Emma considered herself lucky as she headed to Secret Dreams, a multi-genre music & arts festival with a focus on bringing together dream-worthy lineups in a space transformed by an unbelievable community of artists that continues to grow each year. Headliners Tipper, Barclay Crenshaw, Daily Bread, Detox Unit, The Disco Biscuits, G Jones, Jade Cicada, Lotus, LTJ Bukem, Papadosio and The Werks set the stage for a weekend of bass, house and frantic rock and roll. This was her kind of party and she had that sideways look in her eyes that meant she was looking for trouble. She was dangerous, carrying a can of bear spray in case she ran into her ex. Low-bar had failed the test and if they crossed paths, no quarter would be given. But she had bigger fish to fry. She was in the right place, surrounded by love and considering her lot in life. A community of dreamers, jammers, bass fiends, artists, art enthusiasts , nomads, and creatives. She was in the back pocket of the tight-fitting Calvin Kleins of fate. 

Do you feel lucky punk? Well, do you? Why yes and for what reason? Near the Ohio border Emma J ran into a thunderstorm and while rounding a curve in the road her van commenced to hydroplane down the crowded interstate. Real life in real time to be sure. She was violently thrown to the floor as the van spun across four lanes of traffic and was instantly reminded of her dream where she was waiting to die. It was inevitable and would be just a matter of seconds until it happened. Hopefully it would be over quickly, it was scary enough as it was. In the last seconds of life can come a calm and peaceful acceptance. At least it wasn’t sharks. The gypsy woman was no prophet after all. After what seemed like eternity and one-hundred eighty degrees of rotation, she ended up gently placed against the guardrail with a small scratch on her vehicle. Curiouser and curiouser. Come to find it wasn’t her day to sign the great book, it was her day to arrive safely to Secret Dreams Music & Arts Festival.

The Luckiest Day. Feeling ever charmed, she immediately purchased a scratch off lottery ticket and lost five dollars. No one told her lotteries were just for poor people but it was not nearly enough to turn her smile upside down. She knew she was fortunate to be breathing air. Norma’s bus suffered a major head gasket issue on the way to the party but she still managed to make it there only twelve hours behind schedule. The last time they’d seen each other they’d been walking down an empty Bourbon Street on one of the first nights of the Covid shutdown, just before the mice took over the French Quarter. Secret Dreams was their first time reconnecting in four years and they immediately fell right back into step. Thug love. Funny how things work sometimes.

Zoe was working and twerking the Mind Cradle booth and, as always looked good doing it. Festival VIP went to Quinton (Quintonious Maximus) who showed up, once again to be the single most supportive and loving friend ever. Always there when a pal is needed and continually setting a new standard when it comes to good friends. One of the original wranglers and Kamp Happiness royalty.

There were a plethora of artists and creatives at this festival and they all got to show each other their new art and catch up. A beautiful time was had by all.

Renegade Vending? Some beautiful soul purchased a pendant from Emma J for $200 which is the most that anyone had ever paid for a piece of her art. Welcome to the gratification station where everyone feels amazing and loved. Good job Dave. If you build it, the hippies will take care of the rest.

Tipper Throw Down. Lucinda hadn’t seen Tipper since Live Oak with Zoe and Cheyenne and she was way overdue to lose her face. Both sets were liquid fire but the 4:20 set left her brain in a puddle of happy mush and her face hopefully in Danko’s lost and found.

The Werks showcased a killer cover of Rage Against the Machine and a smack-down, hit list of 90s bangers. Lotus and Barclay Crenshaw also left nothing on the court and showcased some of the slickest moments of the weekend.

Papadosio and Octave Cat both had great late night sets in the woods on Saturday night. Kamp Happiness enjoyed the sets from a blow-up pool full of stuffed animals. Believe what you want. Welcome to Secret Dreams grasshopper.

Sheriff Phoenix’s Frick Frack Adventure: Emma J won Phoenix’s personal trumpet mouth piece, spittle and all, with hopes of turning it into some kind of Swedish bong. She also ended up with a professional blowjob kit including gloves, apron, over sleeves, and a hairnet. On a tragic note, the clown noisemaker was lost. She remembered the words of her investment advisor, “One has to spend noise makers to make noise makers.” Wise words from a wise guy. Gambling is an addiction and while she’d had her ups and downs, it was the Sheriff who’d had their hides tanned.

Danko’s lost and found adventure was its usual cradle of high emotion and relative intensity. Always about the big three; keys, phone and wallet in no particular order. Tears of sadness or joy documented the roller coaster of emotions that accompanied the unusual space. Don’t come looking for pashminas or fans for they do not constitute groundscores. One might even be forced to leave without their favorite Squishmallow, but that’s how things go in the big city. If it was easy, everyone would do it.

Emma J got a flat tire on the way out of the venue and got so excited about it that she vomited fried alligator in her own lap. All hail new friend Gumbo who saved the day and helped her change her tire while himself caught in the eye wall of his own turbulent issues. Emma was sure she would have been forced to live in the Legend Valley parking lot had it not been for his industrial jack. Gumbo was repaid the next day when his lost phone found its way back to him. She decided to take a nap in the van and upon returning to the road had a red-tail hawk shmack into her windshield. This had to be a portent of things to come and she would have to find an Indian to learn what it all meant. All in all, she was ahead of the game but in the great scheme of things the hawk hadn’t been so lucky.

Suckle the ample teat of the Secret Dreams website and follow their social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X. Swing by the wook wranglers neighborhood of computer gibberish whilst you’re sashaying through the corridors of the planetary etherweb. A million thanks to Dave and Dan for allowing the wranglers to join in the slick fun. Both the site and staff occupy a place in the upper echelon of the festival hierarchy. So classy.

Keep up with wranglers media as we attempt to unfurl the tattered ribbons of complete gibberish from FloydFest. What happens on the mountain doesn’t always stay on the mountain. You can pick your nose but you can’t pick your friends. Stay tuned as we head north to Long Pond, PA and Elements Festival and then Delaware and four nights of serious Phishness.                                                  Shalom y’all.

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