Cutting edge music from across the globe, interactive art installations and a fashion all its own made turned Squamish Valley into a haven for art, music and fashion appreciation.
Tutus, angel wings, elaborate body paint and devil horns were only a few of the genres worn proud and clear at second annual Bass Coast music festival this past weekend (July 23 to 26).
Referred to several times as the "Shambala-to-be" (an artistic festival in the Kootenay Mountain range based on Nevada's legendary Burning Man and its audience participation concept), Bass Coast exceeded expectations for numbers, dancers, mud wrestlers and yogis.
"This is unreal - the view, the people, the music - it's the best festival I've been to this summer," said local audience member, Michael Griffin.
Over 1,000 people crowded the Squamish Valley Campground locale, and the Squamish River's white sand beaches, surrounded by the Tantalus Mountain Range, to immerse themselves in mud wrestling sessions, fashion shows and art exhibits while high tempo tunes blasted non-stop through the summer air and up the valley.
And the large numbers did not detract from the intimate feel, said clothing vendor Marie Pierre.
"Everybody is so friendly and welcoming, with everyone saying 'Hi' to one another and a good vibe in general. I feel like this could be like Shambala one day. These will be the days people talk about how small and intimate it used to be."
Pierre was at Bass Coast this year and last. Her store, Rabbit & MP, is based in Nelson but she travels from festival to festival during the summer months.
"For a festival that just started the turn-out is amazing," she said. "There's festivals that have been going on for years that don't get this amount of people and the decorations are world-class and they have some really wicked artists doing them.
Resident artist and DJ Chili Thom from Whistler was thrilled to be back at Bass Coast for his second year.
"It's amazing - it's so nice to have an outlet for artistic and musical talent right here in our backyard," he said. "I do Shambala and Burning Man and you gotta drive so far to go to it, whereas this is here and local influenced with local talent, it's just amazing."
He said this year's set-up was better than the 2009 inaugural year.
"It's very integrated with the stages closer together and there's a bar and it really sort of keeps the focus in one little zone," he said. "The organizers did the best job ever."
Andrea Graham, Liz Thomson and Andrea Oakden organized the festival.
QUOTE FROM THEM??
Montreal's turbo crunker Megasoid rallied dancers late into the wee hours of the morning on Friday (July 23) night but local talent also lit up the stage. Just Sheila, The Librarian, Evolve and Vinyl Ritchie each had their time to shine.
The dramatic stage set-up was one facet of the three dimensional art the decorated the entire campground. Steel human sized mosquitoes, massive canvas paintings and wooden hideouts filled with whale skulls and deer antlers were spread throughout the grounds.
Erica Breau from Victoria expressed his enthusiasm for the event while taking advantage of the face painting done by Vancouver Film School graduate from Jessica Van Belle, who is taking some time off before starting her career to travel and paint.
"I rock climb so Squamish is kind of my second home so I'm super stoked it's happening here," said Breau.
"It's just beautiful, everything is beautiful - the people are amazing and I don't feel any negative energy. Even with the security walking around their vibe is still positive and everyone is just having fun."
Tanys Braun, who has volunteered for both years' Bass Coast events, said her favourite part is seeing the creativity in the festival surroundings and people's outfits. She said she can only envision the festival expanding.
"This year is already a lot better than last year, much better organized and it will definitely get bigger and better every year."
