~Contributor: Tim van der Krogt
Revelstoke is a town people move to because they are passionate about something. For me, it was snowboarding and when I first came here that’s all I thought this town was, a ski town. A 20-year-old me existed between the resort, the bar, and my overpriced room in a shared house. I lived oblivious to the thriving community and arts scene that existed here long before Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
As I get older, I’m relieved to understand that Revy is more than just a bunch of adrenaline junkies and heli-skiers-that passion people have for biking and skiing exists just as much in other areas.
I found it in music, and I’ve been fortunate enough along with Pickle Juice, the band I play in, to be embraced by a thriving community of rock bands.
In the last three years, the rock scene in town has bubbled up from small sheds and basements to house parties, bars, and even into the streets (with the support of Arts Revelstoke). Bands like Beef Dip, Pickle Juice, Sk8 Nite, Headwall, Rainbow Calculus, AHRF, Sweetgrass Caribou, Gurth and The Big Gulps have come together and built a community in a way that feels raw and genuine. In a town that has sometimes been ruled by DJs, with a large transient community, live bands started playing and people started turning up.
“I think a piece of it might be post-COVID,” explained Andrew Vierich, from Beef Dip.
“Everyone came off of a big hiatus of not having anything and that feeling of wanting to get back to something helped contribute to everyone surging up at the same time.”
While COVID forced a lot of us to find other outlets, another big part was the community. Vierich explained that in contrast to playing in Guelph, ON, “Revy people show up for these things in a way I’ve never experienced before.”
Really, if people didn’t show up we wouldn’t either. We’d still be playing in the basement for the love of it.
The more people did it the easier it became for other bands. I remember watching The Big Gulps play and thinking ‘We can do that.’ The truth is that we could have, but not on our own.
Pickle Juice wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the support of other bands and musicians. Members of Sk8 Nite, Beef Dip, and Headwall lent us gear and taught us so much.
“The scene is full of kick-ass go-getters and slayers,” said Patrick Spenser, drummer for Sk8 Nite and Rainbow Calculus.
The scene thrives because people do it for themselves. For passion, not for money.
“No one can live off it. We just love doing it. It takes a village. The bands work together out here to put events on,” explained Dakota Dyk of Sweetgrass Caribou.
Nothing proved that more than Tadpole, a guerilla event that happened in September 2023. Bands came together under the leadership of Beef Dip to throw, essentially, a free music festival.
“Tadpole was a crazy idea. Initially, it was planned to be at the top of Sales [Mountain]. We wanted to play a show with a beautiful backdrop of a mountain view, but it didn’t work out logistically,” said Vierich.
The band community came together to contribute sound systems, lighting, and generators. Other facets of the community contributed too. Cam Lackey from Appenzell Construction provided materials to build a stage. Drummer and paramedic, Joel Nervis, provided a Harm Reduction crew of four. Perhaps most importantly, people came out to listen to local music and share a moment in time.
“People are here to do things that they are super passionate about like skiing, snowboarding, or hiking, and so if they see other people doing something passionate they are stoked about it,” said Veirech.
Part of the success of rock bands’ resurgence is the support that bands provide for one another. Go to any local band’s show, and you’ll see members from other bands moshing, singing along, and providing sound support. It’s an egoless and welcoming environment. The community support and hard work helped bands like Sweetgrass to start releasing singles, bands like Beef Dip to have recorded an album, and Pickle Juice to be working on an EP. The scene has momentum and many of us in it would like to see it continue.
“I’d like to see more opportunities for grants and creative funding. More sponsors and recognition for our hard work and drive. Better paying gigs so we can continue putting out music and upgrading gear,” explained Dyk.
“We need more organized festivals not being arranged by a bunch of cowboys in the sticks rubbing two stones together.”
It’s great to be able to watch a local band and support someone you rub shoulders with on a daily basis — to rally behind your team. The more people turn up for local bands, the more we can play and the more we can foster talent and help each other grow.
It’s about community creating community. So if you’re a local, a regular, or just here on holiday, if you get the chance to check out a local band you won’t regret it — you may even have a good time. If you miss us at a show, we can be found online through streaming apps and social media.
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