Music Festival In Vegas breaks Border and Cultural Boundaries

The Third Annual Vegoose Music Festival went down, once again, in fabulous Las Vegas Nevada, October 26th-28th. A Three-day music festival that never ends as the goer's spend two whole days at Sam Boyd Stadium, just 9 miles from the strip and at night you catch the various Vegoose artists on the strip in local clubs! Our journey was breath taking, magical, and though I don't remember all of it, nor can I promise I won't go Gonzo, but follow me through my journey at the Music festival many are beginning to compare to the likes of Bonnaroo, Coachella, and Burning Man.

The local papers called us "oddities", perhaps thats what we are, the lovers, the dreamers and me. People of a colorful backgrounds were at this culturally appealing festival. tell me, where else can you run into a giant chicken, a parrot, a dozen Hunter S. Thompson's, Drooges from Clockwork Orange, hippies, metal heads, techno robots, gypsies, super heroes, and flower children. Atmosphere performs at the Snake Eyes Stage, Photo by Cassese

Atmosphere, pictured above, was one of the hip-hop artists present. Their lyrics spoke about anti-war campaigns, poverty and the struggle to find identity in a world that pushes us to accept normality. Public Enemy led the crowd in a ten minute F**k George Bush, F**k Dick Cheney chant to incite the people to get up and stick together and fight for change in America. Lord knows we could all use a little change.
Daft Punk, in a rare American show, performs their last Pyramid show ever at Vegoose,
Photo by Nicole Cassese
"Ganga Babe" waits for Michael Franti and Spearhead to hit the stage
I spent most of my morning on Day number two at the Vegoose music festival waiting in the front of the Double Down stage for Michael Franti and Spearhead. The group, with Franti as the lead man, have become quite the activist pushing for global change. Franti sang about re-opening to borders to all people who want to get into America. and at the end of each song would throw his hands up in the air shaking them saying "Can you feel it? Can you feel the energy??" the band uses their music to deliver a message. In a recent interview with Vegoose media Franti said that first and foremost its about the music, making people feel good, then through that you deliver the message. and the message rang loud and clear at Sam Boyd stadium that Sunday afternoon as Franti gave thanks to the mountains and the sunshine and the fresh air.

"The polls reflect that this country doesn't want war" said Franti. Continuing on his crusade to save the world.When are we going to stop the war? "Bring them home" the crowd chanted for the troops in Iraq. They say you can't have peace unless you prepare for war. I say, you can';t have peace unless you truly believe in it.