Psychedelic Music and Art Festival

Photo Review

Kaleidoscopie, one of the cult and old-school Ukrainian festivals, has made a name for itself with great organization, a cozy vibe, a tight-knit team, awesome DJs and artists, and practically all Ukrainian promo teams involved one way or another, either helping out or just being present.

Kaleidoscopie traditionally takes place in the forest – it’s a Forest Festival with multiple dancefloors, a chill-out area, and a kids’ zone. Trance music and psychedelic culture lovers from all over Ukraine gather at this point in time and space. The 3-day festival consists of several diverse stages and areas.

The Main Stage is nestled in the woods, traditionally featuring psy-trance genres ranging from psy-prog to dark trance, depending on the time of day. Performers include ATRIOHM, BRAINCELL, GOASIA, SRB, MASTER MARGHERITA, CHE, SOLAR SPECTRUM, Injir, Sereja Jivega, Manu, Michedelic, Omsun MoonKoradji, Othervoice, Seki Kmeki, Valeriy SenSor, Daniil Tursiopsis.

The Live Stage showcases live acts, from lesser-known bands and artists to cult musicians. Soulful, energetic, and raw. Reggae, ethno-rock, folk, divine vocals… it’s all here. Acts include Katya Chilly, ATRIOHM – MKD, HARDCORE BUDDHIST (Ukraine), GOASIA – SRB, MASTER MARGHERITA – CHE, KANC COVER – SRB, UNKNOWN REALLITY – CHE, Dimitro Zymosis UA, ATOMIC SIMAO, CHILLERA, JAH PRE, JUNKET, GROUP 432hz, LOVE and JOY, LUNATIC CAFE, SOLAR WAVE, БРАТИ ПЕТРОВИЧІ, Binghi, Kati, Zea in Dub.

The Alternative Dancefloor is a bit further out, where true connoisseurs of electronic experiments gather. Experimental techno and trance music. Unique projects and compilations that no one has ever heard before, or maybe they have, but only in niche circles. Showcasing their vision of electronic and techno: BAMBU, HIMMELKOMPASS, INDIVIDUUM, LECTROMAGNETIQUE, LOBANOV K, OLIMPIC SNOW, PTAKH, R.ROO, SCHERBAK ELECTROPNICS, THP, V4W.ENKO.

There’s a Children’s Area with the traditional Masala Tea House by Koti Koteyka. You can find masala, pu-erh, mate, and all sorts of healthy goodies here. There’s a playground and a mini-organizing committee. You can grab a cup of tea, chat about family, kids, yoga, and various spiritual topics. Alcohol and smoking are usually prohibited in this area. Young parents find their community here and share their experiences.

The Shop Area mainly features handmade products from various artisans like Kovzanka, FluRanet, Napaso Engineering, Party Hard, and other known and unknown authors. There are Japanese incenses by Denis Skripchenko and Zhenya, which are exclusively sold here. And let me let you in on a secret – in this little shop, you can not only indulge in the aromas of unusual incense varieties but also consult with Human Design expert Evgenia Bratslavskaya, who has years of experience, training, and practice in this field.

There’s an Art Gallery adjacent to the dancefloor, where artists like AlternativA, Dmytro Dimorphic, HYPER ICONS, Katya Shevchenko, Nita Kravets, and Andy Trootootoo showcased their works in styles like PSY-ART, visionary art, digital art, and fantastic realism. Fans and connoisseurs of these genres were delighted by the fresh works of Ukrainian creators.

The organizers’ approach to sound deserves a special mention. Each dancefloor has its own custom setup, and Jet is undoubtedly a wizard when it comes to setting up the sound for the Live Stage. The sound system is L-Acoustics, with technical support from Technology Group, Digital Sound, and DNA Assistance.

There were fewer people this year, but that only improved the overall quality of the festival. There were hardly any outsiders – it was all our own crowd. Positive vibes, sunshine, and a wonderful mood that not even a light drizzle could spoil. Thank you to the organizers for this amazing celebration!