A Lesson On Respect From Fractaltribe Presents Fractalfest: Reflections and Additional Photos from Friday Evening

Something I’ve noticed about Fractaltribe, as a psytrance crew, that has always stood out to me has been the high level of respect for the land that provides us with our space for Fractalfest. This is not just based on some hippy-dippy notion of “protect the earth” that is embodied in our strict Leave No Trace policy where not only are attendees reminded to take out what came in with them, they are provided with industrial trash bags as they check in so they have one less thing to worry about remembering, and, it is not just based in our no glass policy so the farm remains a safe place for the property owner’s little children to play barefoot. Our respect for the land also extends to the level of noise a festival is capable of producing.

Our stages and general camping areas are set up in the Fractal Forest, hidden away from passers by on RT 22 in Stephentown. Parking is on a different side of the property where vehicles do not add an additional eyesore for the property’s active business.

The most surprising aspect of Fractalfest; however, is something that you cannot see. I was walking on RT 22 to and from Cumberland Farms a quarter of a mile up the road and I was stunned by how quiet the festival really is, especially at night!

Our sound system, brilliantly designed by Sonic Beating, is fine tuned to project most powerfully onto the dance spaces while keeping sound bleed to a minimum for campers, the Fine Art Gallery, and Staff Camping. The sound system is additionally designed to prevent bass from traveling great distances. It can be heard as softly indistinct thumping as from as close as the Ice Cream Stand on property, from where I am currently blogging. Conversation is easy inside the Ice Cream Stand, and on the Mini Golf Course.

I am proud of the way our crew puts such effort into providing a psytrance festival experience for everyone possibly involved with Fractalfest. Without the good will the people of Stephentown, NY, Fractalfest could not exist, and it is something we take great pains to keep a priority.