HOW LIGHTING IN A BOTTLE BECAME A SOULFUL JOURNEY
All eyes were caught by Tycho’s sunset set on Friday evening. The beautiful, melodic tunes radiated alongside their set's warm, vibrant animations. I felt it was the perfect kick-off to the festival weekend. The audience became captivated by the soothing strums of the guitar and hypnotic beats reminiscent of the nostalgic allure of Tycho. As I soaked in the remaining serenity of the set, I forgot about my initial festival jitters and was excited to see a significant headliner in the late evening.
The sun had already been gone, but familiar vocals quickly awakened souls as James Blake hit the stage. The lights turned bright red, and I was immediately drawn to the piano and the captivating vocals that echoed in every direction. I didn’t think it would get any better until a new song was previewed as a surprise towards the end.
Fatboy Slim was another classic EDM artist to perform, and the biggest crowd I had seen gathered around to dance non-stop. The energy of his performance set felt like the reason LIB existed in the first place.
As you explored LIB throughout the days, you came across various workshops, including arts, crafts, psychology, cooking, spirituality, and yoga. The grounds offered more activities to do than you could ever imagine. Wherever I turned, there were many different worlds – such as a roller rink, a lounge with old TVs and books/DVDs to look at, and even a trading post. I was perplexed by these crafted corners that turned into bright, vivid lights by night.
Other festival highlights included the one & only Labrinth, who put on a stellar performance on Saturday evening that took everyone to another level. As you looked around, stunning glitter, glam, and edge costumes filled the field. Everyone from LIB can agree that this was one of the weekend's most memorable performances.
Surrounded by ethereal instrumentals, I observed dancers twirling hoops amidst a sea of hippie-like costumes. In that instant, I identified the unmistakable ambiance of Glass Beams among the bright rays of sunlight.
As the late night stretched on, Mura Masa was one to electrify the entire festival grounds completely. His blends of different genres and infectious melodies filled the air and compelled everyone to groove along under the sky.
Nia Archives also took everyone’s breath away with her dance moves and fresh vocals. She infused the atmosphere with an energy deeply moving within her blends of soul & experimental sounds.
The festival's wild and colorful moments were seen at the Thunder Stage on the last day. I saw so many creative totems in the air and beautiful outfits when CloZee performed on Sunday evening. The stage set design could be described as another portal where flashing rainbow lights and animations hit every corner you turn. CloZee left the perfect lasting impression on the closing night of LIB.
Lightning in a Bottle was a spectacular festival offering music, art, and community realms that ignited the soul. With its immersive atmosphere and diverse lineup, the festival left attendees spellbound, sparking unforgettable memories and a longing for the next gathering.
