Organizers have announced the long-awaited line-up of bands whose tunes will be bouncing vibes off the face of the Stawamus Chief from Nexen Beach at the Squamish Equinox Rock Festival (SERF) in September.
The third edition of SERF is balancing local talent with out-of-town bands, focusing on musicians under the radar but on the rise and ready to bust.
Ottawa's Loudlove and Nelson's Wassabi Collective are headlining the all-day event, which is expected to draw 2,500 people from as far away as Alberta and Oregon. The bands use a soulful fusion of roots reggae, rock and everything in between, leaving listeners feeling positive and letting their dancing feet do the talking.
Wassabi Collective performed in Squamish twice in the last year, but never outside in front of the town's uplifting landscape. Guitarist/vocalist Brent "Gisto" Hongisto said the band thrives on positive settings during live shows.
"Your environment will always reflect the music, I think," he said. "Having a beautiful setting like that definitely inspires a certain kind of sound. It's definitely different than playing in a tight, sweaty club. It has an expansive feeling and you feel like you can take your time a little bit."
The 360-degree view of mountain, sky and ocean is making Nexen Beach a hot venue for Canadian bands. After two years of convincing musicians to visit Squamish for SERF, organizers notice the bands are starting to take the initiative, said co-organizer Karin Shard.
"It's changed. I've had so many bands contact me and they're still coming in from all over the place. It's really cool because it's a real switch," she said.
The remaining two visiting groups are Lotus (Vancouver) and Brave New Waves (Victoria). Lotus is an indie female band that mixes urban folk, rock, pop and blues, while Brave New Waves is influenced by reggae, surf and ska.
Local band The Overcomers is a SERF veteran and is again opening the day of music. Married duo Mario and Anne Iacovone, along with bass player Andre Chamberlain, recently added drummer Jeremy Radawiec and backing vocalist Naomi Lang to their bluesy mix.
The continuation of SERF is important to the local music scene because it provides musicians a chance to perform in front of bigger crowds and share with musicians from around the country, said Iacovone.
"It's awesome. We like the idea of working alongside some out-of-town musicians because we get inspired by them and play to a crowd that we more than likely wouldn't play to had they not been there," she said.
"We just love connecting with other musicians because there's this camaraderie that you don't get when you play a gig and it's just you."
The rest of the local line-up includes Squamish Valley based The Dead Heathers, Zombie's Locker and Jam 'n Tonics.
SERF was created three years ago as a celebration of the newly accessible Oceanfront land and the transition from summer to fall. It hosted 500 people in its first year and grew to 1,500 last year.
The festival provides a launching pad for local and national talent. Last year's headliners Hey Rosetta! of St. John's, N.L. recently went on to play during Vancouver's JunoFest.
"It's all about bringing in bands on the verge," said Shard.
The event runs from 2 p.m. to about 12 a.m. on Saturday (Sept. 19) and will again feature a massive bonfire, the beach bar, slacklining and children's crafts. Tickets cost $25 and are available at Play 'n Trade, Gelato Carina, Howe Sound Inn and Brew Pub, Valhalla Pure Outfitters, Brackendale Bistro, the Adventure Centre or online at www.squamishmusicfestival.com.
