Rivenrock Gardens Cactus Blog

In October 2002 we went to the third annual didgeridoo festival in Joshua Tree California.
The Didgeridoo is one of the oldest musical instruments on Earth.
I am just a novice didge player, and was quite impressed with the high quality and talent at this musical festival.
For the official Joshua Tree Didgeridoo Festival you can go to Joshua Tree Didgeridoo Festival
And to go direct to their really cool photo scrapbook for 2002 go to Joshua Tree Didgeridoo Festival 2002 photo scrapbook

HYPNOTIZED
~Written by Bob Welch~

It’s the same kind of story
That seems to come down from long ago.
Two friends having coffee together
When something flies by their window
It might be out on that lawn
Which is wide,
at least half of a playing field
Because there’s no explaining
what your imagination
Can make you see and feel

Seems like a dream
They got me hypnotized

Now it’s not a meaningless question
To ask if they’ve been and gone
I remember a talk about North Carolina
and a strange, strange pond
You see the sides were like glass
In the thick of a forest without a road
And if any man’s ever made that land
Then I think it would’ve showed

Seems like a dream They got me hypnotized

They say there’s a place down in Mexico
Where a man can fly over mountains and hills
And he don’t need an airplane or some kind of engine
And he never will

Now you know it’s a meaningless question
To ask if those stories are right
‘Cause what matters most
is the feeling You get when you’re hypnotized

Seems like a dream They got me hypnotized
Copyright © 1995-2002,
Martin and Lisa Adelson All Rights Reserved.

This song seemed to fit the mood I
felt during my weekend in the desert.
The melodic sounds of Native American flute
filled the Air, and the incessant
drumming all night and through the day was
filling the land with a surreal urgency.
The nights were spectacular,
and I felt as if I had been
transported to a time long ago.

It was a thrill to walk a ways out into the desert alone, the full moon shining down bringing the entire valley into a soft glow…. across the large campsite, a dozen small fires glowed, and from each glowing nook came the sounds of drums and didges… dozens at a time all together in some huge discordant rhythm. Primal, elemental….very natural… very human…. strangely animal…. vaguely Manimal.

A photograph of Joshua trees in the High Desert of California.
In the desert the evenings can often be so beautiful.
The dry air has no water vapor to shield the view of the evening sun glancing off the atmospheric dust.
The colorful evening displays can make for great sunsets!

  A special treat was the fire dancers who entertained the crowd with an exciting display of athletic and artistic ability with their thrilling twirling of flame tipped chains, batons, and fire swallowing.

Playing the Didge’

Here is the reason for the Didgeridoo festival. Playing the Didge!

Here is the tent where LA Outback sold their didges, tapes and CD’s as well as Australian arts and crafts works.

Everyone had a great time at this didgeridoo festival.
The crowd was well behaved, no fights or conflicts were seen.
People picked up the trash and kept the area clean and safe. It was a good safe family oriented weekend.
There were a half dozen bands that played on an illuminated bandstand in a large tent.
Many of these bands were very large, world known bands playing at this small intimate gathering in a very friendly atmosphere.

Here are just a few of the great bands and performers that highlighted the festivities this year,
and there were many more great people to keep the action lively, and the spirits running at a natural high level.
Lewis Burns
Brother
Rob Thomas of Inlakesh
David Blonsky
Pangaea