Last weekend, Monstercat held their third annual Compound festival. Showcasing music, art, and games, this one-day block party was a full-on celebration of the independent label and the Vancouver dance music community. An unassuming block of Vancouver’s East Downtown neighborhood was completely transformed into an inviting venue that drew a huge crowd of excited dancers.
The game room was clearly one of Compound’s most popular attractions. There were six stations for players to indulge in some Rocket League, set up so that PC and console gamers alike could show off their skills and challenge each other locally. Monstercat also had a demo of their virtual reality game Call of the Wild available for attendees to try; a host of people had a blast virtually DJing for the Monstercat crowd. Beat Saber was, of course, probably the biggest draw. At any given time there was a line of people eager to try their hands at the rhythm game. Fans had a great time playing through the Monstercat song pack featuring popular tracks from artists such as Kayzo and Tokyo Machine.
One of the coolest parts about Compound was seeing just how invested the community was. As we wandered around, we saw three-year Compound vets excitedly comparing notes about what had changed over the years, first-time attendees and children danced their hearts out and even met a few of the neighbors who came out to see what was happening next door.
The musical program fully reflected this community focus. Groundwerks compiled an incredible selection of local artists to DJ at the second stage. Diana Boss and Awood were just a few of the locals who absolutely tore up the dance floor, keeping the crowd moving at all times. The main stage also featured the Call of the Wild contest winner, who not only had the chance to perform but also won a gear pack from Pioneer DJ. It was great to see them enjoy their performance and see their family and friends in the crowd supporting them.
Of course, the main stage lineup didn’t disappoint. Grant, clearly a local favorite, drew an incredible crowd, packing the street with eager dancers and spinning crowd favorites. Tails and Conro also kept us dancing the night away, drawing a crowd that was invested in Monstercat’s own artists. Drezo closed the night out with a special surprise; the entire Monstercat family came up for a massive B2B set the likes of which Vancouver has never seen before. You could feel the energy buzzing throughout the crowd as they ended the night on a high note.
It’s hard to overstate just how electrifying Compound is. You could feel all of the best parts of Vancouver and Monstercat coalescing into one wild event. We’ll definitely be back next year. Will you?
Did you attend Compound? What was your favorite part? Let us know on social media!
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