Shambhala favorite Neon Steve and rising stars Jennay Badger and Deepstrut played at an intimate venue in Courtenay, BC for New Year’s Eve 2018. Wax Candy’s impressive visual setup kitted out with PK Sound and hosted by the Avalanche Bar and Grill really brought the vibe together. The artists threw down floor-shaking sets for the festive transition into the new year.
Deepstrut warmed up the crowd with darker house beats and chilled bass. Jennay Badger’s expert mixing and signature funky beats spliced with hip-hop samples. However, Neon Steve took the audience by surprise via dropping quality house bangers throughout his set. The crowd didn’t stop dancing until the last call. Some were spotted still shuffling in the wee small hours outside.
There is a strong argument to be made for the heart of electronic music to be that of the local show. Support your local artists and go to their gigs, especially if you happen to live in a smaller community. Just about every festival headliners and chart-toppers were once local DJs themselves, and you never know who could be the next international sensation (Author’s note: Calvin Harris, before he got famous worked at a fish market near my hometown in Scotland. True story!) Vancouver Island in and of itself is a hotbed for creativity and progression in music, and we would do well to give its scene the attention it deserves, from its underground raves to its major mainstream music festivals.
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