The Mountain Bass Experience 2025 was by far our most ambitious adventure to date! It was based across 3 different locations in the jaw dropping Picos De Europa National Park in northern Spain. We began our journey in the village of Espinama, a farming village of only 70 inhabitants where we had a welcome party. We followed with an open decks picnic and outdoor games located at 2000m altitude in the mountain wilderness. For our night party, we had a rave in the local church, kindly opened up to us by Jesús, a local legend! (his actual name!)
Photo: Twelve Step Audio at the night party.
Our 2nd day started off with off with an optional "Via Ferratta" (rock climbing) activity or free time to explore the area around Espinama, a deep winding valley surrounded by towering mountain peaks, endless hikes, rivers and waterfalls to discover and quaint local taverns, restaurants and shops. The via ferratta tested the groups nerves as they navigated a rope and climbing course dangling from the side of a vertical cliff!
Video: The brave group of members with a head for heights!
In the afternoon we convened at Fuente De, just up the road and, literally, the end of the road as you can go no further. We arranged a 'Powered by AlphaTheta Picnic' where we used the latest, portable, battery powered DJ kit, charged from our van's solar panels. It was a scorching 39ºC but Kursiva still treated us to an exclusive album preview whilst the majority of us had to hide in the shade! We then had an open decks session and reconvened for another night party in the church hall with our favourite local bar man - Pablo, another local legend! - keeping us hydrated with local beverages!
Photo: Kursiva using the AlphaTheta portable equipment in the sweltering heat!
For day 3 we all moved up to Hotel Áliva, a mountain hotel/ refuge that is only accessible by 4x4 off-road tracks, a cable car or hiking up an enormous rock face! We took some time to appreciate the total isolation with no phone signal and nothing around us but mountains, goats, cows and horses. We embarked on two days of mountain adventures and peaceful tranquility without upsetting the pristine, protected nature sorrounding us.
Photo: Hotel Áliva from the side
After we settled into our mountain accommodation, we had some optional afternoon activities or free time to explore the rugged landscape and nature.
We are extremely grateful to Riya, Voice MC and Colette Warren for blessing us with the most memorable, unique and impactful Sound Healing and Reiki sessions imaginable, nestled deep amongst the mountain wilderness, in absolute peace and totally disconnected from the outside world enabling us to truly relax. We all left these sessions with a profound sense of deep connection, peace, love and those magical tingly sensations which leave you in a state of tranquility and what a genuinely unforgettable experience that was!
Photo: Standing in the Singing Bowls after one Mountain Sound Healing Session!
Later on, we embarked on a group hike to a viewpoint where we set the portable decks up and enjoyed an album preview from Miss Gray. Minirigs provided the sound, as not to disturb the natural environment, while we all enjoyed the views, each others company and the incredibly peaceful music from Miss Gray's latest productions.
We then hiked back and had a delicious group meal, enabling time to connect before our nighttime liquid DnB astronomy session, where we star gazed using telescopes and appreciated the dark, light pollution free skies above us with hot chocolate and blankets!
Photo: Minirig Mountain Session with Miss Gray
Day 4 was our group adventure day "The Great Excursion To Bulnes". From Hotel Áliva, we took 4x4 taxi's, buses and vehicles through the remote mountain valleys to the foot of the trail to Bulnes. Bulnes is one of the most remote villages in Spain with 34 inhabitants, no connection to the electrical grid and previously only accessible by hiking or donkey, but in 2001 a cable car was installed. The brave members and artists hiked through a deep gorge, with 1300 feet of elevation up to the top, while others took the cable car where we reconvened for a special lunch made from local produce.
After a LOT of food and drinks, we decided to take the cable car back down together!
Photo: Some of the members and artists who chose to hike up with us!
We then drove back up to Hotel Áliva, in a highly amusing trip which could easily have been pulled out from an episode of Top Gear!
Once we made it back to the hotel, we had a pub quiz, one of our favourite group activities followed by an early night ready for our final day.
Photo: Kursiva, looking fresh at the start of the steep hike to Bulnes!
Day 5 was our final day and we had an extra special itinerary planned. We all made the journey back down from Hotel Áliva, back into reality, well rested and ready to party and get some adrenaline in us!
Some of us chose to take advantage of the canyoning activity we had organised, where they climbed up waterfalls, jumped off cliffs and general had a wet and wild time whilst others joined our wine cellar tour and tasting activity in a local, traditional wine cellar with local produce.
Photo: Some wet but happy canyoners!
Our afternoon shenanigans began with our 'Bullring BBQ Party' where we came together to share BBQ food and have a rave in an old, traditional bullring and local farmhouse where many of us stayed.
With the sun beating down, a cool river to dip in right next to us and some serious noise from the sound system, as well as a group mural to write our farewell messages, thoughts, feelings and artwork on, we partied hard until dusk.
Photo: Organisers Matt & Jo in the Bullring
As is our tradition, we finished off with a massive end party at a local bar, Radical 414, where we had a big final blow out. It is customary on our final night to open the stage to anyone who fancies getting involved so we all had a huge back-to-back session, all night long, with headliners, support acts and any attendee with a USB stick getting involved. Then once we all caught up on sleep, some of us took a trip to the beach for a few days to unwind!
Photo: Etherwood blessing us with his incredible music!
The Mountain Bass Experience 2025 Event Poster
.png)
The Mountain Bass Experience 2025 Schedule (taken from our club members handbook)
.png)