2024 Performers
The Gaff
The Gaff is a lifelong DJ with tight skills & cuts, a lengthy list of accomplishments, tonnes of dope records, heart & class. One foot in the future, and one foot in the past. The Gaff's purpose is in elevating Hip Hop, Dance, Club and Electronic Sounds to a level easily combined with Funk, Soul & Jazz. The result is amazing live performances & instrumental productions, giving a story of music which ebbs and flows. The Gaff has rocked parties and clubs worldwide: either by all vinyl 45 sets, or destroying it with tight scratching, live drumming on the sampler, and turntable kung fu. A teacher of the essential, peers and fans alike are often caught overlooking The Gaff's shoulder to see just what it is he’s up to.
Hannah Epperson
With early ties to the American Southwest and Canada's Pacific coast, Hannah Epperson first heard music and stories as a traveler between high mountain desert and ocean shores. Her music draws from a life of listening and play inspired by musicians and artists across a wide range of genres: from generous childhood mentorships with cowgirl Meghan Merker, a clutch of old time dance musicians, and Peter Shumman's Bread and Puppet Theater; to practicing arpeggios and discovering the eclectic discographies of European artists like Bjork, the Cranberries, Arvo Part and many others who captured the imagination of a young North American.
Agent Hooper
Tucked away in the coastal forests of Vancouver Island. Agent Hooper has been bringing smiles along with pumping fists to dance floors for over 2 decades. Diversity, Carrington and other island gems have witnessed his drive for maximum tech-yes. A blend of uplifting and bouncing Tec-House, House and Indie Dance . "It's the music that will make you go YES!"
Djama
DJAMA (jah-ma) is the paternal family name of Aya Clappis, a multidisciplinary afro-indigenous artist of somali and nuu-chah-nulth (huu-ay aht/huuʕiiʔaḥt) ancestry who began exploring their love for musical expression in the summer of 2022. since, they have become a member of the emergent underground and sonic events collective– Resonance (@resonance.vic). playing predominantly across the island and mainland, they hope to carve out space for underplayed sounds for crowds that crave new experiences on the dancefloor. as a DJ undefined by genre, their goal is to bring drum-focused, energetic and diasporic music into every space they play. intertwining their abundance of cultural influences, bops, and elements of surprise is their signature.
Kilbourne
Kilbourne, the founder of Cimmerian Records channels a moody and emotional west coast vibe.
His roots span from the northern Sunshine Coast to his homebase on Vancouver Island. As a DJ and producer, Kilbourne is best known for his dubstep, but his distinctive sets also resonate through drum and bass, halftime, breakbeats, and occasionally techno across 4 decks. His commitment to sound system culture and supporting the growth of the scene make Kilbourne a truly unforgettable force to experience.
Mt.Eliah
Ben Howells has been creating musical communities on the West Coast for over 15 years. Howells founded and co-produces Pachena Bay Music Festival, Cumberland Wild festival, Atmosphere Gathering festival, Project Intent, the Big Top Circus Tent, as well as countless concert series, and annual events.
Tsimka
Tsimka Martin, rooted In Nuučaan̓uł territories, morphs millennia-old oral and drumming traditions into contemporary sonic vibrations. Inspired by the dualities of the ancient and the modern, Indigenous and settler identities, ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ and English languages, Tsimka playfully reinterprets spiritual wisdom, natural elements, and cultural stories to remind listeners of the rhythms alive in us all - breath, heart, and joy.
Tsimka & Michael Red is a collaboration of music from the land and from the heart (and knowing and listening).
Harvey Hann & The Bandit Band
For over a decade, Mike Hann and Tyler Harvey have been a staple in Vancouver Island's music scene, captivating audiences with their dynamic performances. Whether performing as the engaging acoustic duo or commanding big stages with Harvey Hann & The Bandit Band, they ignite every crowd they perform in front of.
Founded on the rhythmic foundation laid by Jeff Scotney on bass and Connor Waddell on drums, Harvey Hann & The Bandit Band also features a rotating line-up of some of the island’s finest musicians.
Hann, Harvey and Scotney are also known for their parts in the popular band Quoia, which played a pivotal role in the inception of two iconic music festivals on Vancouver Island: Tall Tree and Song & Surf Music Festivals.
Justin Martin
As the late Oscar Wilde once said: “life is too important to be taken seriously”, an ethos that
Justin Martin is sticking with despite achieving soaring success over the last six years as a
producer and international DJ. Justin initially pricked the ears of the electronic music
community in 2003 with his first record ‘The Sad Piano’ on Ben Watt’s Buzzin’ Fly label
Lazy Syrup Orchestra
Lazy Syrup is a melting pot of musical styles, bridging the gap between live and electronic. Their sound is unique, fun, nostalgic and full of surprises. The group has been captivating dance floors together for the better part of a decade, while building a dedicated following around the world. They can be found holding down peak hour club performances or golden hour festival sets, always bringing a distinct flavour to the stage. Expect high energy dance driven storytelling with an array of sultry vocals and instrumentation. It’s ‘mellow kinda hype’ music.
Handsome Tiger
Handsome Tiger is an Anishinaabe Métis, North African music
producer/dj from Turtle Island, residing in Vancouver BC. His
production blends traditional sounds from his culture alongside
other Indigenous sounds, interwoven into the contemporary
sounds of electronic bass music today. Named in CBC music’s
6 Indigenous artists you need to know in 2021 and CBC’s
Reclaimed artists to watch in 2020. No stranger to the
Vancouver and West Coast music community, Handsome Tiger
has played countless shows and gathered numerous releases
under his belt. With a love of bass music he’s been a strong
advocate in supporting and contributing to many events in
Vancouver’s underground Scene. Quickly becoming Canadian
festival scene favourite with appearances at Bass Coast,
Shambhala, Mutek to name a few. His DJ sets mix many
flavours of sound system culture and Global bass sounds
including dub, grime, dancehall, afrobeats, rap, reggaeton and
more all woven together to light up any dance floor.
Michael Red
Michael Red is a Vancouver based music producer, composer, curator, performer and DJ. Founder and lead for Low Indigo (leftfield music label, community, events, channel), ambient/experimental artist under the name Souns, one half of Oro Azul with Ultima Esuna (releasing their debut EP on Mood Hut), one half of LA FE with Daniel Rincon (NAP, Ambien Baby), one half of Chambers with Gabriel Saloman (Yellow Swans), former collaborator and touring artist with throat singer Tanya Tagaq for over ten years, former curator for New Forms Festival for over ten years, Bass Coast Music Festival resident, the founding member of Lighta! Sound, and collaborator with a long list of other notable artists.
Garret T Willie
Garret T. Willie is an old soul masquerading as an uncommonly wise, weathered, witty and world weary 23 year old and he's about to give rock 'n' roll a formidable 21st century kick in the ass. Garret T. Willie hails from Kingcome Inlet, off the coast of British Columbia but while Willie’s Indigenous back story also gives him more right than most to sing the blues and at heart, Garret T. Willie is a rock ‘n’ roller he’d rather that not be the whole story
Bu Vonblume
Bu VonBlume is funk.
Bu VonBlume is disco.
Bu VonBlume is the space between the bass lines, the ‘get ups’ between the ‘get downs’, the ‘fun’ in the funk, the Bu in the boogie.
Bu VonBlume is what happens when a bunch ofCumberland (BC) friends see a need for authentic audience engagement and good, strong, flavourful dance, dance, dance.
Bu VonBlume is a baby of the 70s, with piercing original horn hooks, downright dangerous bass lines and stage antics that seem strait outta Broadway. Expect audience participation and original songs saturated in groove and bravado where no genre is spared”
Dylprickle
DylPrickle’s main mission is to make your legs ache and your booty shake as you get down to the massive, positive vibes he broadcasts across the dancefloor. He loves driving the crowd wild, surfing on the energy as it soars higher and higher while he constantly calibrates to dancer reactions and tweaks his tune selections to match. His sets express emotions through sounds and he tailors them to suit the style of event and time slot. Though tech house music takes first place in his heart, he is a versatile & multi-genre DJ.
Ms.Rockwell
MS.Rockwell’s first love of music and dancing has led her on a natural progression into the DJ world.
Her sets are highly curated, her musical tastes & knowledge span many different decades and genres, which are key influences playing out into her eclectic dance mixes.
She believes in magic and her soulful selection of deep electronic music brings that to the fore. The world of music has always had her heart and she continues to grow and evolve in this space.
Ofcosmos
Ofcosmos is based in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island - a hotbed of creative and cultural activity. Emerging from backyard music sessions during the pandemic years, Ofcosmos began crafting their music with a unique approach to instrumentation and proceeded to make the bouzouki - a greek/Irish four stringed instrument, a central part of their sound.
With a solid, groove based rhythm section, a sometimes ambient, effects driven, sometimes hypnotically rhythmic guitar and powerful lead vocals, Ofcomsos’s sound isn’t easily sorted into a familiar genre. You can however find elements of psychedelic folk, dub, post punk and even some moments of funk.
Sarah Orton
Sarah’s early exposure to mainstream pop music as a child of the 90s, the blues and rock'n'roll cassette tapes on rotation in the FordBronco driven by her hippy parents, and her enigmatic Russian Doukhobor ancestry—a heritage preserved through psalm singing— allhad a significant impact in shaping her musical journey. Developing singing and performance for her as a profoundly spiritual and creativeform of expression.
Stund
Ben Stunden, otherwise known as STUND is a Canadian house music producer with a passion for energetic music. The combination of dark and dynamic sounds keeps the crowd moving through a constant climb in energy during his sets. His inspiration is drawn from elements of hip-hop, deep bass, and tech house to form his unique style. With releases already on Perfect Driver, Westwood X, Audiophile XXL, 3000 Deep, and House of Hustle; expect a flurry of new music to add to his already notable productions.
The Pseudos
The Pseudos are an instrumental spaghetti-surf band based out of the remote islands of HaidaGwaii in BC, Canada. Formed out of pandemic boredom in 2021, they wrote and recorded 10songs which were released on their debut album "Surf Bozos: 30 Years of Surf Rock". The albumwas released to streaming services in May, 2023 and is now available on Vinyl, Cassette andCD. The songs are fast, upbeat, and harken to classic 60's surf sounds as well as soundtrackmusic to Sergio Leone's famous spaghetti western films. The album was recorded on HaidaGwaii and mixed/produced by Connor Pritchard at Pulp City Music in Lheidli T'enneh (PrinceGeorge), BC.
bedtime snack
Jayden, also known as bedtime snack, is a Kwakwaka’wakw/Coast Salish Indigenous artist who is just trying to capture a feeling and then share it. Recognized on Vancouver Island as an emerging artist on a serious come-up, he’s been making ripples in the scene since he hit his first mix. bedtime snack has become a name known for top notch mixing, proper curation and nothing but the perfect vibes. Although you’ll never quite know what genres to expect from him, just know from start to end you’ll be sucked into the dancefloor.
Max Ulis
Max has been instrumental in the building of Vancouver’s thriving underground. His SLAB parties in Vancouver feature the best in underground house, techno and contemporary Bass Music. Max has performed at Decibel, Mutek, and New Forms, and is a regular fixture on the West Coast festival circuit. Max’s diverse music productions have found a home on labels
such as Turbo, VRNT, Iile, Club Designs, Sloth Boogie and Thirty Year Recordings, and has seen support from notable
performers such as Ben Sims, Prosumer, Laurent Garnier,Roman Flugel, Anz, Skream, B. Traits, Soul Clap, Om Unit, and Breakage.
Mark Woodyard
Often referred to as a “Human Jukebox”, Woodyard’s knowledge of music spans effortlessly across eras and genres. A multi-talented musician who uses looping machines, his voice and guitar, Woodyard is best known for his wide array of genre-bending covers that showcase his vocal range and eclectic sound creating truly unique and dance-inspiring performances. With no two shows sounding the same, Woodyard’s improv-esque style is reminiscent of a Reggie Watts and Marc Rebillet lovechild - a multi-instrumentalist who captivates audiences and sparks dancefloors seconds after taking to the stage.
Blase Blase
Blending elements of live jazz, funk and conscious hip-hop, they have a sound as unique and diverse as its members. Their sound ranges from high-energy funk / disco songs that get the dance floor moving to slower, soulful jazzy tunes, reminiscent of The Roots, Erykah Badu, or even the late Mac Miller.
Sirreal
Matt Dunae, aka Sirreal, has defied all odds and made it through his difficult childhood and experiences to become the man he is today. He is a father, certified performing artist, community ambassador and former crisis worker turned community support worker. He has spoken to over 10,000 youth at conferences, workshops and schools throughout Vancouver Island as part of his campaign to give back to the community which gave him so much when he needed it the most. “Music is the medicine” that Sirreal hopes can help reconnect the world and help people feel less alone one word at a time.
Dana Sipos
Known for crafting music that is both fragile and orchestral, acclaimed Canadian songwriter Dana Sipos invites the listener beneath the surface through a nuanced lens that isn't afraid to be out of focus at times. Described as "slightly strange and completely mesmerizing (Gold Flake Paint UK),
Jess Rabbit
Jess Rabbit’s love for music started at a young age growing up in the 90’s, listening to the hip hop of that era. That’s when her love for a good beat first formed and quickly grew to wanting to become a DJ. In 2009 she studied Audio Engineering in Vancouver, and also bought her first set of turntables. She takes the skills she learned in audio school to make seamless, well balanced transitions and mixes that keep the audience captivated from start to finish. Her passion for surfing and music brought her to Tofino and now she is making waves on the west coast, getting well known for throwing down booty shaking house beats, melodic bass lines and crowd favourite throw backs. She has opened for some legendary DJs such as The Funk Hunters, Skratch Bastid, Neon Steve, Mat the Alien, Rumpus, Skiitour, J Pod, X-Ray Ted, WBBL to name just a few, as well as headlined many of her own shows.
Lil Cis
A relative newcomer to Djing, Lil Cis has quickly proven her versatile taste and skills mixing between untz untz and wub wub realms of house and dubstep. Although her presence behind the decks is relatively new, her presence in the music scene is not. Lil Cis co founded Good Night Out Vancouver and has an immense passion for improving safety and promoting consent culture in the nightlife scene.
Natty
Natty has grown his following and dance floor sensibility with a combo of unwavering support for his local scene and relentless listening sessions, promoting shows and festivals and grooving to other DJs for the past 20 years. At times defying the 4/4 foundation of his first love of house music and keeping his sets fresh across the genres of many aspects of dance music, old and new. Natty is a favourite amongst dancers and his fellow artists with his immaculate selections and positive energy behind the decks, creating profound experiences that toy with irresistible tension and unpredictable release.
Pindian
Pindian is a Kwakwa̲ka̲'wakw and Nuu-Cha-Nulth MC born on lək̓ʷəŋən Territory (A.K.A Victoria B.C) who, in almost 3 years of sobriety, has found immense healing in expressing themselves through lyricism in the genre of Hip Hop which they view to be an innovative, creative-native continuation of their nation’s tradition of storytelling, told through artistic practices since time immemorial.
Simplemotive
Sean Kerrigan, known in the vibrant local music scene of Comox Valley as simplēmotive, has been a passionate participant in EDM for over 3 decades. With a deep-seated love for music and an extensive collection of eclectic tunes, Sean has now taken his place behind the decks, eager to share his unique selections with the world. A passionate DJ and music enthusiast, Sean's journey is guided by the beats, drawing from a broad spectrum of influences that range from breakbeats and house to hip hop and electro-pop. His commitment to music extends beyond the decks; Sean is a festival operations veteran, having played integral roles in the success of notable events like Big Time Out, Atmosphere, Cumberland Wild, Rifflandia and now Pachena Bay Festival. While his tastes are wide-ranging, Sean harbors a special affinity for House music, which sits at the core of his musical philosophy. Through his performances, simplēmotive aims to create an immersive experience, bridging diverse genres and connecting with audiences. It’s quite simple. He just wants people to dance
Tigress
This queer femme known as TIGRESS has been playing shows across BC from Nelson to Victoria since 2015. A curator of uptempo, sassy and playful house music, she is always sure to get your booty moving! Dropping her EP “GET IT” in 2021 along with an array of fierce and sassy singles in 2022, this Tiger is sure to get your booty moving!
Sleepy
Sleepy (formerly Sleepwalker) is a pioneer of the underground Northern Vancouver Island electronic music scene. With almost 30 years experience, and countless shows under his belt, Sleepy is known to always deliver a high-energy, top quality set. Sleepy’s technique brings to life a multitude of different sounds through his 4-deck instant remix techno and has the ability to showcase a wide variety of music tastes. Being one of the originators of the celebrated Carrington Bay parties, his proudest legacy, he has duly earned the title as one of the Godfathers of the North Island underground music scene.