Why you Should Go To Shambhala Music Festival 2014

Wow it's that time of year again. In its 17th year the countdown to Shambhala or affectionately known as Shambs or Shamb by the hardcore followers has begun. With only a few weeks remaining until thousands descend upon the picturesque Salmo River Ranch from August 8-11th we are writhing in anticipation. The line-up this year is absolutely drool-worthy with a slice of electronic music pie for everyone.

From its humble beginnings of only 500 revelers in 1998 to the 10,000 that make the pilgrimage now, there is no other festival on the planet like it. What makes Shambhala so special you may ask. Well unlike many festivals the infrastructure stays in place each year. This allows for the unique advantage of building upon the past stages. Every year the stages are more dynamic, bursting with the latest in 3d mapping technology, spectrum lazers and exaggerated design. No expense has been spared on these stages. The incredible soundsystem provided by PK Sound gives festival goers over 400,000 Watts, yes that's right this ain't your mom's home audio system.

To say that Shambhala is an experience is an understatement - it's an epic journey. But without further ado lets focus on some of the amazing talent that is in store for this year. In no particular order here are Dubplate's 5 picks of the fest. We are not responsible if you lose your head trying to run from stage to stage to catch everything. Our advice - be in the moment and enjoy where you are.

1. Skream (Friday 9:30PM -10:30PM) Pagoda
Well not much needs to be said but prepare for something different from the dubstep icon who is the grandfather of the genre. This man has traversed the electronic music landscape from dubstep to disco. You can have a look at a recent documentary where he talks of his origins and where he is now.

2. Falcons (Friday 11PM- 12AM) Amphitheatre
Right at the forefront of the LA beat scene Falcons are a force to be reckoned with. Shortly after relocating back to LA from Vancouver their ascent was super-sonic, with an emphasis on sonic. With 2 widely acclaimed remix EP's under their belt they displayed the ability to re-invigorate a style with extra cool and slick production. An alltime favorite at dubplate is Vroom which blends cool beats with massive sex appeal. Have a listen here

3.Taiki & Nulight (Friday 2:30AM - 3:30AM) Pagoda
Heading the pack in the 4x4 bass music scene Taiki made his mark with the tune "Take Me Up" His sets are notoriously high energy but maintain a true bass aesthetic with rampaging basslines that murder dancefloors. Not to be missed.

4. Truth (Saturday 1AM-3AM) Living Room
You won't be able to listen to the Dub N' Bass stream on this station for more than 3 hours without hearing a Truth track. Maintaining that wholesome gritty Deep Dubstep sound Truth excels are providing heavy bass weight with finesse. Not all producers can keep a foothold in roots dubstep yet have a broader appeal. Smatterings of jazz and r&b are noticeable throughout their productions. Have a listen to the seminal tune "Stay" to get you in the mood.

5. DJ Cure (Friday 2AM-3:30AM) Amphitheatre
We can't end our list without mentioning a great talent located in our fair country of Canada. Cure has worked tirelessly to push amazing Canadian producers to the forefront of the global scene. Running Aufect Records Cure has impeccably curated his label running the gamut from dubstep in its early days to the latest VLSONN release which contains tracks ranging from techno edged dubstep to Juke.

Shambhala take place August 8-11 at the Salmo River Ranch. Get all your tickets and info here at the Shambhala Music Festival Website.

Check Out This Lineup