando Valley.
 

Ascetic Siddhartha and Mara's daughters under the Bodhi tree (jeffpartridge.tumblr.com)

 
The festivals of ancient India -- like the massive Rajgir Fest the Buddha's chief disciples attended before setting out to become spiritual seekers wandering in search of truth -- could hardly rival what we have today. And all of Mara's daughters pale in comparison to the cornucopia of Lululemon yoga pants and sheer hippie wear -- none of which distracts from our quest for enlightenment. Our illumination is guaranteed so long as we persevere. Carry on, our wayward sons and daughters. For if "Not everyone who wanders is lost," we grow as we keep touring!

• Worldfest 2014, Woodley Park, Sunday, Lake Balboa
• World Fest Los Angeles 2014 (Facebook)

Gay Pride Festival 2014 (longbeachpride.com), Sunday, May 18th

When in Long Beach, as numerous Cambodian temples celebrate Vesak today, also see the Kwan Yin/Virgin Mary in a shell (seen here at left) Sagely Buddhist monastery, across from the Queen Mary and Spruce Goose, PCH, Long Beach (longbeachmonastery.org)

United We Stand Festival (Occupy.com) FREE!

Pat Macpherson (occupy.com), CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; United We Stand Festival

A series of college campus concerts kicks off today at UCLA with Public Enemy, Wu-Tang Clan, and more independent candidates than the mind can easily contemplate (The Festival)

"One movement" -- 99% against criminal banks, Occupy LA (srilankanguardian.org)

  .

Tickets, tickets, I need tickets! - It's free now.

NOW FREE OF CHARGE! The Woodstock United We Stand Festival show has neither been rescheduled nor cancelled. It is relocated! Check for new venue. Ticketmaster has issued refunds, and anyone who got tickets through a non-refundable donation to Free & Equal will get priority seating. We'll see everyone today unless the LA Weekly is right.

 .

United We Stand Music Fest Calls on Youth to Seize Politics – and Power

(Occupy.com, May 8, 2014)

Recognized names in American media, music, politics, and activism will assemble today -- Saturday, May 10th -- for the inaugural United We Stand Festival. Then the show moves to a state near you.

Today's show is at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion -- kicking off a 10-campus bus tour that aims to educate and empower youth to assert a new electoral force in politics.

(N.W.A. the West Coast Public Enemy) "Express Yourself" - I'm expressing with my full capabilities/ And now I'm living in correctional facilities/ Cuz some don't agree with how I do this/ I get straight and meditate like a Buddhist..." Dr. Dre (the First Billionaire of Hip Hop) was going to come, but he is too busy counting Apple, Inc. money.
 

Solutions: Back to the land to garden but this time with organic permaculture (Occupy)

 

"...with liberty and justice for sale."

Organized by Christina Tobin and the Free and Equal Elections Foundation, the festival features TV host Larry King, former U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich, author and congressional candidate Marianne Williamson, David Bronner of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, former Green presidential candidate Jill Stein, and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson.

In Tobin's words, the unique brand of politics, activism, and music coming together into a single festival is "designed to inspire America’s youth to educate themselves and exercise their civil liberties to become true advocates for change.”

Awake the Nation! See all UWS Festival details at Wisdom Quarterly

 

Media makers from RT (Russia Today)'s Abby Martin to Ben Swann, Lee Camp, David Swanson, Amber Lyon, Josh Tolley, Brad Friedman (KPFK 90.7 FM), and Occupy.com's Michael Levitin will also be speaking at the festival.

Music will include performances by Public Enemy, Immortal Technique, Wu-Tang Clan, Playing for Change, Cynic, Rooftop Revolutionaries, Sounds of Solidarity, The Siren, Luminaries, and A-Alikes, among others. More

Pussy Riot's Nadia visits Cecily McMillan after first NYC O.W.S. conviction (Occupy)

I am the 1%. Don't go to UWSF!

We are the 99%. Go to the Fest!