Audio By Carbonatix
The call-and-response nature of kirtan/chant music is designed to settle your mind into the same place of stillness achieved through meditation — but with less effort. That’s a good way to sum up everything you’ll find at the inaugural Denver Chant Fest. And chant is far from all that’s on the menu: In essence, this is a conference for anyone seeking enlightenment.
“I brought in Dave Stringer last year — he’s a really popular chant artist — and I fell in love,” explains organizer Erik Vienneau. “I never thought I’d like chanting; I’m a kid from Boston who thought, ‘This stuff’s just weird.’ But after that night, it just blew my mind. I felt so happy for a whole week afterward, and I knew we had to do more of this.”
The fest will also include yoga and wellness topics, along with DJs and hip-hop artists. It starts today at 6 p.m. and runs through Sunday at the Sherman Street Event Center, 1700 Sherman Street. The lineup includes Stringer, Jai Uttal and many more top-notch chanters, yogis and artists. A weekend pass is $225; day- and event-specific passes are also available. Visit www.denverchantfest.com for a full schedule and to register.
Feb. 15-17, 2013
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