Welcome to Bass Coast 2023 

Bass Coast Festival is held on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Nlaka’pamux and Syilx people. Please take a moment to learn about the area. Bass Coast takes place on the shared Traditional Territories of Nłeʔkepmx and Syilx.

We invite you to be part of our innovative creative experience as we celebrate our 15th year.

About Merritt

We Are Nlaka'pamux  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ESGaLTsxBU 

Merritt is 270 km northeast of Vancouver. For more information about Merritt, check our website: https://basscoast.ca/pages/merritt

MANDATORY VIEWING:  BASS COAST TRAINING VIDEOS

Bass Coast has produced 6 short training videos for all Bass Coast team members, artists and in-house participants. These videos will cover cultural appropriation

consent, harassment and bystander Intervention, local cultural knowledge, and harm reduction. Please watch all 6 videos and complete the quiz before you arrive onsite.

https://basscoast.ca/bass-coast-team-education-series - Site password: AVANTGARDEN

LINK TO QUIZ

Your Ticket

Bring at least 1 piece of government issued photo ID. Our permit does not allow anyone under the age of 19 to attend the festival. No exceptions.

You will be sent a QR code to your email before you arrive. Pick up accreditation at the Staff Gate. 

When Can I Arrive?

Please arrive the night before your shift to allow time for you to set up camp and settle in. If it isn’t possible to arrive the night before your shift, please let us know at anna@basscoast.ca

ENTRY

Artists and their advanced guests are welcome to arrive on site after 12pm on Wednesday, July 5th, at the STAFF GATE. 

Please keep in mind that the festival grounds will not be accessible on Wednesday and artists will only have access to their designated camping area. On Thursday, food vendors and artist hospitality services will open.

Payment will be in your artist package upon arrival.

Staff Gate Hours

All photographers and videographers and their guests must enter and check in at the STAFF GATE -  located 1km past Moon Shadows Campground at 1145 Neilson St, Merritt, BC. We ask that you drive slowly down the dirt road to reduce the dust for campground residents. 15km/hr max.

Staff Gate Hours: 

• Wed, July 5: 9am-12am
• Thurs, July 6: 9am-12am
• Fri, July 7: 9am-1am
• Sat, July 8: 9am-10pm
• Sun, July 9: 9am-4pm
• Mon, July 10: CLOSED

*All accreditation and your artist package will ONLY be available at the staff gate.

PLEASE NOTE

General admission ticket holders may arrive on site on Friday July 7 at 9:00am at the earliest. No general admission ticket holders arriving before Friday will be permitted on site unless they have a Wednesday + Thursday or Thursday Entry ticket. No exceptions.

Wednesday Entry tickets are still available on basscoast.ca. 

Food and Drink

Photo/Video team will receive meals at the team kitchen according to their contract. Please bring your own plate, bowl, reusable mug and cutlery. You have been emailed a QR code with the subject line Bass Coast Team Meal QR Code. 

The QR code is required to scan in for all meals. This QR code was sent when you completed your Team Information Collection Form that was sent when you filled out your contract. Please screenshot and/or save to your phone as you will need it to redeem meals on site. Kindly make sure that the QR code and full name are clearly visible when capturing a screenshot. 

Food vendors will be available onsite from Thu July 6 - Sun July 9. Please bring a reusable vessel for coffee and water. There is potable water available and coffee available at the Volunteer Centre during your shift. As of Thursday July 7 there is a $20 re-entry fee per vehicle if you need supplies and are exiting Camp A,B,C or Ventura.

No plastic disposable water bottles will be sold on site and no glass bottles are permitted. Please visit our first timers guide and FAQs

SET TIMES

Find the full Bass Coast Schedule here. 

Please reach out to Photo/Video Manager - Michael Benz with any questions or concerns while on site. His primary contact info is 403-690-3756. 

Additionally, most of the team communication will be handled thru Discord.

STAGE ETIQUETTE & MANAGERS 

When arriving to a stage please make sure to introduce yourself to the stage manager and confirm that you are allowed to go on stage.

Cantina Stage Daytime: Ben Midwicki and Ben Carson

Main Stage: Holland Kerr

The Cabin Stage: Matt Reed, Phillip Elliott, Jamal Hamadeh

Slay Bay Stage: Ian MacKenzie, Dean Musani, Rachel Kirkpatrick

Slowtempo: Day: Curtis Mounsey   Night: Derek Frazer

The Brain: Heather Vardy and Natasha Cucek

PHOTO & VIDEO CAMPING 

Photo/video team and their guests (if contracted) are welcome to camp and park in the Artist Camp.

Artist Camp is an open field adjacent to the forest. You may camp with your vehicle in Artist Camp. Any friends with a general admission wristband must camp in Campground A, B, C or Ventura.  Only photo/video team and their guest (if contracted) will have accreditation for Artist Camp.  Anyone without these accreditations will be asked to relocate. 

Production Forest Camp is a shaded camping area located behind The Cabin Stage and Slay Bay Stages. It is very central but not the quietest camping experience. Vehicles are ONLY permitted in Production Forest Camp if they enter between noon and 10pm on Wed.  

Production Forest Camp will be available to artists, space permitting. The forest will be closed to vehicle access from Wed 10pm to Mon 10am. During that time it is walk-in camping only. If the forest reaches capacity, Photo/video team may also park and camp in the Artist Camp.

BASS COAST IS A WORKSITE ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY 

The main festival field and forest are closed to everyone but subcontractors, vendors and suppliers until 9am on Thursday. 

WHAT SHOULD I BRING / FESTIVAL AMENITIES:

Reusable water bottles - Free water is available on-site. Bring your own water bottle. Please do not bring glass of any kind.

Appropriate shoes and clothing - The terrain and weather can both be unreliable. Water or river shoes and waterproof clothing are recommended. 

Camping gear - headlamps / flashlights, sunscreen and bug spray. Prepare for all conditions. 

Camping locations - There is tent camping in wooded areas and in open meadows. Cars and RVs are free to park and camp together in the flat meadow areas in Campground B or C. 

Accessibility - Please read for updated information about Bass Coast accessibility ethos. 

Fire Ban - Please no fires, fireworks, open flames, or grills. Camp stoves are ok. 

Cash and credit - There will be ATM’s available on-site and all bars will only take credit sales. Individual vendors may only accept cash payments. 

Showers 

Performance Artists will have access to the showers and bathroom trailers in Artist Hospitality during your performance day. Please limit your use to one shower on the day(s) that you are performing and do not use the trailers for doing hair & makeup, due to the volume of people using these trailers. 

To access these Showers, please check in at the Artist Lounge. Artist Lounge is open 24 hours, more details below. The Artist Hospitality team will have a list of performers for the day and can escort you to the shower entrance. For artist guests, or performance artists wanting to shower outside of performance dates, will be able to shower in Campground B. 

Shower prices: 

• Performance Artists: $5 
• General Admission: $9 

Show your wristband to the shower team to receive the reduced price. Please clean up after yourself and limit your showers to 5 minutes. It is costly to pump the tank.

Checklist

• Headlamps / flashlights
• The terrain is a little uneven, bring appropriate shoes
• Water or river shoes are helpful
• Bankcard or cash (there are ATMS onsite)
• Don’t forget the sunscreen and bug spray
• Fresh socks for every day
• Water bottle
• Coffee mug
• Plates and utensils (we have a washing station in food vending) 
• Warm clothes for night
• Chair for your camp
• Recycling system for your camp
• Bike if you are camping far from stages
• Snacks for camp

ARTIST LOCK UP 

Electronics and valuables can be locked up at the festival site at the Artist Lounge (Space Bar) area. Please connect with the artist relations team to secure your equipment. 

MEDIA ROOM (PHOTO/VIDEO TEAM)

You have access to a media room under Main Stage. This room can be used as locked storage. Please be respectful to others also using this space from the Bass Coast Media teams.

Please note that this space will be locked up once Main Stage opens. At around 9:00PM. If you need access to anything inside. Please contact Michael directly and he can accommodate access.

ARTIST LOUNGE AND SPACE BAR 

Location: The Artist Lounge and Space are close to the entrance of the forest behind the main stage and near the live art painters. The Artist Lounge is open 24 hours a day for artist information and a cup of tea and snacks. Only artists, performance Artists, photographers and videographers and guests will be granted access to this area.

Space Bar hours: Open from 3pm until 2am daily from Friday to Sunday (open on Thursday night from 4pm - 12am). Power will be available for computers and phone chargers. Wifi is not available on site, but almost all cell phones receive good service. Beverages are available for purchase and your complimentary drink tickets can be redeemed at the Space Bar or any of the bars on site. 

Happy Hours at Space Bar: Join us for complimentary snacks and beverages for artist happy hours on Saturday and Sunday starting at 6pm.

Stage Access & Etiquette

Always wear your lanyard and check in with the Stage Manager each time you arrive at a stage to shoot. The Stage Manager will let you know if the full set is being filmed by either Keep Hush or Subtle Radio. If it is, please be aware of their static camera angles and avoid blocking them.

Stage Timing  

NO PHOTO or VIDEO ON STAGE FOR THE FIRST 15 MINUTES OF A NEW SET. (With the exception of Keep Hush & Subtle Radio teams.)

This is very important! It has been stressed to me by the producers that we allow the DJ’s to settle into their performance, and deal with any technical issues. You will only be seen as getting in the way if you are on stage during that time.

When it comes to dance performances, the general rule is to stay off stage as you will likely be blocking exits and quick-changes that are required. Check in with the stage manager if you have questions about where you can shoot.

Always wear black on stage.

- Always check-in (eye contact or a nod) with the stage manager before walking on stage.

- Be a ninja! Limit your time on stage, and then move to the side.

- RESPECT the other photographers & videographers around you! We’re in this together, and guaranteed someone else has been hired to cover the same act/performance that you are trying to capture.

Representing Bass Coast

Videos we do not want:

- Dirty/messy videos. Videos with dirty ground, bottles, and an unkempt environment.

- Cultural Appropriation. Avoid filming fashion/costumes that may verge on cultural appropriation (bindis, white dreadlocks, NO headdresses, any other articles that represent religious or cultural significance.) Watch the education series link below.

- Nudity. This can be difficult with the river videos, but we can’t use these videos.

- Alcohol bottles. Bass Coast is a no-booze festival outside of the Bass Coast bars.

- Excess. Avoid Images of obviously loose people - really messed up or frazzled. While we respect how some people party, this is not the vibe of Bass Coast and how the festival is presented to the media.

Nudity and People having personal experiences 

We must always respect the vulnerability some people are exploring while feeling free at a festival.  We work very hard to create an environment where people feel safe and free, so if someone / some people are having an intimate moment - please exercise mindfulness about whether this moment ought to be captured or left alone.

Diversity

DIVERSITY MUST BE REPRESENTED. ALL bodies, all backgrounds, all genders, all orientation, all fashion, all folks - everyone deserves to be seen as wonderful works of art!

Can I skip the line at Main Gate on Wednesday if I am an artist / in-house team / volunteer and already have my credentials?

No, there is no skipping the line on Wednesday for any artist / in-house team.

Beginning Thursday at 11AM artists / in-house team are able to skip the line at Main Gate if they have already checked in at the Staff Gate and have all their credentials.  

Drive past the entrance to the Main Gate line up and turn left behind the Main Gate Office.  Security will stop and search vehicles and check credentials.

Important Numbers

Photo & Video Manager: Michael Benz

+1 (403) 690-3756

photo@basscoast.ca or info@michaelbenz.ca

Production Manager: Anna Hilliar   

+1 (604) 726-4044 

anna@basscoast.ca

Production Manager Assistant: Jennafer Harkness 

+1 (604) 813-5405

productionassistant@basscoast.ca 

Photo & Video Manager: Michael Di Benedetto

+1 (403) 690-3756

photo@basscoast.ca or info@michaelbenz.ca 

Directions

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO BASS COAST FESTIVAL SITE 2023

The festival site is located one mile southwest of the City of Merritt, BC, just off the Coquihalla Hwy. 

FROM KELOWNA

• Take Hwy BC-97C to Merritt
• Once in Merritt, continue through onto the Princeton - Kamloops Hwy BC-97C
• Turn left on COLDWATER Rd.
• Turn right onto POOLEY Rd.
• Turn left onto NEILSON St(gravel road). 
• Enter the festival site from the STAFF (east) GATE. 

FROM KAMLOOPS

• Take Hwy BC-5 S towards Merritt 
• Take exit #286 from the Coquihalla hwy and head towards Merritt city center along Princeton-Kamloops Hwy BC-97C
• Turn left on COLDWATER Rd.
• Turn right onto POOLEY Rd.
• Turn left onto NEILSON St (gravel road) 
• Enter the festival site from the STAFF GATE. 

FROM VANCOUVER

• Take Hwy BC-1 and then Hwy BC-5 N towards Merritt
• Once in Merritt, take exit #286, keep right at the fork, and head towards Merritt city center along Princeton-Kamloops Hwy BC-97C
• Turn left on COLDWATER Rd.
• Turn right onto POOLEY Rd.
• Turn left onto NEILSON St (gravel road). 
• Enter the festival site from the STAFF GATE. 

Drive 1km past Moon Shadows Campground at 1145 Neilson St, Merritt, BC

PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY PAST MOON SHADOWS 15 km / hour

Bass Coast Emergency Line: 1-672-699-6606

Festival FAQS

Online Schedule

Site Maps

Harm Reduction

Sustainability

Towards Equity

Bass Coast Harassment and Assault Policy

Bass Coast App