This past year, Bass Coast Festival took home DJ Mag’s “Best Boutique Festival” award in North America. What has made this small-scale festival in the Nicola Valley so cherished by music lovers near and far after 11 years? Season after season, the arts and electronic music gathering never ceases to keep its guests curious and inspired to collaborate.
What started out as my best friends wanting to kidnap me during university summer classes six years ago has turned into a community of friends who now volunteer in Harm Reduction, DJ-ing, vending, teaching yoga classes, guiding workshops, creating art installations, painting, stage managing, singing and performing as a band, go-go dancing, or creating welcoming spaces.
This year, Bass Coast’s theme was Duality, and it couldn’t have been a better time to meditate on that. With fun comes hard work and preparation. With letting loose comes self care and wellness. We may not honour our happiness without doing our shadow work. Each yes or each no may result in a completely different outlook in your life, but in the endless options of amusement and direction one may have at the festival, there is always much to consider in what is the best balance for yourself.
Brittany Sharpe, aka the Rave Coach, visits the festival during the day with her partner as she gears up to give birth very soon.
Babelink DJ’s hit the decks for a fun daytime dance set at Radio Stage.Vancouver’s own queen, Coco Klein, graces their presence at the Babelink DJ’s set in all their glam. Dee brings out a few artists up during her set on the opening night at the Cantina. Cats n Boots y’all.Hip hop artist Tee Krispil is serving chills with white contacts.Longwalkshortdock brings his beloved shark to the decks at opening night at Cantina. Ebony Smith from Yoga N Da Hood (based in Dallas) offers a beginner-style Hatha at the Radio Stage Friday afternoon.Vancouver’s own looping musical genius Mark Woodyard embodies the masucline and the feline in the very best way. Public Disco’s Rio Quann and Steph Parkes are keeping cool with their madame-like fans. Andrea from Vancouver is happy to be attending the festival but also taking it easy as she gears up for the last part of her pregnancy.I had the same glasses as this girl. We bonded over JQ on Commercial Drive.Maddy enjoys the Radio Stage during Babelink DJ’s.Partying non-stop. A snap of the legendary fringe and all the fun people under it. A tender moment captured between Steph Parkes and me. Jodie poses for a quick flick during the I M U R performance. A different perspective.The crowd captured at Babelink DJ’s set.Friends at the Cantina Stage during Nick Wisdom’s house disco set. I had to strike a quick pose to show off that Bass Coast glow.Dancers and hoopers Lo and Chloe enjoy backstage at Babelink DJ’s set.Paris takes a moment to relax in a lifeguard manner overseeing the crowd.When the penis and the vagina met for the first time. Kieren has all the fun.Vancouver DJ and music producer Nick Wisdom takes a moment in his element among hundreds of records at the RECORD/ BOX installation. Vancouver-based I M U R soothes the Main Stage on Saturday night, accompanied by vocalists/ dancers Larisa Marie and Tee Krispil. Hair flip on point. A sliver of the moon.Rio, Gillian, and Caitlin have a laugh at the Main Stage. Onlooker at the Main Stage.Dancers Rio and Shai hangout backstage and are office- ready at Babelink DJ’s set. Tory is full glare on BassCoast’s Saturday afternoon.
Writer’s note: Also, a big shout out to Michael Red (artist, music producer, DJ, and curator) for your ambient music programming at the Cantina Stage this year. It was again a great balance for those attending the festival that wanted to feel connection through music and movement in a more relaxed and intuitive environment.
Alli is a wildcard. Faux fur is her wingman. She is constantly moved by art, cool parties, and independent film, and continues to create her own projects. She wishes her photographic memory did her Instagram more justice. Check out her blog at thewildcardwins.com.
