The B.C. Day long weekend has just passed and people are already counting down the days until the next three-day extravaganza of fun and frivolity. Well, LIVE At Squamish is shaping up to be a sure bet for the Labour Day weekend, offering up two full days of diverse musical programming, featuring over 40 local, national and international artists performing on three stages.
While most people already know that major artists like DEVO, Matthew Good, Bad Religion and Tokyo Police Club are confirmed for the festival, there have been some last-minute additions to the roster: Vancouver's You Say Party is returning to the stage for the first time since the death of drummer Devon Clifford. They'll be kicking off their 2010 Canadian and European tour in Squamish. Also, soul pop rocker Kuba Oms, UK superstar DJ Seb Fontaine and Vancouver-based indie rockers Said The Whale are on board for the festival.
"Squamish is only 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver on one of the most scenic highways in the province," Paul Runnals, executive producer of LIVE At Squamish, said in a press release. "Labour Day weekend is the last big weekend of the summer and I couldn't think of a better thing to do than visit us at the festival in the outdoor adventure capital of B.C."
On top of all of the big-name talent on-board for this first-year festival, a handful of Sea to Sky artists are getting a crack at performing for the crowds.
The organizers from Squamish Equinox Rocks Festival (SERF) have been brought into LIVE At Squamish to host one of the three stages, where local and national talents will have an opportunity to entertain festivalgoers. They sifted through more than 50 applications from artists who were eager to be part of the inaugural event.
"Choosing a small selection of musicians from a total of 54 applications is not an easy task, especially when trying to choose from a lot of talented bands with a variety of styles and backgrounds," Paul Hudson, vice president of SERF, said in a release. "Overall, we are very excited with the lineup we will present on this year's SERF stage."
Selected artists include Tommy Honest & The Liars, a five-piece rock 'n' roll group featuring members from Pemberton, Whistler and Squamish; Fogon, a Squamish-based musical collective that dishes up diverse musical flavours from around the world; YukMC, an emcee hailing from Squamish; DJ Riddim Fernandez, a talented local DJ who also calls Squamish home; Whistler's Trish Jamieson and Squamish's Step Twelve, who both offer up laidback grooves.
In addition to talent from the Sea to Sky, SERF organizers have selected an assortment of artists from throughout B.C. and even further abroad: We Are The City, Mindil Beach Markets, Jon & Roy, Jon Bottomley and Hollerado will perform.
Two-day tickets to LIVE At Squamish are $145.50, with kids under 12 admitted for free. People can also purchase single-day tickets for $79, or a special VIP two-day pass, which includes parking, preferred entry and access to the VIP zone, for $249.50. Head to www.liveatsquamish.com for more information.
Saturday, Sept. 4:
DEVO
Matthew Good
Dirty Vegas (live)
Hollerado
Z-Trip
We Are The City
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald
Nigel Mihell
Seb Fontaine
Jon & Roy
The Dudes
Kostaman & The Good Vibrations
The Tennessee Three
John Morgan
Kristian Littman
Mindil Beach Markets
Step Twelve
Trish Jamieson
Maurice Ryan
Riddim Fernandez
Live visual mix by Tony Pantages and Electrabelle
Sunday, Sept. 5:
The Decemberists
Bad Religion
Dirty Heads
Tom Middleton
Tokyo Police Club
Rich Hope
Kuba Oms
Mother Mother
Civil Twilight
Kevin Shiu
Jay Tripwire
You Say Party
K-Tel
Michael Ziff
Tommy Honest & The Liars
John Bottomley
Fogon
Yuk MC
Henry Mah
Riddim Fernandez
Kate Morgan
Live visual mix by Tony Pantages and Electrabelle