Arkells (photo: Rob Porter)
By Susan Porter
Squamish Fest 2015, which took place in the coastal mountain town of Squamish, British Columbia, was a little like standing at a tasting table and wanting to sample a bit of everything. You know that there will the crowd pleasers, those that are tried and true, a few hidden surprises and some that are an acquired taste. It’s a weekend of pure musical gluttony and you do your best to indulge in as many offerings as possible.
I kicked off the festival with Mariachi El Bronx and from the moment vocalist Matt Caughthran opened with, “Whats up, motherfuckers?” you knew this was not going to be your parents’ mariachi band. Don’t be fooled by the mariachi gear, they took the genre to a whole other level, while infusing lingering notes of punk rock throughout their set.
Mariachi El Bronx (photo: Rob Porter)
Arkells brought it, rocked it and, by the time the set ended with the fan favourite, “Leather Jacket,” the crowd was left wonderfully satisfied. One of the hidden surprises of the weekend was Benjamin Booker, an old soul in a young man’s body. Booker delivered a high energy, gravelly voiced blues/rock set reminiscent of ’60s southern blues: definitely one to watch and well worth seeing in a more intimate setting.
Day two started off with Joel Plaskett Emergency, who were 15 minutes late starting due to a late pickup at the hotel, while a sea of ponchos patiently waited in the rain. The Emergency launched the set with an energetic version of “Through & Through & Through,” which got the crowd rocking along, and by end of “The Park Avenue Sobriety Test,” the late start was forgiven.
Joel Plaskett Emergency (photo: Rob Porter)
Next up was Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, who exemplified that great things come in little packages. A big, rich soul sound erupted into a grand performance, a huge voice from such a tiny package of dynamite. From the moment that Jones hit the stage, the crowd was up on its feet, grooving along. This lady can shake what god gave her and brought all the saints with her for an old-school, Mardi Gras rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
The final day of Squamish Festival this year started with Elle King, who comes under the category of appearances can be deceiving. The realization that this was a whole new breed of female rocker to watch set in moments into the first song. King is a versatile musician with a phenomenal vocal range, who moves seamlessly from rocking upbeat to soulful ballads; readily admitting that she writes songs about people that piss her off. This funny, irreverent and talented young woman delivered a crowd-engaging performance.
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (photo: Rob Porter)
Gleneagle was also on the sampling menu, who turned out to be a hidden gem of an alt/indie rock Canadian band with a really unique sound. Well received by the modest crowd, it was a performance akin to a bar band that’s rapidly moving to the next level. This is a group to definitely keep on your radar as they evolve over the next few years.
As the festival was drawing to an end, Royal Blood was next on the selection list, a two-piece, turbo blasting rock band from the UK with the ability to produce an amazing level and intensity of sound. They had the crowd jumping, clapping along and headbanging from the opening riff of “Come on Over,” moving seamlessly into high-energy selections that gave the crowd the show that they were waiting for: a must-see for future festivals.
Alabama Shakes (photo: Rob Porter)
I closed off the weekend with Alabama Shakes, who were hands-down the festival favourite. It would have been too easy to pick the commercial favourites of Sam Smith, Drake or Mumford & Sons if you were looking at star power and crowd size. What Alabama Shakes brought to the stage was nothing short of surreal; retro southern rock with a dash of R&B, soul and gospel, all the while creating their own unique style. Not only can Brittany Howard elicit incredible riffs from the guitar, her voice invokes and even equals that of Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin. From the moment Alabama Shakes stepped on the stage, they owned the crowd and didn’t disappoint.
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