Connect: Electronic and tribal festival shines on

Colin Dewar
Moose Jaw Times-Herald
The beats were pounding at the 14th annual Connect electronic and tribal musical festival over the weekend at Besant Park, west of Moose Jaw.
Close to 1,000 visitors to the festival were not disappointed as DJs from all over the world came to the festival to show off their skills and talents spinning records and CDs.
"We are the longest running electronic festival in North America," said Jeff Galaxy, director and founder of the festival.
The festival started 14 years ago and has since grown into one of Canada's premier grassroots electronica and alternative culture festivals.
The festival opened Friday night and continued until the early morning hours Monday when Galaxy closed the festival.
The DJs and musicians performed from noon until 6 a.m. every day.
There were over 100 DJs, musicians, dancers and visual artists from Europe, the U.K., U.S. and Canada at this year's festival.
The event had a main stage, with a massive sound system and lasers, that ran 18 hours a day and there was a second smaller stage or chill tent.
"You would hear everything from the Beatles to ZZ Top, remixed and reworked. It's a great experience," said Galaxy.
Visitors were invited to visit the creativity temple and a spring-fed swimming pond, take part in workshops and interactive performances, see mood altering visual art and participate in the open mic.
"You never know what is going to happen. We have had deer walk right past the main stage and everyone just chilled. It's such a great experience," said Galaxy.
Everyone was welcomed to participate in a breakdance competition, a dodgeball tournament and fire dancing.
"A lot of people make this their summer vacation," said Galaxy. "People were arriving as early as Tuesday from Calgary, Winnipeg and Saskatoon, excited to hear some great music."
Kaitlin Probe, volunteer co-ordinator of the festival, said the key to keeping the festival going was having the younger generation attend.
"We have people of all ages out at this festival," said Probe. "I've seen people in there 80s just chilling and mothers with their newborns. People from all walks of life come out and let their hair down."
The event was free for children under 12.
"This is a great place where you can come and be yourself, do what you want and there is no judgment," said Anna Scott from Regina.
At night, dancers began to spin poi balls - glowing balls on string -could be seen everywhere.
"I love it here. You can dance as big as you want, wear whatever costume you want and listen to some awesome music," said Amanda Minion from Regina.

Colin Dewar can be reached at 691-1263