Whereas strolling round Misplaced Lands and listening to from the pageant’s ravers, one factor was loud and clear: it has turn out to be unrecognizable in the easiest way.
New and improved Misplaced Lands pageant grounds
It was astounding to see what Misplaced Lands’ organizers have finished with the pageant grounds 12 months after 12 months. As somebody who attended the primary three years of Misplaced Lands and has not been again for the reason that onset of COVID-19, the occasion was practically unrecognizable.
It was instantly made obvious from the second you step off the road and stroll to the doorway gate. Earlier than formally getting into the grounds, attendees stroll by means of a hall speckled with life-sized dinosaurs, dinosaur eggs you possibly can climb into, flowing waterfalls, volcanos that mild up at night time and extra. All of it served as an interactive photograph op for mates, {couples} and pageant squads to fulfill up and make recollections.
A gaggle of followers taking an image collectively on the entrance of Misplaced Lands.
DiVisuals
From 12 months one to now, this space has expanded dramatically. As an alternative of getting in an oftentimes lengthy line to take an image in entrance of the dinosaur welcoming committee, there are actually sufficient photograph ops to service 20 teams without delay. Whereas not solely serving as a pleasant method to seize a reminiscence with a beloved one, strolling by means of this space helps you neglect in regards to the freeway behind you and step again in time.
Beside the Misplaced Lands grounds and levels, there have been additionally enhancements made to the campgrounds and Village Market areas.
The principle pageant grounds and campgrounds are separated by a rustic street. When exiting the pageant and crossing the road into the campgrounds, you are taken to the Village Market part of Misplaced Lands. It is a giant round zone surrounded by dozens of distributors promoting garments, jewellery, souvenirs, tenting provides and all various kinds of meals.
Within the heart of this space is an area for actions and programming, a chapel made from dinosaur bones and a big stage for native and pre-party performances. In earlier iterations, this campground stage was extremely modest. However now it has been fitted with manufacturing that rivals many live performance excursions.
The Prehistoric Evolution
If something about Excision, he all the time brings it on the subject of stage manufacturing. Whereas each single 12 months of Misplaced Lands had unimaginable stage manufacturing, they actually outdid themselves this time.
Strolling into Legend Valley, you are first greeted by the pageant’s signature stage, The Prehistoric Evolution. Constructed out of fake stone that appears prefer it was hauled off an Indiana Jones set, the towering stage is guarded by Misplaced Lands’ largest dinosaur.
Some highlights from The Prehistoric Evolution embody SVDDEN DEATH’s dramatic, bone-crushing efficiency, Excision’s annual two-hour welcome set, LSDREAM’s colourful set, the Misplaced Lands debut of Knife Celebration, Subtronics’ headlining efficiency that attracted practically your entire pageant and an eerie, atmospheric look by REZZ.
Additionally featured was the primary artist to take the decks on the primary stage this 12 months, SWARM, TroyBoi, DJ Diesel, MARAUDA and plenty of extra. Closing out the Prehistoric Evolution was—after all—the person behind the mayhem, Excision, with assist from Sullivan King for a particular B2B efficiency on Sunday night time.
The Wompy Woods
The second of the 2 “fundamental levels,” Wompy Woods was essentially the most modified for the reason that final time I explored the pageant grounds. Quite than being surrounded by timber and pillars of sunshine on each side, the stage space has been opened and walkways have been added as much as assist the move of individuals transferring from the aforementioned stage to this one. This made it a lot simpler to maneuver from the 2 fundamental levels for many who wish to catch a bit of little bit of two artists taking part in on the identical time.
Apart from being simpler to traverse, the area felt rather more open with further room to unfold out and benefit from the music. The stage itself featured dino-sized LED shows that have been crystal clear from the very again of the realm.
Seeing as it’s the Wompy Woods, the left aspect of the stage was lined by timber with colourful lights shining on them. Not solely did it serve to immerse attendees on this area, nevertheless it additionally served as a chill-out zone for followers trying to lie again or sit whereas they take within the music.
Featured on this stage was one of the influential dubstep producers to ever roam the earth, Rusko; Ray Volpe, the thoughts behind one of many pageant’s most performed tracks, “Laserbeam”; the drum & bass legend Dieselboy; a uncommon bass pageant look from Madeon and the melodic bass titan, ILLENIUM.
Followers have been additionally handled to units from Black Tiger Intercourse Machine, Digital Riot, Kompany, Vampa, REAPER, Stated The Sky, LEVEL UP, Boogie T, Eptic, Jessica Audiffred and extra. On Sunday, Excision took the stage for a fan-favorite “Detox Set” whereby he performed the weirdest and wonkiest music he might get his fingers on whereas the solar set on the ultimate day.
Smaller, extra intimate levels
A welcome shock to somebody who took a 12 months off, the Forest and Subsidia levels offered a spot for followers to take pleasure in a multi-genre number of large names and rising stars in a extra intimate method.
The Forest Stage ran from the early afternoon till the pageant closed down every of the three nights. With giant slanted panels, this brilliant stage lit up the secluded space amidst the timber.
On this stage, attendees discovered some wobbly, experimental bass, and it was the house for drum & bass followers at this 12 months’s Misplaced Lands. The Widdler, phonon, Papa Khan, Nurko and Tisoki lead the cost on the primary night time whereas night time two featured a loaded arsenal of drum & bass and past from Pendulum, The Upbeats, FuntCase, IMANU, Modestep, Downlink and extra.
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The ultimate night time of the pageant was bass house-heavy and showcased Dr. Fresch, Habstrakt, Sikdope and plenty of extra.
The Forest Stage at Misplaced Lands.
DiVisuals
In a non-public, considerably secluded space on a hill not removed from the Forest Stage was the Subsidia Stage, an area for artists featured on Excision’s very personal label. Right here, attendees might take a look at music from Hairitage, Tape B, LICK, CYCLOPS and BLVK SHEEP, together with the artists featured on Excision’s Bass Music Initiative: ZIZI, JVZMIN, Vastive, Dani Demand, RZRKT, Inexperienced Matter, The Arcturians and MIKESH!FT. ZINGARA and A Hundred Drums have been featured on different levels.
When exploring Legend Valley it was onerous to overlook the Asteroid, a set of domes that got here alive because the solar went down every day. Big plumes of fireside shot from the highest, cultivating a second of pleasure and much-appreciated heat through the chilly occasion. Packed in tight, festival-goers have been in a position to rise up shut and private with Shlump, Grabbitz, YOOK!E, SoDown and others late into the night time.
The Asteroid Stage at Misplaced Lands.
Misplaced Lands
The ultimate stage, Raptor Valley, was just for the bravest Misplaced Lands attendees. This stage positively not the place for brilliant, uplifting sounds and cheerful melodies.
Right here, you discovered a set of artists difficult one another to see how onerous they might throw down. HEKLER, GRAVEDGR, Lil Texas, Darksiderz, MUERTE, SIPPY and Codd Dubz all introduced their distinctive sounds to the stage, which solely opened previous 11pm. At Raptor Valley, INFEKT provided one of the talked about moments of the pageant when he had nicely over a dozen folks on stage with him as he threw down a ruthless set.
Metropolis-shaking bass
Just like the earlier festivals, this 12 months’s Misplaced Lands had sufficient bass to take down a full-grown mammoth.
Every part you’ve got heard in regards to the sound at this occasion is true. After I received off the freeway a number of miles from the venue and stopped at a crimson mild, the bass from Misplaced Lands was rattling my automobile a lot I used to be in a position to hear it over my radio. Thoughts you, I used to be far sufficient away that I used to be not even in a position to see the venue at this level.
When talking with attendees native to the very small city of Thornville, Ohio, the house of Misplaced Lands, they shared tales of the neighborhood getting collectively to embrace the massive occasion. Within the space surrounding the venue, you noticed folks gathering of their yards to have a pair drinks and have enjoyable. It was clear that members of the neighborhood had embraced the fest after disapproval in years previous.
The Most Immersive Misplaced Lands to Date
Excision and his crew have curated an occasion that feels extra like an journey than a music pageant. The largest takeaway I gathered from my time at Misplaced Lands 2022 was simply how immersive it has turn out to be.
It felt as if Excision and his ilk fastidiously combed each inch of the grounds and strategically activated the model in every single place they might. As an alternative of guidelines written on a poster board, stones stating the code of the headbangers are positioned all through the pageant, reminding you to deal with your self and people round you.
It is little touches like this that actually go a great distance that will help you droop actuality and settle for that you just’re again in time.
Internet hosting the Forest and Subsidia levels was the Forsaken Forest. This was a big space wealthy with timber outfitted with LEDs and lasers pointing on the treetops to create a labyrinth of sunshine and sound. On this space, puzzle guides wearing safari gear would welcome you to the area and introduce you to a quest you would full to earn a secret reward.
With out giving an excessive amount of away, this was a scavenger hunt of types that invited you to discover the grounds to search for particular symbols that wanted to be entered within the Forsaken Forest. It inspired attendees to work along with their squad and people round them to determine the thriller surrounding the attractive area.
Along with the Forsaken Forest, rumors of secret rooms within the pageant grounds started to unfold. These ended up being true.
There have been a number of hidden displays for followers to come across. Understanding nothing of those areas, I discovered myself standing in entrance of a robotic fortune teller and some different confused attendees have been invited right into a room with shrines devoted to a religious bass creature and their devotees.
I will cease there in case it returns subsequent 12 months, however I encourage everybody to actually get to know the grounds and go on an journey in-between your favourite artists. And similar to the remainder of this idyllic bass music paradise, you by no means know what you may discover.
Observe Misplaced Lands:
Web site: lostlandsfestival.com
Fb: fb.com/LostLandsMusicFestival
Twitter: twitter.com/lost_lands
Instagram: instagram.com/lostlandsfestival
Observe Excision:
Fb: fb.com/Excision
Twitter: twitter.com/excision
Instagram: instagram.com/excision
Spotify: spoti.fi/3lLJ5jl
