After the dust settled, and we were able to purge it from our clothes, it’s now time to delve into Bass Coast X.
This was one of the most anticipated events on our calendar, after last year rocked us to our very core. This unique, trailblazing event has been on the festival radar every year of it’s 10 year tenure, and the anniversary was certainly going to be one of the most special events of the season.
The theme? Prism. What an amazing concept! One of the coolest things about the Bass Coast themes is its conceptual versatility, and this year was no exception. An amazing mixture of holographic, rainbow, sequin, and all around shiny fabrics ruled the costumes this year, right up to the massive prism that adorned the main stage.
The music? The music was incredible. Bass Coast prides itself on being at the cutting edge of musical programming; it brings together legendary artists who you know and love, up and coming local selectors, and underground folks you may not have even heard yet. 2016 brought us the giant that is Ivy Lab, with their set in Slay Bay changing lives that year. Fast forward to 2018, and they’re headlining the Main Stage with a crowd that we could only describe as electric.
Skiitour played arguably their best set to date with their first Slay Bay outing, having been 6 year residents of the Pirate Radio stage. This set showed everyone why they’re a festival staple across the board. Other highlights include CharlestheFirst, Smalltown DJs, Nadia Rose, and Fixate.
But, the real treat was not one, but two specially curated sets by the matriarch of Bass Coast herself, The Librarian. Her usual Main Stage outing was incredible as always, but a really special piece came from her. She closed out the festival with a surprise set, only revealed when she took the stage as the sun was emerging. For those who were there to experience it, we can all agree it was a spectacle to behold.
The workshops this year were also some of the best by far. Topics ranged from Indigenous solidarity within our communities, to artist and talent management, public speaking, and everything in between. Having these outings to break the party vibe of the festival can be so rewarding and wonderful, and we’re glad we got to experience a couple of them for ourselves. There’s even a twerkshop, put on by the Light Twerkerz from Vancouver!
The cherry on top of this eclectic festival is the beautiful Merritt mountain valley that it calls home. The crystal clear river provides a way to cool off, perfect for daily shenanigans, especially when you post up beside Slay Bay for daytime beats and floats. The mountain ranges surrounding the festival keep the noise in and the fun surrounding us, and it makes for a gorgeous backdrop too! In addition this year, we can’t forget the upgrades to the stages! The massively expanded Cantina Stage and Bar paved the way for our favorite moments of the festival, courtesy of Fort Knox Five & QDup. It definitely paved the way for some relaxing afternoons sipping cocktails and listening to groovy, low end beats.
Once again, Bass Coast festival stole our hearts for another year, and we can’t wait to see what year 11 has in store for us. Until next year, Bass Coast. Thanks for being so shiny!
Who joined us this year for Bass Coast X? What were some of your favorite moments? Let us know in the comments or on social media!
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