Squamish Valley Music Festival Band of the Day: Current Swell

It's almost here. And, no, we're not talking about the upcoming federal election.

No, we’re referring to the Squamish Valley Music Festival, taking place August 6-9 at the Logger Sports Grounds and Hendrickson Fields. In anticipation of the big day, we’re rounding up local artists who’ll be playing this year’s event, and getting them to answer some important questions.

Like who they’ll be cueing up on the iPod for the Sea to Sky drive to the site, what they’ll be making sure to pack to make it through their set, the all-time dream festival lineup, and who they plan to stalk backstage. And that’s just the start of our probing. Read on, but not before you pick up your Squamish Valley Music Festival ticket. The last thing you want to miss is today’s featured local artist....

David Lang sings and plays guitar in Victoria's Current Swell, whose rootsy sound encompasses everything from folk-pop melodies to searing, blues-drenched rawk.

Sea to Sky Playlist

These songs should get you hyped, make you feel like you're going to Woodstock—the only difference is that this festival has a thousand food trucks, and will probably search your car on the way in.

The Beatles "I Want You/She's So Heavy"
Mott the Hoople "All the Young Dudes"
The Kinks "Last of the Steam Powered Trains"
The Velvet Underground "Sweet Jane"
The Rolling Stones "Jumpin' Jack Flash"

Outdoor essentials

• A mason jar with a handle (b.y.o. container keeps you winning, the lid is a nice plus); just strap that sucker to your belt
• A mister..."Mr. Misty" (Allows you to cool yourself and others, doing a favour for a new friend is a great way to get yourself out there at a festival) 
• Zinc sunscreen, neon colours. Good way to look weird while staying protected from the sun
• Panama hat, full circle brim... Winning

I'd love to hang with

I'd love to play swords with Marcus Mumford.

As stellar as this year’s Squamish bill is, what’s your Fantasy Fest line-up?

I would love to see the Blue Man Group at a summer festival in the day; their blue makeup would be melting off and it would look ridiculous. Also, equally disturbing, PPL MVR, they all dress like Chewbacca and it seems like they would be dying of heat...turns out I hear that their Chewie suits are filled with ice packs and they pull 'em out of a freezer before the show. Seriously, though, Arcade Fire would be awesome to see, I missed them at this festival we both did in Germany last summer and still want to see 'em outdoors.

What’s your official rider request?

Gimme some Phillips ISA, gimme some coconut water, gimme some cheese and crackers. Let's pretend we got invited to a fancy party. Here's a tip: We are gonna run out of beer back there. I know it seems like there's enough; let me reassure you it's not quite enough. Let's grab another couple cases. Ping-pong too much to ask for? P.S. our rider used to have peanut butter and jam, turns out that amounts to a lot of PB and J; we can pass on the Skippy.

Trivia time: What's Squamish's official slogan?

Squamish: Look At Our Frigging Mountain!? #the-chief

The Squamish Valley Music Festival takes place at Hendrickson Fields & Logger Sports Ground. Quick—what’s your favourite logger sport?

Axe throwing, I once won a contest at a campground throwing hatchets at stumps. Anyone with that much time to devote to practicing through an axe is a winner in life and deserves this shout-out. Howie Long was in a movie in the '90s called Firestorm—Google the trailer to see a clip of him throwing the shit out of an axe. I recall it comes right towards the camera... #HowieLongVsDaversLang axe-throwing showdown?!?

Current Swell plays the Stawamus Stage on Thursday (August 6).