The bulk of the festival season may be over, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to pack away the camping supplies just yet. Atmosphere Gathering is just around the corner and DMNW couldn’t be more excited to wind down post – Shambhala among friends in the Comox Valley!
Seeing as how this is DMNW’s first adventure up island, we thought we’d lay out a bit of an official guide for other first timers making the trek, or for those seasoned vets that might want a little refresher! Held in Cumberland, BC, Atmosphere Gathering incorporates the laid-back BC attitude with the naturally beautiful backdrop of Vancouver Island. Trust us when we say, pictures don’t lie.
Photo: Kove Photography
Getting There
Because you probably wouldn’t have a very good time if you end up getting lost, getting to the festival is one of the more important aspects of enjoying the weekend. While there are multiple options to get to Atmosphere, the easiest way is booking your spot on the coach! Just $40 gets you a round trip from Victoria to Cumberland without any hassle or fuss, and you can purchase your pass here before August 18th. There’s also a rideshare set up by the festival to encourage carpooling, because who doesn’t want to help the environment and make some badass new friends at the same time?
If you live on Vancouver Island, you’ve probably been to the Comox Valley before, so grab a friend or two and help cut down the carbon footprint. If you need help on how to get there, click here for directions, or just plug Cumberland into your GPS and it’s pretty much impossible to miss.
The Music
While Atmo may not have the numbers or the budgets like some of the other festivals around the PNW, that doesn’t make it any less than its counterparts. With around 1500 attendees, Atmosphere is as intimate as it gets, yet they’re still pulling in some of the biggest names in our scene, with Liquid Stranger, Father Funk, saQi, Drumspyder, JPOD, and Skiitour all set to throw down before our very eyes.
Not enough for you? Island favorites The Funkee Wadd, Mykee, Dubtecha, Mister Luke, and Atmosphere co-founder Mt. Eliah are some of the other names that will be providing your soundtrack to the weekend.
Photo: Kove Photography
Far from just an electronic festival however, Atmosphere also incorporates the live aspect of the music world. Vancouver-based Delhi 2 Dublin fuses their namesake, combining Bhangra & Celtic music with a mix of bass heavy sounds from the world of funk, dub, reggae, hip-hop, and electronic. The Soul Rebels, an 8 piece brass/Jazz fusion group from Louisiana, will be showcasing their one-of-a-kind sound on Saturday night at the Atmosphere Stage. While fan favourites Moontricks, Fractal Tribe, Red Gold & Green Machine, and Vancouver Island’s own The New Groovement are just a few of the other amazing live performances you’ll want to check out for maximum levels of gettin’ down.
In respect to the Village of Cumberland which literally boarders the festival grounds, outdoor music ends at 1am. But that doesn’t mean you have to put your dance moves on hold! One of the many features of Atmosphere Gathering is their silent disco, where attendees can pay a small fee to tune in via headphones as 2 DJs battle it out in the circus tent. You choose who you want to hear, and all it takes is the flip of a switch to check out what the other selector is spinning. There’s something about a tent full of people seemingly dancing to silence that is right up our alley, and we’re really excited to check our first silent disco!
Important things happen in Pacific Northwest nightlife, and DMNW will send you alerts!
