At one point it seemed shaky, but Bass Canyon pulled off a colossal feat. Excision’s annual takeover of Washington’s Gorge Amphitheatre overcame thunderstorms and window-clogged events, mid-show cancellations and the threat of a ruined weekend to deliver everything it promised.
The emotional (and almost literal) whirlwind began during Kill The Noise's Saturday show. The 21-year veteran was forced to abruptly end his performance and informed fans of an impending thunderstorm.
“Bass Canyon, sorry, but there's lightning in the area,” Kill the Noise told fans. “You know how that shit is.”
An alert later went off on the Canyon Stage screen telling concertgoers to return to their vehicles for shelter. There was collective hesitation from fans who saw dark clouds nearby, but no lightning. Then it rained.
Fans took shelter as the cold and wet weather descended on them. Campers left the grounds and returned to their campsites to await further details. An update was sent out shortly after to inform attendees about the show.
Fans began the second round trip from the camps to the amphitheater with varying degrees of enthusiasm. The roar of thunder and the crackle of lightning aroused skepticism, but the storms seemed to be moving away from the venue.
Day two resumed with the usual programming. The lightning-filled b2b between Kompany and Dion Timmer was a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. Headbanging as lightning streaked across the sky was a surreal and unforgettable experience.
@astronaut dancing It's amazing to capture this. From day two at Bass Canyon, right before it was cancelled due to the approaching storm (🎥: @Chase & Chelsea, h/t @edmtrain) #downgun #lightning #edm #musicunder
Kompany and Timmer completed their set without incident and it seemed the bass gods were pleased. Then came Eptic. The producer of “Tactix” enticed the fans with an elaborate introduction and a long countdown. At the climax of the introduction, Eptic ordered the audience: “Open the fucking pit!”
“Don’t open it,” a second voice demanded.
@rochellelynns Bass Canyon 24' Day 2 ending. @EPTIC was about to open the well, but the firefighters stopped him. #CanyonBass2024 #downgun #headbangersexcision #stormcanyonbelow @Excision Presents
Lighting was no longer an issue, but a windstorm blowing through the venue was. A piece of the main stage broke off and spun around, raising concerns for other structures at the venue and prompting staff to direct people back to their vehicles. Dejected fans returned to their campsites to assess the wind damage and were soon met with the responsible but disheartening news that day two was cancelled.
On Saturday, Mother Nature dealt a heavy blow to fans. At the height of disappointment, camp fortifications, and worries about the event being cancelled altogether, optimistic comments spread throughout the camps. Habstrakt, who had been scheduled to perform b2b with JOYRYDE after the Eptic show, was heading to the camp stage for a make-up performance. It was the first reminder of the weekend of why Excision’s commitment to the fan experience makes him a highly valued event curator.
Habstrakt, briefly joined by a cameo from JOYRYDE, and Viperactive rescued the night camp stage performances after their scheduled sets were cancelled.
The Excision crew and the artists who performed deserve another standing ovation. It would have been disappointing, but forgivable, if concessions had been made after the partial cancellation of the second day. That didn't happen. The artists did everything they could to give fans the promised weekend. All the artists who had cancelled their performance on Saturday stayed on to perform on Sunday.
A collective sigh of relief echoed around the Gorge campsite on a blustery Sunday midday as a notification alert came through the Bass Canyon app. The elements were calming down and the show would go on with welcome modifications, and the festival gates opened early to accommodate the revamped Sunday lineup. The end product was an incredibly packed finale. The main stage featured Zingara, Ray Volpe, Excision’s “Detox” set, Eptic, Kai Wachi, Wooli, LSZEE, Zeds Dead, and Excision’s retro set back-to-back.
Saturday could have been a disaster, but thanks to the efforts made to remedy the third day, the weekend's campers can look back on nature's intrusion as a temporary setback that brought people together. In that regard, it would be a disservice not to applaud the festival-goers. Campers were quick to help secure each other's campsites, share laughter amid the misery, and boost morale with rebel performances. Special thanks to our neighbors, who kindly invited us to watch the festival. Back to the future on the projector wall of your campsite.
This weekend, industry-leading Excision Pictures really went Hollywood. Friday's headliner opened with a brand new show Transformers-Themed intro, followed by the news that Excision had collaborated on a project with the new Transformers One movie coming out September 20th. Its industry-leading lasers and graphics are old news by now, but a dramatic increase in pyrotechnics made Bass Canyon feel like a big show.
Levity’s rapid rise was another highlight of day one. The EDM.com Class of 2024 trio made the most of their prominent spot on the Hilltop stage, delivering an unapologetically fresh and fun performance. ATLiens and Ganja White Night were among Friday’s big acts.
The second performance of CloZee and LSDREAM’s joint project was the standout performance of the weekend. LSZEE was refreshingly unique, delivering a fusion of psychedelic bass that never felt out of place. The duo is a must-see and should be a priority on any hand-curated festival lineup.
Dividers
Wooli and Zeds Dead were two other highlights on Sunday. Wooli’s confidence and growth over the past two years is notable. His visuals stand out on their own (no small feat when he appears on an Excision poster) and his crowd control is top-notch. The dubstep star surprised fans by dropping a previously unreleased collaboration with GriZ, but not before tempting fate with a dramatic voiceover that hilariously condemned the elements.
“Fuck the wind! And definitely fuck the lightning!” proclaimed the cinematic narrator during Wooli’s introduction.
@blakeheartsill I'm so glad @Wooli was able to play her set 🙏🏻🙏🏻 #delirium #festivaledm #ravetok #edm #festival #downgun #wool #dubstep #grey
Meanwhile, Zeds Dead's concert was a rollercoaster of emotions. At times it was thrilling, emotional, unhinged, and, with its finale “Pure Imagination,” absolutely beautiful. And speaking of unhinged, a special thanks to YOOKiE for their ridiculous, meme-worthy concert on Sunday.
The Excision crew continues to raise the bar each year. It’s no wonder they’ve created one of the most welcoming fan cultures in electronic dance music. They lead by example. Bass Canyon artists, fans, and staff came together to overcome a potentially catastrophic weekend and deliver a show that exceeded expectations.
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