Squamish Valley Music Festival Act of the Day: Aidan Knight

Like Halloween, when the early October fogs start to roll in, and Kanye West when he isn’t cancelling his shows the day they are supposed to happen, it’s starting to feel like it’s almost here.

Yes, we’re talking about the Squamish Valley Music Festival, taking place August 8 to 10 at the Logger Sports Grounds and Hendrickson Fields. In anticipation of the big event—headlined by Eminem, Bruno Mars, and Arcade Fire—we’re spending the next few weeks rounding up local artists who’ll be playing the open-air party, 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. Read on, but not before you pick up your Squamish Valley Music Festival ticket. The last thing you want to miss is today’s spotlighted act...

Featured artist

With his 2012 album, Small Reveal, Victoria’s Aidan Knight went from being a single, lanky guy with a guitar to a full blown five-piece. Decamping to Protection Island for almost half a year with his four collaborators to workshop the album, Knight took this expanded palette of string, woodwind, and keys and found his voice. The result is the kind of thoughtful chamber-folk that should sit very nicely on your playlist next to Dan Mangan, Bon Iver, and the Antlers.

Sea to Sky Playlist

Fela Kuti  “Expensive Shit”

The War on Drugs “Your Love Is Calling My Name”

Mac Demarco “Passing Out Pieces”

We Are the City “Punch My Face”

Bill Callahan “Dress Sexy at My Funeral”

Three driving songs, two thinking songs.

Outdoor essentials

Bring a toothbrush for later, you'll love it.

I’d love to hang with...

We had a great tour with a crew of Irish sweethearts that we're hoping to see perform with James Vincent McMorrow. The last time you saw us together in Vancouver, we had a very wild situation on our hands with border crossings and buses melting. Also, I was with We Are the City and Hannah Epperson. It's going to be a reunion! Didn't think about that, but that's what it is.

First festival experience

I don't remember my first festival. Grew up with fairly liberal parents who took me to a lot of outdoor concerts. I just asked my dad and he said it was this guy: 

:(

What's your fantasy festival lineup?

I still haven't seen David Byrne, so I would put him on the list. Get the Beatles back together. Cool to see those guys again. Can't trust a guy who doesn't love the Beatles.

What’s your official rider request?

We have some allergies (NO NUTS) and some semi-allergies (NO KOKANEE).

Trivia time: what’s Squamish’s official slogan?

Squamish Festival: Have a Great Time with All Your Favourite People Who Are also There 2014

The festival takes place at Logger Sports Grounds and Hendrickson Fields. Quick—what’s your favourite logger sport?

Let me just back step here and say that I do not know a whole bucking lot about bobbing the log. Those are all terms pertaining to the sport of log rolling that I found on a website. Thank you. See you on Saturday at 4:05pm.

Aidan Knight plays the Squamish Valley Music Festival’s Meadow Stage at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday (August 9).