Ok where to begin?
Banedup Island, Kuna Yala; strike that. For reasons unknown to us the Kuna General Congress pulled the license on this one… 2 weeks before the Gathering. We’d only been promoting it since April a mere 8 months…
Sooo unfazed and undaunted we found another island just outside Kuna Yala.
Isla Mamey, we struck a deal with the guys managing the place. All seemed cool but then disaster struck. The owners girlfriend decided that we were inappropriate for his island and kicked us off the night before the Gathering.
Amazing!! Two Islands in two weeks.
Please a moment of quiet contemplation for those concerned. Ohmmmmmmmm!
Luckily, we were working with the locals on this, and with their help we found another venue a couple of kilometers away on Isla Grande. Several boat rides later and all our gear was taken there. The new venue was to say the least Dali’esq all columns, vibrant colors and fancy curlicues.  Part hotel, part campsite, all strange architecture. Situated on the leeward side of the island facing the mainland, with a tiny beach and shallow calm water.
By Friday night everything was up and running.
Dan Symons aka Crystal Monkey offered up a blazing several hour live set. Starting with the funkiest psydub and swerving into a kaleidoscope of  progressive and goa. We were all gob smacked at this guys skill, without a doubt one of the hottest talents on the scene. Definitely expect to see Dan over here lots more times.
As usual a special big up goes to Psynomads, they brought a whole posse from Costa Rica adding great energy to the place and proverbially rocked da house, for sure they will feature at more of our Full Moon Gathering’s as well. Gotta thank them too for bringing Phobos, his set mirrored perfectly the gathering thunderstorm, and what a storm. As the rain lashed down everyone raised their arms in the air and danced around in a frenzy then promptly leaped into the sea and jigged around in the water.
Big thanks to Murli, Giss and the BPM crew. They got hammered by the weather on their way here, but persevered, arriving in the launche at midnight wet and dripping. By the following afternoon they were still grooving the dance floor with their upbeat energy.
Entheogenic closed the Gathering with a wonderfully deep and enlightening set. A compilation from his 6 albums. He was the life and sole of the party, giving everyone hugs. Ah! How well we remember those hugs. Thanks again for your energy and love, we’ll see you again in April.
Sunday night and Dan and Piers regaled us with an acoustic after party. For sure these guys have got to get together on a project or two. Sends shhhhivers down my spine just thinking about what would come out of that union.
Gotta thank the Israeli crew for their energy and fun and all who made it, despite the venue changing three times. The turnout was great and everyone was happy. Thanks to the fire jugglers, the artisans and the local Panamanians. Twenty two countries were represented, giving the place a wonderfully diverse feel. Honestly the rest of the island was empty, with everyone from the other establishments coming to the Gathering too.
As usual with our events, the locals and indigenous communities did very well with much needed cash and resources being pumped into the region. We donated a computer to a Kuna organization and Crystal Monkey got some wonderful recordings of Domingo a Kuna shaman singing incantations to harness the healing energies of plants.

So it seems that things are moving along nicely, attendance is up, energy levels are up and we have found a gorgeous venue in Bocas Del Toro (more on that here).
Life is getting better and better.
Yeha! The free party scene rocks.