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| Taking a break in the shade and cool grass on a hot fesvtival day |
We Vancouverites “suffer” a lot of wet stuff falling from the skies during the winter months and far into the spring. Then, the occasional 15 or 20 degree day starts breaking up the weeks-on-end of rain, signaling summer is on its way and relief for us sufferers of seasonal affective disorder. To music lovers and concert goers, this signals something much more than just hot days lying on the beaches and swinging clubs out on the linx… it means outdoor concert season is almost here!
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| Buddies and beer gardens! |
Being able to soak up some live while under the warm sun is an experience like no other. A cold one in your hand, a burger in the other, the sun on your face, the joyous (and often half-intoxicated) fans, and your favorite band (or maybe one you're just discovering) playing on stage… and just when you think it can’t get any better, you find out it can.
Let me introduce to you- the weekend-long outdoor music festival concept.
Oh this isn’t anything new you say? But it kind of is to BCers. For too long, BC has been relatively devoid of weekend music festivals. Sure we get the occasional one-day outdoor festival (Warp Tour, Arts County Fair, Virgin Fest, Burnaby Blues and Roots Fest)… but all of these are missing one important factor. MULTIPLE DAYS!
When a festival runs over multiple days, you create a feeling of community amongst your fellow music lovers. It morphs from a day out into a trip… an adventure. The proof that BCers crave this type of music experience is evident by the flocks of Canadians that pour across the border for festivals like Sasquatch. I’ve been many times and often meet more Canadians than Americans!
There are so many levels of awesomeness that contribute to the amazing experience of attending a festival. Even the drive to the festival site is often filled with shenanigans and exchanged honks from cars with “LIVE at Squamish or BUST” written across the back of their cars in florescent face paint.
I’m so happy that a great team of people have banded together to create a 2-day concert for us festival craving music junkies called LIVE at Squamish… the question is, how will we live up to our friends across the line who manage to throw some pretty amazing festivals.
Will LIVE at Squamish master the art of quick beer lines? Will they have enough portapotties so you won’t wet yourself while waiting in endless lines? These are the little details festival goers care about, but what they OBSESS over, is who is playing, and are they gonna kick ass. I’ll be reporting from LIVE at Squamish with my take as an experienced festival go-er. Sammi Morelli will also be reporting from LIVE at Squamish… only with a different take. Sammi has NEVER been to a festival! I know… I also let out a high-pitched “WHAT?!”
We’ll get Sammi’s take on her first festival experience, but first here’s what she expects to experience this year at LIVE at Squamish:
SAMMI
I have a bit of an embarrassing confession to make.
I’ve never been to a music festival.
At least not one where you’re completely immersed – Waking up to the thumping of a distant bass amp, the smell of amazing and greasy food wafting through the air, shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers, totally in the moment…
Sure you can catch your favorite band at Rogers arena – Go out for beers before the show, maybe even dinner… make a night of it.
You can catch a local act in a tiny club with a mediocre sound system, only mildly bearable opening acts, get tipsy with your friends and dance 3 feet from the stage.
OR you can experience something magical.
Stuff that legends are made of. The live music Mecca’s; Woodstock. Isle of Wight. Coachella. Sasquatch. All famous for the experience of being there. It’s something no amount of youtube video watching, 3D concert movies, or Concert DVD’s can mimic, or even hope to recreate.
Everyone around me has been to at LEAST one festival, and has some sort of story to tell from it. My sister went to Pick-a-thon down in Oregon last year (hey, that kind of rhymed!). The way she described how the tents were scattered throughout a forest, with canopies of colorful scarves hanging from the trees… how she took part in an hour long conversation with a legendary blues man... intimate concerts under the stars or in a barn… bands you’ve followed for years singing right to you…
My boyfriend, Jeff, often refers to multiple trips he’s had to the Gorge for festivals...
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| Oh, the excitement of arrival |
One time, they borrowed a friend’s extra tent… but the poles were missing. Their neighbors (“Camping” in a large motor-home nearby) graciously allowed He and his buddy to sleep in the back of the trailer where their motorcycles were kept. They made them steaks, became fast friends... He seemed to be really impressed with the steaks.
I’ve noticed from hearing these tales that, with festivals, the music is only about 50-60% of the overall experience. Part of it is the excitement that builds after you’ve bought your tickets and are waiting for that weekend to arrive. Another good portion is the journey to the festival grounds… the car ride with your friends… the pit stops for beers and picture taking.
And when you arrive… it’s going outside your normal life, it’s plunging into a crowd who’s equally as passionate about music and the bands as you are, it’s making new friends... It’s about sharing the experience and making the memories… together.
...At least that's what I gather.
The only shitty thing about music festivals is that they can be expensive.
A weekend in Coachella with the flights, car rental, camping/hotel expenses PLUS tickets to the show would probably run you up to a thousand bucks
That’s something people my age are totally not down with. We’d spend the dough on that stuff if we had it…. IF we had it.
But most of us are living paycheck to paycheck, buried in debt from school or just can’t find the right job, and aren’t able to justify spending money on a music filled weekend. Which is why when I heard about LIVE at Squamish, I was completely stoked. Here’s a festival that’s showcasing some of the most insane bands BC has to offer, AND two UNREAL headliners- Metric and Weezer.
From a music standpoint alone, there is going to be some incredible music played that weekend. (I almost screamed when I heard about Weezer headlining… I’ve always wanted to see them live)
It’s also in one of the most beautiful areas in the province AND close enough you won’t burn a ton of money on gas.
In my books… It’s a Win – Win.
LIVE at Squamish… I choose you to take my festival virginity.
Please don’t be gentle.
More updates to come as we get closer to LIVE at Squamish. For more information visit http://www.liveatsquamish.com/ and for line-up details visit http://www.liveatsquamish.com/artists
