[UPDATE AS OF DEC. 2015 : Carte Blanche venue will now be in Davao Crocodile Park, same as last year]
I have been a dance choreographer in my younger years, and a member of the once prestigious Terpsichoreans in Ateneo college, performing in several concerts in the early years of agile limbs, fancy footworks and perky breasts. Before photography, writing and art, dancing was my life. Music was my outlet.
Sadly, back in those years, we had no glamorous, elaborate outdoor stages for an Electric Dance Music [EDM] production. Every venue was small and intimate, not out in the open.
With my collection of music, I have been a fan of old timers Tiesto, Guetta, Armin van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk, Danny Tenaglia, Pete Tong, Benny Benassi, Swedish House Mafia, Steve Aoki, Carl Cox, Moby and Paul Oakenfold. These people were the center of the underground dance-music world, and have rocked sound systems with the deepest, disco-fueled, most twisted techno in their days. Today, together with new notables like Skrillex, DeadMau5 and Avicii, most of them continue to wow the gigantic EDM crowd as these heavyweights (and highly paid DJs) perform with their brand of cutting edge cool music which set them apart from the rest.
[ Nostalgia alert! ] Today, I do not know the new popular DJs in my country, except my friends in Davao and Elmer Dado of Bacolod. I have missed the music scene. But my DJ friends know that I still harbor dreams as I play with my 80s remix on a Virtual DJ in the privacy of my room while post processing over my photography. And yes, I still dig “Informer” and “Rock Me Amadeus.” So there. 😀
Over the last few years, EDM has swept the world as fast as your viral youtube scandal. Encompassing an infinite variety of ever-changing sounds and styles from house and techno, electro, disco and funk, neo trance, to dubstep, drum & bass — it’s an ever evolving musical extravaganza which grows bigger and more intense each year. EDM unfailingly thrives in a festival atmosphere, where the production quality is lavish and a unified atmosphere among a massive crowd intensifies as days and nights roll on.
Carte Blanche was launched in Davao when EDM was relatively unheard of in this region. Eventually we “timid” Dabawenyos learned to let our hair down and dance in wild abandon. Up until then, no stage set and open air venue had been as elaborately prepared and most extravagantly organized in a festival-like atmosphere (think Tomorrowland for its over the top, dreamlike, fantasy production).
Carte Blanche Mindanao Music Festival 2015 is rebranding this year with a wider scale and market. Dubbed as the first and biggest music festival in Mindanao with over 12,000 in attendance last year, CBMMF 2015 envisions to bring even more people from all over the Philippines to experience a different kind of festival.
[Tweet “Music ‘s power brings people together in peaceful revelry and solidarity. #CBMMF2015 http://wp.me/p1sG9F-O3”]
Apart from the new “Music Festival” brand (akin to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival), Manic Nightnings Production under the helm of proprietor Kat Dalisay, is moving Carte Blanche to its new home right in the middle of the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACoS). A fourth-class city in the province of Davao del Norte, Samal is a laid back island paradise where coastal areas boast of fine white sand beaches, lush coconut trees and varied resorts for tourists.
CBMMF, true to its music festival roots, is a coming together of different performers from different musical genres.
DEC 11 – In partnership with OPM Philippines, the first day of the festival will be headlined by well-known bands—UP DHARMA DOWN, WOLFGANG, and FREESTYLE. The night will be closed by a rave set from some of the top DJs in the Philippines.
DEC 12 -The second day of the festival will be an all-out rave-till-you-drop zone headlined by the best DJs in the Philippines, such as Marc Marasigan and Travis Monsod.
COMPONENTS
For the past years, Carte Blanche has the most diverse setups, carnival rides, and food and drink booths for the guests to enjoy. This year, the organizers are planning to build a “city” in the middle of IGACoS. Here are the event areas :
Rave Boulevard – a 100ft wide and 50ft high stage with a fabricated structure inspired by the towers of Defqon 1 Weekend Festival in Australia
Crave Town and Picnic District – place to chill out and relax, picnic style, or eat from the various food stalls
Brew Avenue – Drinking area with buddies
Promised Land – an installation highlighting Mindanao’s culture and identity (games, exhibits, displays), in partnership with DOT and LGU-IGACoS
Plus the PARTY BOAT and PRE-GAMES at the Wharf
Join the hype on Instagram! #CBMMF2015
Carte Blanche, (kart blansh) a French phrase for ‘blank check or ticket’, also means ‘unrestricted power to act at one’s own discretion; unconditional authority”. In this particular event, it means the freedom of expression. So “Leave your mark,” the slogan says. This event is brought to you by Manic Nightnings Productions
Manic Nightnings Productions is an Events Management and Promotions Team from Davao City, producing , managing and showcasing events inspired by different festivals all around the world to elevate Mindanao’s party scenes. It is the creators of Carte Blanche Music Festival and Arcadia Electronic Music Festival. Manic Nightnings Productions was voted as the number 1 events production company for 2013 on EDM Philippines.
For inquiries, visit their official website.
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