Sasquatch is more than just a music festival. Yeah, there are incredible bands and some of the best live performances you’ll ever lay your eyes on (with the Gorge in the background… just dayum), but it’s all made that much more special by the festival’s atmosphere. Surrounded by majestic and awe-striking scenery in the seclusion of the gorge, every performance has so much more soul. Energy reverberates between the bands and the crowd, and the festival’s vibes are like no other.
Hozier started it all off with the song “Take me to Church.” With long locks and a voice that resembles that of an R&B styled Ray LaMontagne, this Irishman swooned the crowd with his charm and smooth voice (note: no undergarments were flung in the making of his set).
An emerging artist with a folky voice, Shakey Graves sang wisdom into the hearts of many mesmerized youth, some of whom reported having “visions” and “Sasquatch moments.”
An emerging band straight out of the state of Oregon, Radiation City‘s upbeat and funky tunes catalyzed a wave of yet-to-be-named dance moves that quickly took over the crowd.
Do you hear that sweet guitar rift? Yeah that’s the Dodos. Representing San Fran on the Bigfoot stage, they rocked out cool as cucumbers and groovy as the headbobs and dance moves evoked from the crowd.
Stoked is how the crowd felt during Sol‘s entire performance – another emerging rapper on the scene, expressing much gratefulness for his devoted fans, turning it up a notch, there were many beats to be felt indeed. Did I mention he crowd-surfed on an inflatable boat?
Rawr! Definitely a band from a different time, Portland-based The Growlers brought it back to classic rock & roll for one of the danciest crowds. Philosophical lyrics and raging, psychedelic and rhythmic tunes were kicked and jammed out from the stage in one of my favourite performances at Sasquatch.
A hard rock-blues duo with heavy drums and rockin guitar solos reminiscent of the White stripes, The Grizzled Mighty are a small band that showed Sasquatch how to put on a powerful set.
These two talented chikas from tUnE-yArDs are on the rise and for good reason – they can whip out a layered combination of drum loops, bass, and ukulele all on the spot, creating a beat that is irresistible to the ear. Very down to earth too – they were sitting in the crowd in front of me watching Haim before I snagged this picture.
Another band on the rise, this time from Canterbury, England, Syd Arthur performed a set with a unique combination of instruments – violin, mandolin in addition to guitar and drums. You can even hear some intricacies of funk and jazz in their sound. Think rock with an innovative twist.
Wonder how to turn it up a notch at a music festival? Go ask Papa. This band got the audience dancing, jumping, twisting, funky-ing it up so much that they couldn’t resist joining the fun. Here’s a picture of them running into the dance party of their own creation!
Here is some behind the scenes footage feat. Pink Mountaintops – the Vancouver band that’s been heating up the streets of our city with their new studio album, Get Back. After a metal-rock-folk set that felt like another adventure on the open road, this Vancouver band shows me around the digs behind the stage and let me in on their plans of installing a hot tub at the back of the RV.
And the weekend ended with an epic, giant Major Lazer dance party – complete with fireworks, and lazers, of course; this rager was the best way to complete the energy-driven three days of music and awesomeness AKA Sasquatch.
And thus, another Sasquatch meandered its way back into the scenery – as did we, our bones still trembling from the festival’s Gorge-ous vibes. Already stoked for Sasquatch 2015? So are we – see you next May fellow Squatchers!
