If you want to hear real, live British Columbia-based artists playing their hearts out on four stages spaced out over prime waterfront property on the edge of the ocean in North Vancouver, the brand new Shipped Festival is an event you won’t want to miss.
If you want to see a face-painted cover band belting out “Detroit Rock City” while dressed in their finest leather, then maybe this isn’t the show for you.
“There are no tribute acts at this event,” said organizer Juliana Buitenhuis with a laugh. “It’s going to kind of bring a different vibe to Lower Lonsdale and that’s what people have been asking for. They want reasons to stay in North Van and not have to travel downtown to see up-and-coming acts and DJs.”
The Shipped Festival, scheduled for Aug. 11 at The Shipyards and Lonsdale Quay, will be an all-day event with something for everyone, with a particular focus on the beats and bounce the youngsters are dancing to these days.
Vancouver-based Humans, a Juno-nominated duo that is big in the local electro-pop scene, will headline the main stage with Seattle’s Manatee Commune – one of the only non-B.C. acts on the show list – and Vancouver’s Leisure Club and Sam the Astronaut. The City of North Vancouver has teamed up with the Lower Lonsdale Business Improvement Area and John Donnelly and Associates Event Marketing to put on the event, with Creative BC and Music BC helping to curate the musicians.
“There’s nothing better than listening to live music while being on the ocean,” said Buitenhuis, community services co-ordinator for the City of North Vancouver. “It’s a great place to host an event.”
The free show will run from noon until 10 p.m., with two beer gardens, a Family Zone in The Pipe Shop, and a free zipline. The entire Shipyards Square in front of the main stage will be fenced off into a family-friendly beer garden.
“I think that during the day time there will be a lot of families and people will be hanging out in one of our beer gardens, and then it will turn up at night towards 8 o’clock and people will get dancing,” said Buitenhuis.
Other stages will be set up on the new Cates Deck just behind Polygon Gallery, at Lonsdale Quay, and on the street at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue, which will be closed to traffic below Esplanade Avenue for the day. The event will also include buskers, artisans and vendors, as well as paid activities such as axe throwing and Euro Bungee.
Organizers are hoping the Shipped Festival will become an annual event that will showcase great local talent as well as the city’s growing waterfront district.
“We’re hoping that it takes off and people are excited about it and we can continue it every year,” said Buitenhuis. “We just wanted to celebrate our new waterfront feature as it grows and expands. We’ve got the new Cates Deck, and hopefully by this time next year we’re going to have our brand new event space.”
For more details about the festival and a full list of featured artists visit shippedfestival.com.
