Chillits
Encyclopedia
Chillits is an exclusive annual ambient music
festival held every September from 1999 through 2009 at a private retreat center near Willits, California
, USA
and at an alternate location starting in 2010. There is one main sound stage, with music playing almost continuously through the weekend by many DJs and, occasionally, live musicians. Attendance is limited to a few hundred people. It was started by the Cloud Factory community, then expanded and took on a unique character.
, in the sense that they do not attempt to make a living from playing music but instead donate their time and services. Some are San Francisco Bay Area
technology luminaries, such as Brian Behlendorf
. Starting with the 2000 gathering, many of the sets have been recorded and made available for free online (see links below).
In 2003, Mixmaster Morris
performed at the event, and subsequently mentioned the campout in a BBC
documentary later that same year
. Following Morris's visit, additional recognition was garnered amongst the Internet community, resulting in the listing of music sets from Chillits on Boing Boing
.
Other notable visiting acts include Black Sifichi
, Lena, Robert Leiner, Gamelan Anak Swarasanti
, Safety Scissors, Wobbly, Quiet American, Jonah Sharp, Randy Jones and Balearic Mike.
, attendance at Chillits has always been extremely limited. The information sheet distributed with tickets
says "Every year, the Chillits organizers agonize for months over how to distribute tickets so that everyone who wants to can attend. And every year, some good folks miss out. It's an obvious quandary: if we sold thousands of tickets then everyone could go, but we'd quickly lose the comfortable, laid-back vibe that makes Chillits so popular."
Ticket distribution is largely based on participation: collective members and others who involve themselves in the responsibilities and tasks made necessary by the planning and execution of the event are awarded the right to buy a pair of tickets. Basically, if you work it, you can attend. This work includes but is not limited to set-up and clean-up shifts, meal shifts, DJ/performance slots, door and parking shifts, equipment responsibilities, coordinator shifts, etc. There is a lottery
system designed such that anyone who wants to attend may put their name in for a chance to get tickets, as well as a mailing list that facilitates the buying and selling of unneeded tickets, between private parties, right up until the event begins. There is obvious difficulty in trying to please everyone all the time, but over the years much effort has been expended toward pleasing as many people as possible. Few similar events have been created, despite the availability of this and other similar venues across the land, despite the obvious demand
.
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
festival held every September from 1999 through 2009 at a private retreat center near Willits, California
Willits, California
Willits is a city in Mendocino County, California, United States. Willits is located north-northwest of Ukiah, at an elevation of 1391 feet . The population was 4,888 at the 2010 census, down from 5,073 at the 2000 census. Willits is at the center of Mendocino County and its redwood forests...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and at an alternate location starting in 2010. There is one main sound stage, with music playing almost continuously through the weekend by many DJs and, occasionally, live musicians. Attendance is limited to a few hundred people. It was started by the Cloud Factory community, then expanded and took on a unique character.
Music
Most of the DJs and live musicians who play at Chillits could be considered amateurAmateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
, in the sense that they do not attempt to make a living from playing music but instead donate their time and services. Some are San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
technology luminaries, such as Brian Behlendorf
Brian Behlendorf
Brian Behlendorf is a technologist, computer programmer, and an important figure in the open-source software movement. He was a primary developer of the Apache Web server, the most popular web server software on the Internet, and a founding member of the Apache Group, which later became the Apache...
. Starting with the 2000 gathering, many of the sets have been recorded and made available for free online (see links below).
In 2003, Mixmaster Morris
Mixmaster Morris
Mixmaster Morris is an English ambient DJ and underground musician. Relating specifically to ambient music, Morris stated "It's exactly what you need if you have a busy and stressful life".-Life and career:...
performed at the event, and subsequently mentioned the campout in a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary later that same year
. Following Morris's visit, additional recognition was garnered amongst the Internet community, resulting in the listing of music sets from Chillits on Boing Boing
Boing Boing
Boing Boing is a publishing entity, first established as a magazine, later becoming a group blog.-History:...
.
Other notable visiting acts include Black Sifichi
Black Sifichi
Black Sifichi is a Scottish / American spoken word artist and writer born in New York City and who now lives in Paris. He has recorded albums with a multitude of artists, including "Unsavoury Products" and "Genetically Modifidied" with The Black Dog. He co-wrote the cult hit 'Versus' with the group...
, Lena, Robert Leiner, Gamelan Anak Swarasanti
, Safety Scissors, Wobbly, Quiet American, Jonah Sharp, Randy Jones and Balearic Mike.
Attendance
Due to the size of the venueMusic venue
A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...
, attendance at Chillits has always been extremely limited. The information sheet distributed with tickets
Ticket (admission)
A ticket is a voucher that indicates that one has paid for admission to an event or establishment such as a theatre, movie theater, amusement park, zoo, museum, concert, or other attraction, or permission to travel on a vehicle such as an airliner, train, bus, or boat, typically because one has...
says "Every year, the Chillits organizers agonize for months over how to distribute tickets so that everyone who wants to can attend. And every year, some good folks miss out. It's an obvious quandary: if we sold thousands of tickets then everyone could go, but we'd quickly lose the comfortable, laid-back vibe that makes Chillits so popular."
Ticket distribution is largely based on participation: collective members and others who involve themselves in the responsibilities and tasks made necessary by the planning and execution of the event are awarded the right to buy a pair of tickets. Basically, if you work it, you can attend. This work includes but is not limited to set-up and clean-up shifts, meal shifts, DJ/performance slots, door and parking shifts, equipment responsibilities, coordinator shifts, etc. There is a lottery
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
system designed such that anyone who wants to attend may put their name in for a chance to get tickets, as well as a mailing list that facilitates the buying and selling of unneeded tickets, between private parties, right up until the event begins. There is obvious difficulty in trying to please everyone all the time, but over the years much effort has been expended toward pleasing as many people as possible. Few similar events have been created, despite the availability of this and other similar venues across the land, despite the obvious demand
Demand
- Economics :*Demand , the desire to own something and the ability to pay for it*Demand curve, a graphic representation of a demand schedule*Demand deposit, the money in checking accounts...
.
Recordings
- sets from 2009
- sets from 2008
- sets from 2007
- sets from 2006 (only a few were successfully recorded)
- sets from 2005 - Boing Boing review
- sets from 2004 - Boing Boing review
- sets from 2003
- sets from 2002
- sets from 2001
- sets from 2000
- earlier years were not recorded, and/or the recordings are not available
External links
- The Cloud Factory
- BoingBoing.net - Chillits 2009 ambient music mixes online http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/20/chillits-2009-mixes.html
- BoingBong.net - Chillits 2005 ambient DJ sets online http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/02/chillits-2005-ambien.html
- BBC Documentary Moments in Love, in which Mixmaster MorrisMixmaster MorrisMixmaster Morris is an English ambient DJ and underground musician. Relating specifically to ambient music, Morris stated "It's exactly what you need if you have a busy and stressful life".-Life and career:...
mentions Chillits.