We camped close to the Renegade Stage. Our theory was that house’s even beats are the easiest to sleep to. Renegade was always playing something pleasantly groovy when I woke up and camping where you could hear music clearly was a good way to get your ass up and out. Renegade’s inoffensive bouncy beats were also the most reliable place to find people at any hour.

2010′s Soundwave (“Copwave”) was apparently unique in that there were police wandering around the site most of the time. Given how Soundwave flaunts liquor laws, I was shocked to learn that the police had turned a blind eye until now. From what I gather, the police were handing out liquor fines and requesting to search peoples’ bags (we need more civil liberties education). Rumours of tasing are greatly exaggerated.

Maybe it’s because there was less drinking, but everyone at Soundwave seemed very polite – more so than clubs and streets in a city. That being said, everyone seems pretty into their own thing and you’d have to put in some work to make new friends.

I saw some great costumes, although there was only one little steampunk girl. Even just having a weird hat and some complementary street clothes helped me feel like I was doing my part. Although many girls were dressed provocatively, it felt more about creativity and less about being slutty than Halloween.

Soundwave definitely doesn’t really get going until the sun goes down. During the day there were an impressive array of party skills on display like hooping, stilt walking, poi and contact juggling. These skills serve not only to entertain the performer but also everybody else around, because there really isn’t much to do at Soundwave during the day.

The people who seemed to be having the most fun and making the most friends were staff and volunteers, even the guy hosing out the toilets (which were quite clean throughout the weekend). I’d love to be involved in setting up and running the festival next year.