Canadian Festival Guide with Stickybuds!

[Shambhala 2016 shot by Ariana Visuals]
British Columbia is known for epic mountain culture, superb snow, and some of the nicest people in the world.  The province’s luscious natural landscapes are blanketed with enchanted forests, which surround peacefully meandering rivers, that flow between rocky shores toward crystal clear lakes.  On the riverbanks and lakeshores are a host of spiritually charged chill zones, many of which serve as the venue for some of the best boutique music festivals in the world.  That’s right, as a compliment to world class adventure sports and outdoor recreation, BC throws some of the best outdoor parties in the universe! Hidden deep in the woods you may just come across the funkiest place on earth, known to its inhabitants as The Fractal Forest, which is hosted, maintained, and curated by some the freshest and finest musical talent the BC Province has to offer.  In this case I’m talking about Stickybuds! As this is only my first year living in this outdoor fantasy festival dreamland, and the high festival season kicks off in a few months time, I thought I would get an expert opinion on which events to snatch up a ticket to, and why. Please step to the mic, Stickybuds…

"This is my home. The best festival I have ever attended in the whole entire world. The amazing stages (Fractal Forest Represent), the people, sound systems and of coarse the music. This year will be my 13th year playing at it, and 17th year attending." 

Stickybuds on Shambhala Music Festival

August 11-14, 2017 | Salmo, BC

12,000 attendees | Sold Out 

"This is a truly awesome festival up in the mountains of Golden, BC!  Really great music and sound systems, all set in beautiful scenery. I've played 4 times here I believe." 

Stickybuds on Motion Notion Festival

August 24-28 | Golden, BC

 5,000 attendees|$269

"Bass Coast is a very uniquely curated place. Fine attention to detail in their stages and music selection. I really like it. Definitely one of Canada's best festivals. Also there's lots of art and culture going on in and around the camps. I played here in 2011 and attended as a patron in 2016. I had an absolute blast both times!"

Stickybuds on Bass Coast Festival

July 7-10, 2017 | Merrit, BC

4500 Attendees | Sold Out 

"This is such a rad party in Alberta. I've played here 3 times. Always a blast, filled with a lot of energy, creativity & colour!"

Stickybuds on Astral Harvest

July 14 - July 17 2017

Driftpile, Alberta

"This is a bumping festival on the East Coast of Canada. I had a great time playing there a few years ago. Really good people, nice line-ups  and filled with culture." 

Stickybuds on Evolve Festival

 Moncton, New Brunswick

30,000 attendees with 10,000 campers

"Situated up in Northern British Columbia, they have their own special festival, Awakening. It's small and cozy but filled with heart, cool stages and funky beats. I played the first 2 years of the festival and had a really great time."

Stickybuds on Awakening Festival

Big thanks to Stickybuds for taking the time to team up with me on this one! You can hear his latest collaboration with Skope here and catch his bangin' mix for Shambahala 2016 below...

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Shambhala Series | Neon Steve

Neon Steve, the Canadian West Coast Bass Warrior has really cultivated his sound in recent years as a DJ/Producer. Resulting in a reputation for his high energy sets that blend and twist conventional genres. While his production spans over a variety of tempos, at the moment you’ll find him in the studio working with Askillz on them 808 vibez & on that release tip of a new booty house banger with Basement Freaks!  Over the coming months you’ll find him hitting’ up Shambhala (hell yes!!!) and Basscoast festivals . Then he’s headed to Europe in October for a stack of shows over 6 weeks! I caught up with this Breakfest legend to talk all things Shamb’s Production tips and Tim Tam Slams… 

You’re from Canada, with that in mind what was the biggest opportunity that paved the way for you to move from being a local act to an international one? I think the key to the success I’ve had so far is just a bunch of really cool/lucky opportunities (Playing Shambhala, remixing my fav artists, getting blog support etc..) that have accumulated over the years. I’ve never had any one significant event that has launched my career. The shows/tours/releases just keep stacking up and the resume gets stronger and stronger every year. I’ve toured internationally but I still don’t feel like an “International act” I’d like to feel that way though, and I’m definitely working towards it. Slowly but surely!

Your Fractal Forest from Shambhala last year has over had over 80,000 plays! The set is a hell of a lot of fun, crossing over to so many different genres. How was the experience on the day? Thanks, Glad you think so! It’s a pretty crazy experience playing the Fractal Forest. Anyone that’s had the chance would argue it’s one of the greatest stages ever. For some reason (apart from the first year) I’ve never been nervous before playing. I’ve even had the worst possible nightmare happen (dead mixer from the jump off) and it was still such a breeze. I think it’s because the crowd is so accepting and the vibes are so thick you feel supercharged up there. The programming is all killer-no filler too, so it’s flattering getting invited back every year.

As you know I’m from Perth, the most isolated capital city in the world. What advice or tips can you give me as I head over to Canada for the Shamb’s? Perth was the only Australian city that reminded me of BC while I was over there so I think you’ll transition quite nicely! Very similar vibe of people and we even love our breakbeats just as much! I would say make the time to go on some hikes and swim in some rivers or lakes and eat all the food. We have some of the best restaurants no matter what you’re into. Also, bring warm clothes ‘cause the mountains still get super cold at night!

There is so much amazing new music at the moment. I personally find it hard to keep up! What are you diggin’ right now?I’m always so all over the map but my top 3 artists right now are Malaa, Wuki, and Tropkillaz!

Lil one for the producer heads out there; what are your top 3 plug-ins and why?

1. Really digging the new Izotope Ozone 7 Exciter. You can give some nice colour to 808’s with it, or rough em right up for some nastiness.

2. Serum. Move aside Massive!

3. Max for Live’s Convolution Reverbs. If you haven’t purchased the max for live upgrade in Ableton, it’s worth it just for these reverbs in my opinion. They have totally changed the game for me.

Have you ever had a Tim Tam Slam before? Keen to have one at the festival? I’ll bring the biccy’s!Haha say what!? No I definitely haven’t had one of those. What are they? As long as they’re meat/dairy free I’m open to trying one!

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Breakfest Beats

5 reasons why I’m fucking excited for this year's Breakfest!

Marka- Dub Phizix and Skeptical feat Strategy

Just say I was one of those retarded girls that ask's the DJ’s for a request this would be my #1 choice! One of my all time favourite electronic tracks, sadly it doesnt get played out enough. Though I sure do make up for at kicks on’s. Really looking forward to both hearing this and 'Buffalo' hopefully in the Breakfest Bowl!

Jesse Slayter & Wuki - That’s Right

Hands down this was one of my favourite singles dropped in 2014. “Imagine Claude Vonstroke and the Disclosure brothers having a baby and that baby grew to be a dj, this would be a tune that never left his space crate” Mad Decent. After slaying Ambar in 2014 with Shockone for Force Majeure there is plenty of hype around Wuki returning to Perth.

Spenda C - Badman

It's no secret the Perth punters have a growing love for Spenda C! Touring back to our Golden state several times a year, I’m stoked to see this lord finally added to a Festival Line-up in P-town. Spenda’s Badman released on Klub Kids earlier this yeah takes the listener on a tour of bass, house, wubs and classic rude boy rhythms all in the space of 3 minutes something!

Stanton Warriors - Loving Me Wrong

Stanton’s have pushed through the career shattering “breakbeat” genre label to establishing themselves a solid fixture in the Bass Music Community. “Loving Me Wrong” is the lead single off the 7th Studio Album (which dropped in September) and doesn't fail to disappoint, neither does the rest of the release!

Hydraulix & Oski - Let's Play

One of the most popular tracks I’ve heard play out locally over the last year is Hydraulix & Oski  Let’s Play! Like Spenda, Hydraulix is becoming a frequent traveller to the West n with his mad bass vibes and trap bangers he's a vibrant addition to the boutique

festival's line-up.

In case you didn't know Breakfast is a broken beat and bass boutique masterpiece held every Boxing Day in the same exquisite surrounds since the first Breakfest 15 years ago; Belvoir Amphitheatre. This years full line-up: 

STANTON WARRIORS | DANNY BYRD | A SKILLZ

DEEKLINE | DJ MARKY | MAFIA KISS | WUKI | DUB PHIZIX

STICKYBUDS | SPENDA C | HYDRAULIX 

SLEEPY TOM | K+LAB | BLACK & BLUNT

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