Psytrance scene in Israel

Psychedelic Trance is a big thing in Israel, very big! Sometimes it seems like everybody loves it. From Taxi drivers to soldiers, from 50-year-old ravers to kids too young to have an ID, everyone is listening to the once underground music. Which nowadays is a well-accepted genre in Israel, one which has come far compared to the “hard days” in the 90`s when it was branded as something very bad both by the police and the press. Artists like Infected Mushroom, Skazi and even relatively new ones like Ace Ventura and Captain Hook have managed to push Psychedelic Trance into mainstream (television, press, big sponsored events and clubs). But mainstream attention didn’t mean the death of the Psy underground scene.

New promoters sprout constantly to organise small and truly underground nature parties around the country. Some are promoted and some only use word of mouth advertising. Some won’t even charge you an entrance fee at the “door” but will walk around with a hat later, for you to decide how much you put in it. Driving down south to the desert or heading up to the green north will lead you to some fun times. The spirit is still here, alive and kicking! In the last few years some of those smaller productions have grown big while showing impressive production values (such as Groove Attack, Hasamba and a few more). Together with veteran productions like Moksha (“Indigo Festival”), TFN and Doof (“Doof Festival”) the stream of international artists brought here to showcase their music on high quality, line arrayed sound systems is ever flowing. Raja Ram recently posted on Facebook about the Moksha Purim Gathering: “Perhaps the greatest event in my life {excluding Ozora} beyond words…Over 10.000 happy people in fancy dress….smiles and color…incredible sound…it was a BLAST…

Another 2000 pushed the fence in and came in…what a festival…A zillion thanks to Israel and all concerned to make this a benchmark…and a supreme moment in the TIP story so far.” Most of the international artists that come here gain an extra gig or two in the middle of the week since the banging kick and bass are popular in clubs. Whether it is in the “Block” or the “Comfort 13”, Tel Aviv always has at least one Psytrance party almost every night of the week (other major cities also have regular PsyTrance events in clubs such as the “Baraka” in Beer Sheva and the “Esso” in Rishon Le Zion).

An international producer is not always needed since Israel has always had an almost mass production like array of quality Psytrance producers. With so many producers (I really feel its pointless giving a list here) that have emerged from here you won’t have to look far until you find the next place to dance to some Psy.

Sure, there are many types of Psychedelic Trance lovers, but each one can find a spot in Israel with so many types of events here. Small ones with no promotion to big ones that promote massively to sell you an experience with the highest standards.
I enjoy them both.

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BLiSS