By Brad Simm
Inside the new Las Vegas landmark where the origins of DIY culture are on full display without that funky mosh pit aroma.
Bass Coast is an avant-garde, boutique electronic music festival held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Nlaka’pamux and Syilx people also known as Merrit, BC. Completely sold out for their 15th year, the festival is known for their beautifully curated showcases featuring various local and international artists, art installations, live workshops, and yoga. Bass Coast is also known for their annual themes and this year was “Avant Garden,” which saw people sprouting up in flower dresses/skirts, shirts, and onesies.
The weather reached a blistering 37 degrees nearly every day, but thankfully festivalgoers had access to the lovely Nicola River where they could cool off and misting/water stations to stay hydrated. All weekend, everyone’s weather app was teasing a “severe thunderstorm” that thankfully never came, except for slight rain and a windstorm on Sunday, which resulted in one of the stages getting shut down for an hour before starting back up when the wind eventually died down.
Some highlights of the festival this year included the Keep Hush recorded series, which featured artists both local (Greazus, Librarian, John Rolodex) and international (Nala, Black Loops) performing sets that will be premiered in September so keep an eye out for those. All the way from the Netherland’s, JAEL played every electronic sub-genre you could think of, all while playing and singing live vocals. The UK’s Interplanetary Criminal played UKG (UK garage) and his TikTok-centric breakout hit “B.O.T.A” (you know the one) was very well received when he dropped it to a packed Slay Bay dance floor. Rising Skrillex consignee Hamdi and the drum and bass stylings of UK’s Skeptical also made an impression, but it was the annual Librarian (pictured above) and Mat the Alien B2B set at the main stage that people waited for all weekend. Everyone on site came out to support the festival’s founder and longtime festival mainstay for the dance party of the summer.
Our photographer Ryan Rose captured this year’s event through a series of analog portraits and live action shots. Listen to the Bass Coast playlist while you scroll through and daydream about next year.
If you’re looking for an electronic music festival with chill positive vibes, Bass Coast does not disappoint. So, dust off those old dancing shoes and experience it for yourself next year when they celebrate their sweet sixteen — tickets are already on sale at basscoast.ca
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