I’ve never been to a festival before KAABOO Del Mar’s non-festival ‘mixperience’ appeared in San Diego last year.   That decision has mainly been by choice, after the recounts and painful stories I’ve heard from friends who have travelled the distances.  Horror stories about the smell of porta-johns, carnival-style fried foods, and virtually nowhere to cool off.   Well, that certainly isn’t the way KAABOO envisioned their non-festival experience.  I had the opportunity to experience this ‘mixperience’ during its inaugural year, and can say I was very impressed.  This year didn’t disappoint either!  Areas like ‘Indulgences’ were filled with high end shopping an boutique’s related to skin care…including full service massages, hair cuts, and even bronzing to look your best for that evening out at the dance clubs.  You didn’t even have to leave the grounds to change your scene…

Eight stages throughout the transformed Del Mar Fairgrounds saw over 100 acts in three days this September…and it was magical!  Of course…as a writer for a music magazine, it’s all about the music for me, and don’t get me wrong…this year’s lineup crossed so many genre’s and generations that it’ll make your head spin!  You had some of the hottest DJ’s in Steve Aoki and DJ Snoopadelic (Did you know Snoop was there?  That was an AWESOME sneak in they pulled there) performing just feet away from Hall and Oates and 90’s superstars Goo Goo Dolls, Gavin Degraw opposite Fall Out Boy…crazy varieties like that only begin to explain the level of artistry and thought went into making this the most unique mixperience they could, and add in the many comedians they had…I couldn’t name all of the acts!

BUT…I would be horribly remiss if I didn’t mention the high level of food, beverages, and other services not normally seen at a festival.  Not just the alcoholic ones either, areas like ‘Posh Nosh’ served top-shelf drinks and high-end food choices.  Of course…there are your fried foods, if you wanted them, but the majority of places served things like exotic meats and sausages, Mediterranean cuisine, Organic smoothies and things you probably couldn’t pronounce unless you came across the ocean recently.  There was even a ‘Rock’N Chef’ competition featuring high-level professional chef’s cooking right in front of your eyes!  Of course, it wouldn’t be KAABOO if they weren’t able to pull in some major headlining acts…like Aerosmith, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band, and Sunday’s closer Jack Johnson, and the co-closers (equally as big) were The Chainsmokers and Fall Out Boy on Friday and Saturday night respectively.

Such high caliber of artistry in the performers, it’s easy to forget about the static artists!   It’s not fair to call most of them static, as there were LIVE PAINTERS throughout the entire venue.  Many were up on man-lifts, painting throughout the entire 3-day event…some had finished before the public opening…and others were just hanging around to talk about their artwork.  These artists were also from all over the globe, bringing their different styles along with them.  It hard to describe all the visual cues that were pounding my rods and cones throughout the entire weekend…it was one word, beautiful!

The variety of ways to spend your time, between shopping down the strip or in the Air-Conditioned (yeah…you read that right…A/C all over this place) ‘Indulgences,’ taking in a show on the beach (both of the GIANT stages had sand right up to the stage, making for a beautiful beach scene and sunsets), lounging in a spa getting pampered, or staying up late with the dance music, there was something for everyone this weekend.  The assault on the senses began the moment you crossed their high-tech turn-style, greeted in bright and vibrant colors and welcoming signs…and it didn’t stop until late Sunday night.  I’m looking forward to the announcement next year, I wonder how they’re going to top this one?

Big Jon