Bass Coast is Back with a Bang

Photo/ Bass Coast Projects Ltd.

By Hollie McGowan

After a two year hiatus, Bass Coast Electronic Music and Arts Festival made its grand return to Merritt, BC this past weekend. The pandemic was a definite cause for longing for all kinds of experiences. For avid festival attendees, it was a serious drought of dance floors, totem-carrying opportunities, and good old-fashioned rave-worthy shenanigans. Yet after closely following COVID protocols since 2020, it was unanimously decided by the Bass Coast team that this summer would be the year to unleash the event and bring it back from its long slumber. 

Starting on the 7th of July, the intimate boutique festival and its faithful followers made their way into the Nicola Valley for their most anticipated reunion to date. Approximately 6500 attendees and 500 volunteers, artists, and staff set up camp, got into costume, and made their way to hear a variety of electronic dance music genres from house to drum ‘n bass and everything in between.  

The local community of Merritt and the land itself have had a tough go recently. The floods of last year devastated the area leaving local residents still recovering from their losses 6 months later. Upon first arrival on the territory earlier this year, the Bass Coast team were concerned about the amount of flood damage. Yet after some work and careful planning, they pulled it together for another outstanding weekend. Below is our top ten of Bass Coast 2022. 

1. Bass Coast and its relationship with Merritt, the Nlaka'pamux and the Syilx nations 

After being in the region since 2013, the Bass Coast team have worked to form a relationship with the people of Merritt and the local Nlaka'pamux and Syilx nations. When the floods hit Merritt this past November, Bass Coast organized a fundraiser which has almost reached its $22,000 goal. The festival also donated $10,000 to support upgrades to Ridge Trail on Merritt's Iron Mountain. Further, Bass Coast has also contributed to other Merritt organizations such as Merritt Mountain Bike Association, Merritt Arts Walk, and the Nicola Valley Foodbank, to name a few. On the festival grounds, there were many land acknowledgement signs as reminders of where we were standing and whose land it traditionally belongs to. 

2. Friends

Yes, yes, of course friends both new and old are an obvious reason why attending festivals is so much fun. But this year more than ever, people just being present was one of the best aspects of the festival and all festivals this summer. Now that in-person attendance at festivals is happening again, nothing beats something so simple yet so wonderful. At the media panel on Saturday, one of the Bass Coast founders and internationally recognized DJ, Andrea Graham, AKA The Librarian, said that it was friendship that got her team through the pandemic, one of the greatest challenges the festival had ever encountered.  

3. Claude VonStroke

Dirtybird headhoncho, Barclay Macbride Crenshaw, AKA Claude VonStroke took to the Main Stage Friday night and showed no mercy. Few do house music heavier than the man himself with club-ready tracks guaranteed to get all bootys on the dancefloor shaking. Apparently it was also his birthday that day. Crenshaw turned 51 which brought a sing-along via his fans who wished him another successful spin around the sun. Behind him, the latest version of the Main Stage glowed all neon colors of the rainbow to a pulsating rhythm in time with the music while drag queens performed in the background. 

4. Shutterbuggy

Creator Peter Blitz has been building interactive art for over 20 years and is currently the director of The Egg Arts Society. The shutterbuggy itself is a roaming photo booth in true steampunk fashion. All weekend, festival goers climbed into the booth and to capture the moment with their friends.  

5. DJ Shub

Former Tribe Called Red member known for his creation of powwow-step, Dan General, AKA DJ Shub brought his critically acclaimed live show, “War Club Live”, to the Main Stage on Saturday night. Accompanied by Tribal Dance Vision composed of two dancers dressed in beautiful traditional Six Nations regalia, the show was a celebration of Indigenous music and culture meets booming electronic bass. Powerful indeed.

6. The Doors

There were many incredible pieces of work in the art department at Bass Coast this year. Yet one that really stood out was The Doors which were located in the center of the field located by the food vendors, Cantina and Main Stage. When attendees of the fest opened them, a different virtual experience would unfold before their eyes. Knock, knock! Who’s there?

7. Paint By Numbers

Bass Coast has brought many talented artists over the years to paint murals and other gorgeous pieces as the weekends unfold. This year there was a group painting effort which took place from Friday on until it was completed. A large canvas with lines already drawn and color codes for direction, Bass Coast attendees took part in a paint-by-numbers collaboration. 

8. Boiler Room

Though it began before the pandemic, Boiler Room carries the torch for live virtual performance giving people access to the party right from the comfort of their very own living rooms. Its second installment of Bass Coast, the DJ livestream came back for another round at the Cantina Stage this year on Saturday and Sunday. The artist line-up was a spectacular bunch of electronic music tastemakers including Moxie, Jubilee, Garneau, Alter Echo & E3, V.I.V.E.K., Anna Morgan, Homesick, and Nikki Nair. 

9. Mat the Alien B2B The Librarian

Undoubtedly one of the most special and heartwarming moments of Bass Coast this year was the back-to-back set by legendary DJs Mat the Alien and The Librarian. It's always magic when these two play together, yet this set was probably the most touching thus far. Not only was it full to the brim with bass music bangers, but it was the first live set for beloved local BC DJ, Mat the Alien, who suffered a near death injury back in the fall of 2020 leaving him parazlyed from the waist down. Not sure if he would ever be able to perform again, the local underground electronic music community watched in amazement as the two took to the Main Stage on Sunday night. Before making their way onstage, fans cheered “Mat the Alien! Mat the Alien!” while holding totems adorned with green alien heads fit for the celebration.   

10. The guy in camp A with the megaphone

By early evening during the last night of the festival, some good samaritan took to the megaphone to give a rave sermon in tent land and was it ever inspiring. Doing his best to make sure that no one would be left behind, this Bass Coast attendee did the Lord’s work by reminding everyone what we came to Merritt to do: party. “You didn’t come here to sleep in the woods!” he proclaimed. “Get out there and be the wook that you are!” The man stated his case well.