After several years as a small forest party, marking an annual celebration of a group of good friends in the LA underground scene, 2006 found Lightning in a Bottle (LIB) stepping into the realm of full fledged festival at it’s first year at Live Oak campground in Santa Barbara, CA.  People streamed in from all over the West coast to celebrate art, music, community and sustainable thinking, key elements of LIB that hold as true today as they did back then.

About a month or two prior to Lightning in a Bottle 2006 we got a call from The Do LaB asking if we would bring our Pocket sound system to Santa Barbara, set it up and play some music.  Well, we brought the Pocket sound system, and the Pocket pool . . . and The Woogie Stage was born.

The Woogie Stage 2006 - Powered by Pocket Sound, plugged into an outlet under a drippy faucet.  Safety 3rd!!

The Woogie Stage and the Pocket Pool at Lightning in a Bottle 2006.

In 2007 Pocket brought sound to The Woogie once more, but this time The Do LaB built us what has become one of their beautiful signature “onion” structures as our stage.  We started getting more creative with our line up and more detailed with our stage programming, and it wasn’t long before people started approaching us to be a part of the Woogie.

The Woogie Stage at Lightning in a Bottle 2007.

In 2008 we stepped it up a notch, adding some incredible new DJ’s from San Francisco, Tahoe and San Diego.  This was our first year getting to feature some bigger names in the DJ world, with amazing sets by Marques Wyatt and Kazell.

The Woogie Stage at Lightning in a Bottle 2008.

Marques Wyatt on The Woogie Stage at Lightning in a Bottle 2008!

In 2009 Lightning in a Bottle took a year off as The Do LaB searched for our new home, and in 2010 they found it on Irvine Lake in Silverado Ca.  2010 saw the addition of Lee Burridge, Sandra Collins, John Tejada and DJ Garth to The Woogie Stage, as well as a whole new crop of amazing up and coming DJ’s from all over the West coast.  Again, The Do LaB built us an amazing stage, we had amazing sound and, as always, Pocket Underground brought all the tasty house music to The Woogie that you could possible long for in one weekend.

The Woogie Stage at Lightning in a Bottle 2010.

Lee Burridge grinning ear to ear on The Woogie Stage at Lightning in a Bottle 2010!

This past year was hands down the most amazing to date, with show stopping sets by the legend Nick Warren, dirtybird helmer Claude VanStroke, prolific producer, remixer and DJ Jay Tripwire, Android Cartel, Pumpkin, John Kelley and the always amazing Lee Burridge, with Funktion 1 sound by FunkWorks.  With 2011 still glowing in our hearts we’re now finding new ways to spread the Woogie love throughout the year.  Each year we work to bring you new incredible talent, more amazing music and that beautiful loving Woogie vibe you’ve come to expect.

I don’t dance, I WOOGIE!!

Pumpkin was one of the highlights on The Woogie Stage at Lightning in a Bottle 2011. (Photo by Aaron Gautschi)

An amazing aerial night shot of The Woogie Stage at Lightning in a Bottle 2011. (Photo by Aaron Gautschi)

Nothing but smiles from Claude VonStroke as he rocked The Woogie Stage at Lightning in a Bottle 2011!!  (Photo by Wobsarazzi)

Lightning in a Bottle 2011 Lineup

As we learn more about the upcoming Lightning in a Bottle 2012 festival, we will post additional information.