This weekend I realized just how lucky I have it here in British Columbia. Are you aware that there are mountains circling our fair city? I’m not sure how I failed to miss them in all the years I’ve live here. Sure, they’ve been there, standing stoic on the horizon, but somehow my vision blurred over. I took them for granted. Not truly appreciating how awe inspiring they are. It was while spending my weekend in Squamish that the mountains suddenly appeared before me. Large, foreboding and majestic.

The mountains set the scene for Live at Squamish 2011, the outdoor music festival which is gaining ground as one of summer’s not to miss events. I have a long and glorious history with outdoor music festivals starting with my first as a 14 year old girl at Lollapalooza in Vancouver, continuing on to one fantastical day at Glastonbury Festival and ending at Big Day Out in Melbourne years ago. It was about time I revisited my old friend. Days spent wandering from one packed stage to the next, along dusty and sometimes mud soaked paths, laying in trodden on grass, with the sun or rain beating down on me. It’s impossible not to have a smile on your face at such an event, whatever elements are present.

WT and I were lucky to steal a hotel room from a friend who couldn’t fill it, saving ourselves from a camp site that wound up in a post-festival sea of soggy mud on Monday morning. Perhaps we missed out on the true festival experience but the comfort of a bed and clean toilets are amenities we just can’t say no to when faced with the alternative. Practical, not princess.

Upon arrival at the festival on Saturday, we took stock of our surroundings – two stages, plus a mini stage in a far off corner; barber shop; artisan village; food court; two beer gardens; and various interactive booths. We had a lot of exploring to do over the next two days.

Our first stop was the artisan village, where we perused through tables of pretty jewelry and racks of the kinds of clothes and treasures one would normally find in Thailand. There were artists painting colourful creations on massive canvas, and others painting beautiful scenes on TOMS Shoes. Truthfully, I would be terrified to wear the shoes with the chance I could ruin the art on the dirty streets.

We strolled into the main stage area, where we passed a number of interactive stands by Red Bull, Kokanee, Peak FM, and came upon the Metro Slip n Slide and Mattel Game On! tent. Not wanting to scare the children who were dominating the slip n slide with our sliding antics, we took shelter from the oven hot sun rays to play a game of Uno. We immediately loved the notion of Game On, encouraging people to interact face to face over an old school board game. My opponents could not have known that I was a championship Uno player in my youth, and like a skilled hustler, I lost the first round, got my Uno groove back and continued on to win round after round. Who knew Uno could be so much fun. We would definitely be back to the Game On tent later in the festival – Apples to Apples was calling our names.

One of the beer gardens was ideally situated with bleachers facing the Garibaldi Stage, and after grabbing a couple of cold ones, we parked ourselves in prime view of Shad’s dynamic performance. It was also from this vantage point that we could observe our fellow festival goers. The facial hair on display amongst the men was impressive – every moustache under the sun was present, along with goatees, sideburns and mullets. Women, on the other hand, waltzed about with intricate braids woven through their hair, wearing everything from short shorts to maxi dresses to layers and layers of necklaces. I wanted to stage an impromptu fashion show right there and then.

Sweet Soul Burlesque was due to take the stage at any moment, so WT and I took our places front and center to cheer on the sassy girls, Crystal Precious, Rita Star, Lola Frost and Cherry on Top. Seeing these ladies dance is always a treat.

After catching the tail end of the John Butler Trio’s invigorating show, we anxiously awaited Girl Talk, the mash up sensation taking the world by storm. Had we known the epic dance party that awaited us, we would have stretched our limbs in preparation. The energy that coursed through my body during Girl Talk’s set is like none I’ve had before. I couldn’t stop my body from dancing, the kind of dancing where you let the music control you. Uninhibited and free. There was not a soul on that field or stage (yes, there was even a dance party onstage) who was not moving – it was the most amazing dance party I’ve ever been a part of, and despite my tired body, I could have danced all night to Gregg Gillis’ mixes.

On Sunday, we spent much of our day at the Green Couch Sessions stage, where we swooned over The Matinee, a six member roots-rock band able to get everyone in the crowd clapping along. From here we could watch brave souls get a funky hair cut at the Belmont Barbershop. Sadly, we missed Redbird on Saturday, but after listening to their music online, we will be sure to catch their next show in Vancouver.

With our stomachs growling, we made our way to the food carts where our taste buds could be satiated with poutine, grilled cheese sandwiches, fish and chips, donuts, donairs or a number of other delights. The biggest decision of the day was choosing what to eat. If I had it my way, I would sample one of everything but my midriff baring top screamed no.

One of the highlights of my day was listening to the spoken words of Shane Koyczan, the talented poet who could spin words together like the most delicate of silkworms spins thread. He spoke of bullying, being the underdog and of rising above it all. His poetry left me and all those in earshot with goosebumps.

After a delicious laze about on the soft grass with a group of equally delicious men from Alberta, we took our positions for Metric. Emily Haines is best seen up close and personal; as is her handsome guitarist, Jimmy Shaw. Emily’s voice is mesmerizing enough to get under anyone’s skin, crawling about before settling right in the soul. Her high energy antics on stage were transferred to the audience where girls danced on their male friends’ shoulders and others fell back into the crowd to be carried away wherever hands led them.

Without much time to spare between Metric and Weezer, we wandered through the crowds again looking for the perfect viewing spot. It was here that we somehow lost each other. I’m not sure how it happened, but one moment WT was in front of me and the next she wasn’t. The darkness had swallowed her up. With her dead iPhone battery, there was no way to find each other until after Weezer when we could reconvene at our meeting point.

This was my third time seeing Weezer, a band whose songs take me back to different points in my life from highschool to adulthood. I love seeing bands that have had such an impact on my life, bands that I can belt out the words to each song with as much passion as the lead singer. Half way into Weezer’s performance, I felt a hand tug on my ear – not your usual festival groping. Turning around, I spied a man who I had gone to highschool with, who I still ran into from time to time but who I had never really spoken with either then or now.

It was kismet. Who better to experience a Weezer concert with than someone who was around when I had first heard My Name is Jonas. As if on cue, that energetic song drifted out of the speakers, and Luke automatically put his arm around my waist so we could move to the music together. Our bodies pulsed as one and he held on tight, bringing his scruffy face next to mine so I could feel each bristle of hair poke my skin. It was a moment. A moment we had never shared before, a moment that I would never imagine I’d share with him. We stayed this way for five more songs before his friend pulled him away to leave the mob. With a hug and lingering kiss that left me floating, he was off.

I’ll never forget my moment shared with an almost stranger, with only the mountains as witness.

My Lessons from Live at Squamish:

Lessons for the Ladies:

1. Music festivals bring out the free spirit in you. Embrace your inner hippy and let yourself be free. If this involves walking around topless, so be it.

2. Dancing like there’s no tomorrow is more exhilarating than any drugs you could put in your body.

3. Sometimes, just one moment with someone is more valuable than a lifetime with someone.

Lessons for the Men:

1. Offering your shoulders to a girl at a concert is an excellent pick up move.

2. Don’t be that guy who starts a mosh pit of one. Respect the people around you.

3. Even men can break out the festival fashion with impressive aplomb. Wear vests, ripped jeans, vintage tshirts, or straw hats.

-SA

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