Anjunafamily Prevailed Over Mother Nature at ABGT700

Despite inclement weather, Above & Beyond’s ABGT700 at The Gorge delivered a weekend of uplifting vibes and quality performances for Anjunafamily members who made the trek.

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Two weekends ago, Anjunafamily members from around the world gathered at The Gorge Amphitheatre to celebrate another massive milestone with Above & Beyond. The iconic UK trio, who began their run over 25 years ago, geared up for a massive weekend ahead as their Group Therapy Radio show reached its 700th episode. 

The energy in the air was palpable for ABGT700, especially with Above & Beyond riding the wave of their latest album. While the weekend didn’t go according to plan, with Mother Nature causing some turmoil with high winds and heavy rain, it didn’t dampen the magic.

Driving to The Gorge during the day is a treat for those who love seeing nature change. You shift from a temperate rainforest to a more desert-like environment with a touch of farmland throughout your journey from Seattle. The near-three-hour drive felt short because of the conversations my crew and I had, and soon enough we were at the nearby gas station prepping to head into the festival itself.

Getting into The Gorge campgrounds took no time at all; security was a breeze. Getting a spot in Premier, much like past trips, was the move. The shuttle to and from the venue alone made it worth it. We had no idea how clutch it would be during the bad weather that hit the venue on Saturday.

Photo Credit: Orhun Uygur I www.turkphotos.com

The Friday pre-party kicked off the ABGT700 celebration in style.

Although we were slightly delayed getting to the venue, we arrived as Above & Beyond started performing. Their Deep Warm Up Set was filled with plenty of gems, all of which were centered more on the chill side of the spectrum. Remixes of the trio’s tracks from artists like Yuvèe, Jody Wisternoff, Volen Sentir, Braxton, and PROFF all helped push that sound forward.

Picking up the energy a notch soon after were J Ribbon and Grum, who delivered a fantastic back-to-back performance filled with treats for Anjunafamily members. Amy Wiles then brought the pre-party festivities at The Gorge to a close, with the thousands who gathered flocking back to Camp Anjuna to keep the party rolling.

While I enjoyed the pre-party, I must say making it an add-on to a standard ticket seemed like an odd choice. Perhaps that decision was made to keep capacity in check, but it was clearly confusing for some Anjunafamily members, as I overheard many conversations when they realized they didn’t actually have access to the show.

Photo Credit: @mollypolus

The vibes were alive on Saturday as The Gorge swelled with activity for ABGT700.

After eating some breakfast at camp, we popped into the Camp Anjuna area to check out what was happening. Jolie Anastasia taught everyone how to shuffle, while others shopped for unique items at the vendors, and the food area bustled with activity. The campground activities were a bit more subdued than other festivals, but that didn’t really affect the overall experience.

Soon enough, it was time to head into the venue to embrace all that ABGT700 had to offer from the Anjunabeats side of the spectrum. Grum was performing a live set when we finally crested the top of The Gorge, and the view was as magical as ever.

The ABGT700 lineup wasn’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea, but it was exciting to me. 

Grum has consistently impressed me with his dynamic soundscapes for years, and his set won me over effortlessly. Mat Zo was up next, and it’s always a treat to catch him perform, too. He threw down a monstrous set that left me yearning for more.

When one of the biggest Anjuna legends, Oliver Smith, hopped on the decks, I was ready to ascend to the heavens. Yet that didn’t exactly go as planned. Nothing against Oliver; he had started to pick up the energy a notch, but that was when Mother Nature began to show her true power.

High wind gusts began to hit us in the crowd, and thoughts of our camp flying away filled my mind. Yet instead of being momentary, the gusts became persistent, forcing Oliver Smith’s set to be paused and the lower bowl of The Gorge to be evacuated for safety.

Above & Beyond, their team, and The Gorge’s personnel did their best to communicate throughout the madness via signage and through staff members. We sat in the upper bowl for a while before heading back to camp to make sure everything was okay. At that time, everyone could only hope that the wind would die down so that the show could go on.

Our campsite area looked like a war zone, with destroyed canopies, tents, and more littered throughout the area. We did our best to pick up the pieces before the rain arrived and doused everyone. Then we checked Instagram and saw that Above & Beyond still planned to take the stage. Unfortunately, J Ribbon and ilan Bluestone would be cut entirely.

Heading back to the venue was still a must. On the shuttle back, I asked the driver what usually happens in situations like this when the weather isn’t playing nice. She responded that the artists typically cancel. So shoutouts to Above & Beyond and the Anjuna crew for pushing through and making the most of the situation.

Photo Credit: Orhun Uygur I www.turkphotos.com

Catching Above & Beyond in the rain is arguably the best way you can experience the trio’s music.

The wind had died down enough for the beloved trio to perform, and their ABGT700 set kicked off minutes after we had arrived back at the venue. The rain was torrential, but the vibes were immaculate. Those who braved heading back to their spots in the upper bowl, or even lower in the pit, were treated to a truly gorgeous set.

Above & Beyond littered the first half of their set with new IDs, while also nodding to Anjuna legends like Oliver Smith, Super8 & Tab, and Genix. They played with the weather conditions with the messages they wrote on the screens, and the small crowd, in the pouring rain, ate up every second.

Two tracks from AVNT began the journey to the set’s closing, which was aptly “Carry Me Home.” But that wasn’t the true end, as there was no chance that “Sun & Moon” wouldn’t play with the rain coming down. The trio gave us a glimpse of the downtempo version of the track, which caught everyone by surprise and finished off the night.

Back at Camp Anjuna, they announced that, due to the weather, Gabriel & Dresden’s set would be cut short, but they now had full sound instead of a silent disco. We caught the end of it as Josh and Dave battled the pouring rain to play out some gorgeous tunes, but then it was time to get some rest.

Photo Credit: @mollypolus

The persistent rain carried into Sunday morning and early afternoon, but it cleared up in time for Anjunadeep Open Air to continue as planned.

Luckily, the rain only caused a slight 30-minute delay before Anjunadeep Open Air kicked off. It was slow getting back to the festival grounds, but Durante and Ezequiel Arias were dropping some jams as we made our way back into the venue for some Anjunadeep action.

James Grant and Jody Wisternoff performed a delightful set that we caught before heading down to the pit area for the rest of the festivities. HANA serenaded the crowd with her blend of evocative tunes and serene vocals, and Rezident picked the energy up with some highly curated selections of his own.

Marsh became the man of the hour once the darkness took hold of the venue, transforming the pit into an all-out dance party as Anjunafamily members boogied to his beats. I loved that he dropped some liquid drum and bass at the end of his set; it was a much-needed reprieve from all the progressive house and trance.

Then, it was time for Ben Böhmer to dominate the decks, and the German artist had the crowd wrapped around his finger from start to finish. “Beyond Beliefs,” “Alive” with Monolink, “Phases” with Spencer Brown, “Begin Again,” and “Breathing” with Nils Hoffmann and Malou were just a handful of the highlights of his set. He also brought out Max Milner to share two fresh IDs with Anjunafamily during the set, the latter arriving after he played his iconic remix of “Father Ocean” to bring the weekend to a close.

Photo Credit: @gslens__ Photo Credit: Orhun Uygur I www.turkphotos.com

ABGT700 wasn’t the experience anyone imagined, but as Above & Beyond says, “Life is made of small moments like this.”

I understand how the poor weather and canceled sets could’ve harshed the vibes for Anjunafamily members who made their way to The Gorge. After all, the wind dismantled our camp, and the heavy downpour destroyed my tent, sleeping bag, and air mattress. But there’s something that was still special about this year — it brought my crew together.

In the face of the less-than-desirable weather, Anjunafamily came together. We helped each other stay warm and get dry. Instead of giving up, we spent moments laughing, singing together, and making memories that will last for years. That, to me, embodies the small moments and overall ethos that Above & Beyond has advocated for decades. And it’s what made ABGT700 special.

I cannot thank the hard-working teams who made ABGT700 possible enough. Dealing with high winds is no joke, and adding rain to the mix can make it even worse. Yet they still kept their heads up and communicated effectively, which speaks volumes about how much they care about their community.

While I have no clue where the trio will decide to host ABGT800 in a few years, I know that no matter what, it’ll be a date on my calendar that I’ll try to make. Until then, tune in to Above & Beyond’s ABGT700 set to relive the weekend’s vibes; it premieres on September 23 at 10am PT.

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