Boom Festival

From dance-music shindig to trans-global Mecca, Portugal’s Boom Festival is the epitome of the global gathering yet goes far beyond the confines of just a music festival.

It all began in 97' when 3,500 people stomped to a soundsystem in the midst of a Mediterranean forest. These however, were humble beginnings for the Boom Festival and it wasn’t long before it began its transformation into a knowledge-based portal for channeling groundbreaking, powerful information.

Taking place around the shores of a stunning lake in the heart of the Portuguese countryside, the Boom has evolved into a trans-global, multi-cultural arts and music event driven by an ethos that revolves around environmental sustainability.

It continues to attracts a plethora of scientists, environmentalists, ecologists, musicologists, engineers, designers, adventurers, writers, philosophers, activists, researchers and academics that converge with Boomers to interact, communicate, celebrate and learn.

The meticulous production of the Boom takes place over an 18-month period and pivots around a relentless environmental program. Boom sprang from the roots of the alternative, counterculture movement, so activist sentiments continue to drive its ethos; its quest to communicate solution-based ideas for change welcomed by a highly receptive audience that has continued to grow and expand in parallel dimensions to the evolution of the festival itself.

The festival’s Conventions Area in the year 2000 became a platform for powerful global voices from across the world to project thoughts, ideas and innovations. Its transmutation to the Liminal Village in 2002 however, was a turning point and a defining moment that amplified a solutions-based response to a world in spiritual crisis.

It is here that avatar minds such as Robert Venosa, Graham Hancock, Erik Davis, Alex Grey, Don Guillermo Arevalo and Vandana Shiva have spread pioneering ideas, stimulating discussion and debate, confronting the impact of the capitalist class economy.

The Boom’s unique approach to the whole festival experience is defined by its dedication to learning and development through innovation and knowledge. It is as intellectual and inclusive as it is holistic and psychedelic yet in this role, it has transcended media-induced stereotypes of the global gathering and subcultural movements associated with it.

Each edition carries with it a unique theme. Alchemy becomes the chosen theme for 2012 in light of its dual resonation with the Maya prophecy of global awakening and with post-post modernism: the latter being highly apt, particularly in light of movements such as Occupy and the tidal wave of activist dissent that we have experienced of late.

Environmental sustainability remains its driving force, winning the festival awards such as the Greener Festival Award in 2008 and 2010 (for Outstanding Contribution) and the European Festival Award 2010 (for Green ‘n’ Clean Festival of the Year).

Stimulated to raise the consciousness vibration, the Boom Festival continues to evolve as an interactive event, driven by the principles of Peace, Art, Environment, Psychedelic Culture and Love.