Tribal Roots debuts new 'beat bus'
The Wichita arts collective is well known for their EDM warehouse events. Now they're taking their show on the road.
Tribal Roots debuted the Upper Deck on June 27 at Chainlink Gallery Place in downtown Wichita.
The customized double-decker “beat bus” has a bar on the first floor and a DJ booth and VIP lounge upstairs. Lasers protrude from the roof. As dusk fell, projections bathed the vehicle’s white exterior in psychedelic color as music blasted from a stack of Element 5 speakers.
The first event in a new series called “The Upper Deck: Beat Bus Edition” drew diverse crowd: babies, senior citizens, and plenty of young people decked out in fishnets, fairy wings, and light-up accessories.
The arts collective has established a reputation for its warehouse shows at 707 S. Washington Ave. in Wichita, which I wrote about for The Wichita Eagle in 2021:
The electronic dance music, lights, lasers and occasional bursts of fog at the group’s shows might remind you of a rave or dance club, but Tribal Roots events better resemble a miniature festival (with) … costumed participants — some of whom juggle pins, twirl hula hoops or dance with light-up ‘flow props.’
The warehouse lacks air conditioning, so shows there are limited to fall and winter. With the acquisition of the bus, Tribal Roots takes the miniature festival concept into the summer months.
“Beat Bus Edition: Round 2” will take place from 5 p.m.-midnight July 18 at the open-air Chainlink Gallery Place, 121 E. Douglas Ave. in downtown Wichita. Tickets to the all-ages show are $13.66 inclusive of fees.
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