Hi friends and nature lovers,
I’m taking a few moments of down time in Lisbon to try something new here on Substack. I think of this platform as a place to share things that are simply impossible to share anywhere else. Longer ideas. Song demos. Live recordings. So I’ve just uploaded an entire Mushroom Church video from our recent event in Stockholm. It’s not edited. It’s not mixed. It’s definitely not perfect. But that’s why I think it IS perfect for here and for you. There’s a short preview above, and paid subscribers get the full almost 2 hour event featuring some gorgeous lion’s mane, oyster and cordyceps cultures, flute by Juli Déak and words by Mendel Skulski and Jess Anderson. There are some really nice moments, I hope you enjoy.
So yes, I’m in Lisbon for the very first time right now, on the eve of the last Mushroom Church event of this short tour through Europe. Over the last 2 weeks, we’ve played sold out events in Barcelona, Bornem (Belgium), Amsterdam, Cologne, Berlin, Stockholm… wow! I still find it hard to believe that this is actually a thing. That people will come to a church to experience science, music and poetry inspired by the fungal kingdom. I mean, it’s always sounded like a good idea to me, but I’m so heartened that it’s a good idea to so many other folks as well. It gives me hope that there is an appetite for more connection, more curiosity, more LIFE.
Although I never consciously planned for it to be this way, Mushroom Church has really turned into a community art project. In each city we work with different guest speakers, artists, lighting and sound technicians, projection mappers, mushroom growers, florists and venues. Most of us meet for the first time just hours before the event. We spend a few hours collaborating, and then the doors open and we put on a show. Every one is different. No two could possibly be the same. This is definitely not the easiest way to do things, but somehow it feels very fungal to keep things collaborative, improvised, decentralized.
I’m very happy to share this glimpse of the Stockholm event. Let me know if I should share more like this.
And a reminder for my Vancouver friends:
Our next Taste Sound immersive dining experience at Burdock & Co is right around the corner. Join us on May 22nd at this Michelin starred restaurant. Chef Andrea and I have been cooking up some new ideas for the ‘Resin’ themed menu. I’m actually spending time in Lisbon right now with the acclaimed chef Rui Mota, who gave me the initial idea to explore the connection between Taste and Sound in an experiential way. I’ll be incorporating some of his new ideas into the experience next week. See you there.
