Photo by Rukes
THUMP is celebrating 2014 in tracks, albums, artists, events and moments with our first annual yearbook, #YRBK14. Our Artists of the Year include well-established acts alongside some exciting newcomers. Rather than tell you why these particular ten won the year, we asked a few of their fans to do it for us. With a much loved album, NVSB, and a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden (a particular feat for a wholly independent artist), Bassnectar has no shortage of admirers in 2014. Still, a few know and love him better than those who have championed his career for more than a decade—Shambhala Music Festival's creative authorities, Jeremy Bridge and Mitchell Scott.Bassnectar was actually first billed as "Lorin" when he played the Village Stage at Shambhala in 2003, for what turned out to be an amazing transformational set for many people. Sara Spicer and Hoola of The Pride booked his first set for the fourth Shambhala based on very high recommendations from several close friends. He was scheduled to play a set on the Village Stage that first year, and on the Beach Stage, but after his very popular Village set, he requested Sara switch his second set from the modest Beach Stage for a set on the Main Stage, which is today known as the Pagoda. Thirteen years later at Shambhala 2014, Lorin professed to Sara that he feels this last minute stage swap was pivotal in his early ascension to the top rank of the West Coast dance music scene.What continued forward from 2003 was an intensely-growing west coast bass music community. Everyone was so young back then. Bassnecatar, PK, Bass Music (there actually wasn't a name for it then, not even dubstep) and many other things were just visions percolating in the young minds of a number of intensely committed music lovers that came together surrounding Shambhala. Bassnectar was a yearly resident of the Village stage. Sneaking his way into the Epic headlining position at 12:00 midnight Sunday through such mechanisms as trading the freshest new "glitch hop" tracks (which was seriously unknown at the time) with the stage director for the prime time Sunday slot! Year after year Shambhala attendees longed for that epic Sunday night set in the Village Stage on the insanely deep pulsing bass provided by PK Sound. It became a cornerstone of Shambhala's yearly amazement. In 2011, Bassnectar's management decided that it was time to take a break, but fans riled up with such a roar that Lorin actually came back an played that year for free!Lorin holds a special place in our heart, as one of the most popular artists at Shambhala, having played the festival 11 times in our 17 year history. The fact that Shambhala has played a part, however small, in Bassnectar's rise as one of the world's most successful electronic musicians, is a huge honor.Shambhala Music Festival takes place every August in southern British Columbia. Tickets for the 2015 festival are on sale now. THUMP Artists of the Year | Porter Robinson |FKA Twigs | Clean Bandit I Kiesza | SOPHIE | Gorgon City |Kygo | Bassnectar | Theo Parrish | Diplo, Skrillex and Jack Ü
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