The Sea to Sky underground arts scene is about to emerge with the inaugural Bass Coast Project, which features 48 hours of everything from mud wrestling to community art.
The Bass Coast Project isn't your average arts event - it's chock-full of enough creativity, activities and music to keep attendees buzzing for two nights and three days of camping at the Squamish Valley Campground, Friday July 24 to Sunday July 26.
The idea for the event evolved from the minds of Andrea Graham, Andreas Helleman and Liz Thompson. Each of the three friends are artistic in their own right - Graham is a DJ, while Helleman and Thompson work together on their multimedia company, M Studios.
The concept for the festival actually emerged a few years ago, when Thompson and Graham were wrapping up a trip to the Burning Man Project in Nevada.
"We combined all of our different backgrounds and the Bass Coast Project came together," Graham said.
The Bass Coast Project is ambitious and like nothing the trio have worked on before. The event is unique in that it combines a variety of creative juices from the underground scene. Graham said they've reinvented the festival experience.
It features everything from music video production, fashion design, yoga, capoeira, hula hooping to organic gardening. The inaugural event is capped at 1,500 people and tickets are going fast. Other highlights include the first outdoor live music video competition in the corridor and a fashion show with real-time visuals being project live during main sets.
"There are so many arts involved and we wanted to the event to have a city urban fun flare to it," Graham said.
Located in the Squamish Valley, the venue spans over 250 acres with gravel laneways connecting the stages and of course riverside beaches. Once inside the gate, attendees will have 48-hour access to camping, yoga classes, workshops, guest speakers, theatre and dance performances, and art installations.
Musical headliners includes Fort Knox Five, Mat the Alien, DJG, Marty Party, Neighbour, Vinyl Ritchie and Lighta Sound and up to 80 others. Graham said it wasn't that hard too find some serious talent.
"The response has been amazing. So many people have contacted us wanting to get involved either as volunteers or performers. We've had everything from Cirque acts to speakers," Graham said.
The Facebook group for the Bass Coast Project has already reached 1,000 people and Graham said the list is growing every day. She said the event encourages participation, expression, social responsibility and environmental awareness at all levels.
"We want everyone there to be involved," said Graham. "You could bring art to hang in the forest, attend a yoga class, dance your ass off or cook for your neighbours."
The Bass Coast Project focuses on a "leave no trace" principle, where attendees truck out what they truck in and no driving will be allowed on site after 6 p.m. on Friday July 24. Graham said bikes are encouraged.
"We are excited to have such a good reception in Squamish because this is something that involves the entire community and effects it in a positive way," Graham said.
Now, you can snag your all-inclusive tickets for $130 at Beat Street in Vancouver, Onatah Coffee and Trinity Romance in Squamish, or The Hub in Whistler.
For more info on Bass Coast Project, which takes place July 24 to 26, visit www.basscoastproject.com.
