Another successful and sold-out edition has come to an end for the Bass Coast Music Festival.
This past weekend’s heat didn’t stop the big-hearted dance music aficionados from gathering at one of the top independent music festivals in the province and throughout North America.
With “a global reputation for showcasing innovative international talent and providing a springboard for Canadian artists,” Bass Coast continues to impress by combining visual and auditory sensations surrounded by the landscape of the Nicola Valley.
This year’s festival line-up included names such as CloZee, Eprom, Skeptical, Tim Parker, and fan favourites such as Justin Martin, Paul Woolford, and The Funk Hunters.
Beyond the music, each edition of the festival embodies a unique new theme. This year’s theme ‘Avant Garden’ was an invitation for people to “bloom” their creativity.
The unique atmosphere by a bend of the Coldwater River gives emerging and established artists the opportunity to showcase their art. Each year, Bass Coast hosts the largest temporary collection of festival art in Canada.
During its 15-year history, the event has seen interactive pieces like the ‘Audio Triage’, created by computer artist Paul Reimer, which consists of acoustic tin can telephones that allow you to “experience live feeds from all the stages before diving in.”
Other art installations such as ‘Life is a Circus’, created by sculptor Sandra Bérubé, a “gravity-defying, circusy interactive” that allows your creativity flows and makes people question if “is it the storytelling of an exciting adventure just about to take off or of a dangerous journey packed with red flags and trickery.”
This year’s Bass Coast Festival edition took place from July 7 to July 10, at the Merritt Music Festival Grounds just outside of Merritt.
- The main stage at the festival was covered in white ribbon. The LED lights on stage create an optical illusion when the performers are behind any of the “rings”, making it look as they are “floating”. Laísa Condé/Herald
- ‘Be Seen’, an art installation created by Ro Walton, and described as a “sacred vessel for participants to explore the reaches of their innermost expressions.” Marius Auer/Herald
- ‘Parts Unknown’, an art installation created by Slightly Bonkers Design. Marius Auer/Herald.
- Bass Coast also hosted live mural paintings. Laísa Condé/Herald.
- Attendees on their way to one of the festival’s concert on Saturday, July 8. Laísa Condé/Herald.
- The unique atmosphere by the main stage at night. Marius Auer/Herald.
- Most of the art installations also had LED lights so people would be able to interact with them during night time. Marius Auer/Herald.
- Lights and art installations created a beautiful scenario for attendees. Marius Auer/Herald.