Zippy Pronoia Tour to US '94

National Rainbow Gathering, near Big Piney Wyoming



The Zippy Pronoia Tour rumbled through the Wyoming wilderness to arrive at the annual national rendezvous of the American Rainbow Family. Late from a a last-minute gig in Boulder with Ken Kesey and Allen Ginsberg, the zippies had a good excuse for tardiness. Besides, through months of conversations with Rainbows on the internet, the Pronoia Tour had already calmed fears and answered concerns raised by the Rainbow Family... resulting in a round-the-clock "zippy watch" anticipating the Tour's arrival.

Although the Gathering had reached it's climaz a few days earlier, the zippies rallied some fo the core 6000 Rainbows who remained to throw the first-ever rave at a Rainbow Gathering.

During the past five years in Britain, the zippies gained momentum and strength by achieving what Fraser Clark called "festi-rave crossover" between the UK rave and nomadic festival subcultures. The formula worked even better in America. The hippie-ish Rainbows generally shun technology, but were drawn by the siren's call of the zippy sound system set up by the main parking field. The live set, mixed with trbal drumming and vocals, kept the strange mix of dancers ecstatic through to sunrise.

The zippies joined the main circle of the Rainbow Council, ate some organic vegetarian foods, and huddled together with the American hippies during the cold Wyoming nights. A debate over the uses of technology and the purpose of media hype continued around the campfires, picking up from the original Rainbow/Zippy discussions begun on the WELL in the spring.


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