bass coast is an independent, artist-owned electronic music and art festival now in its 18th year, held on a natural site in the interior of british columbia, roughly two hours from vancouver. co-founded by andrea graham (the librarian) and liz thomson, it started in squamish in 2009 and relocated to its current merritt grounds in 2013. attendance is deliberately capped at around 5,000 to 6,000, keeping the scale close and the site from feeling overwhelmed.
the programming draws from a wide international underground, with bass music, experimental electronics, and club-rooted sounds running across multiple stages built with an emphasis on art and design. the festival runs over four days and carries a strong community and inclusivity mandate alongside its music and visual art programming.