In Pictures: Axis Mundi’s Harvest Festival — Day Two

By Jason Portras
On Saturday evening, the Axis Mundi music scene moved up the mountain to Revelation Lodge at the RMR.
The stage was set up just below the black diamond run Cannonball. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t too cooperative and offered up a very wet and muddy playground for the festival participants. However, as Axis Mundi Publicity Manager Scott Crocker noted, “Spirits were high despite the rain. If anything, the rain brought everyone together.” A truer statement couldn’t have been made.
The Highs came all the way across the country from their hometown of Toronto to take the stage. They quickly warmed the audience up with their catchy beats and rolling melodies. Baskery, a trio of sisters from Sweden, followed up with a rocking collection of funky tunes full of attitude. Sunniva struck me as a lot like Carrie Underwood without the twang and with a generous helping of oomph, for lack of a better word. She’s a show woman that the audience couldn’t keep their eyes off of, jumping around, writhing with her guitar, even seemingly moaning in ecstasy at times. Of course, her sisters Greta and Stella are amazing musicians as well, the spotlight never seemed to want to leave Sunniva for long. Their rendition of Neil Young’s ‘Old Man’ was a huge hit with the crowd, as well as their very own ‘Catflap’ (“a door that swings both ways” as expounded upon by Sunniva when introducing it).
Walk Off The Earth pounded onto the stage next with their heavy bass sound, palpating into the mud, shaking the fence that separated them from their audience. They started the show off with ‘Little Boxes,’ an oddly comforting song, like something from childhood like a lullaby, but one that you couldn’t help but tap your feet to and just smile. Hit songs like ‘Sing It All Away’, ’Summer Vibe’ and ‘Rule The World’ did not disappoint and the audience joined in to everyone of them like greeting old friends with one massive dance. I’m sure it’s going to take a few days for some of the younger members of the audience to get their voices back after this one, especially the ones who were invited onto the stage. Those Revelstokians who came to see this very talented band will remember that moment for some time to come.
After a very long set, and an encore to boot (I’m sure the audience wouldn’t have let them leave if it was their choice), next up was Adham Shaikh and his blend of techno-type tribal groove dance jazz, or at least that’s what I’d call it if I had to describe it. I saw a few members in the audience with their faces covered with mud, one young man with his shirt off in the cold brisk mountain rain, covered in mud. Yet, I’ll bet he wasn’t cold, dancing like a shaman driven by the vibe that burned the air with its pounding rhythm, surrounded by people dancing just as hard and free. After trudging through the mud and being bathed in the fresh rain, as a not-so-young adult any more, it was good to remember the night over a hot chocolate from Timmy’s with my wife while the younger crowd partied on.

David Thiaw's drumming workshop at the United Church was definitely a high-energy venue. Laura Stovel photo
David Thiaw’s drumming workshop at the United Church was definitely a high-energy venue. Laura Stovel photo

Caravan Farm Theatre alumnus Bev Peacock kept you riveted to your seat during her Stone Soup performances at Grizzly Plaza. David F. Rooney photo
Caravan Farm Theatre alumnus Bev Peacock kept you riveted to your seat during her Stone Soup performances at Grizzly Plaza. David F. Rooney photo

Sue Davies of Bear Aware chats with visitors to the the Adventure section of the Axis events on Mackenzie Avenue. David F. Rooney photo
Sue Davies of Bear Aware chats with visitors to the the Adventure section of the Axis events on Mackenzie Avenue. David F. Rooney photo

Bob Gardali (left) talks about one of his favourite subjects, acoustic strong instruments, with Jowi Taylor of Six String Nation after his presentation at the Modern Cafe n Saturday. David F. Rooney
Bob Gardali (left) talks about one of his favourite subjects, acoustic strong instruments, with Jowi Taylor of Six String Nation after his presentation at the Modern Cafe n Saturday. David F. Rooney

01
The Swedish group, Baslkery, in performance on the stage at RMR's Revelation Lodge. Laura Stovel photo
The Toronto-based group, The Highs,  in performance on the stage at RMR’s Revelation Lodge. Laura Stovel photo

Bathed in a red curtain of light. Jason Portras photo
Bathed in a red curtain of light. Jason Portras photo

As my wife said, Doug Haynes is “easy on the eyes.” Jason Portras photo
As my wife said, Doug Haynes is “easy on the eyes.” Jason Portras photo

Buckman Coe, the MC for the night, introduces the next act in a very entertaining way ... Jason Portras photo
Buckman Coe, the MC for the night, introduces the next act in a very entertaining way … Jason Portras photo

… to the audience’s delight. Jason Portrays photo
… to the audience’s delight. Jason Portrays photo

The headliners did not disappoint. They killed it good. Jason Portras
The headliners did not disappoint. They killed it good. Jason Portras

Ryan shakes it. Jason Portras photo
Ryan shakes it. Jason Portras photo

Sarah gets everyone clapping. Jason Portras photo
Sarah gets everyone clapping. Jason Portras photo

‘The Beard’ doing his thang. Jason Portras photo
‘The Beard’ doing his thang. Jason Portras photo

Voice-spiking the mic. Jason Portras photo
Voice-spiking the mic. Jason Portras photo

Yet another guy my wife thought was ‘easy on the eyes’. Oh man. Jason Portras photo
Yet another guy my wife thought was ‘easy on the eyes’. Oh man. Jason Portras photo

Raise ‘em up! Jason Portras photo
Raise ‘em up! Jason Portras photo

Surreal Jason Portras photo
Surreal Jason Portras photo

Sarah & Gianni harmonizing. Jason Portras photo
Sarah & Gianni harmonizing. Jason Portras photo

Plucking strings. Jason Portras photo
Plucking strings. Jason Portras photo

Exploding drums. Jason Portras photo
Exploding drums. Jason Portras photo

Floating heads and horns. Jason Portras photo
Floating heads and horns. Jason Portras photo

More cowbell! Jason Portras photo
More cowbell! Jason Portras photo

A drumming smoke cannon. Jason Portras photo
A drumming smoke cannon. Jason Portras photo

A rapt audience. Jason Portras photo
A rapt audience. Jason Portras photo

All smiles. Jason Portras photo
All smiles. Jason Portras photo

These young ladies, among others, were invited on stage to meet, sing, and dance with the band. Jason Portras photo
These young ladies, among others, were invited on stage to meet, sing, and dance with the band. Jason Portras photo

What an amazing moment for them! Jason Portras photo
What an amazing moment for them! Jason Portras photo

Even a tuba. Jason Portras photo
Even a tuba. Jason Portras photo

Gianni & Ryan harmonizing. Jason Portras photo
Gianni & Ryan harmonizing. Jason Portras photo

a voice in the dark. Jason Portras photo
a voice in the dark. Jason Portras photo

A party was had. Jason Portras photo
A party was had. Jason Portras photo

...By all. Jason Portras photo
…By all. Jason Portras photo

A highlight of the night, they all play a single guitar in their famous rendition of Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know.’ Jason Portras photo
A highlight of the night, they all play a single guitar in their famous rendition of Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know.’ Jason Portras photo

You know s**t gets serious when a harmonica solo comes out! Jason Portras photo
You know s**t gets serious when a harmonica solo comes out! Jason Portras photo

It was all too much for some of us. Jason Portras photo
It was all too much for some of us. Jason Portras photo

After a nice reprieve from the rain in the lodge, the audience drifted back to the stage as Adham Shaik’s powerful global sounds began to reverberate among the mountain peaks. Jason Portras photo
After a nice reprieve from the rain in the lodge, the audience drifted back to the stage as Adham Shaik’s powerful global sounds began to reverberate among the mountain peaks. Jason Portras photo

Grass no more, mud & earth reign. Welcome to 'Axis Muddy’, as coined by the festival organizers on Twitter. Jason Portras photo
Grass no more, mud & earth reign. Welcome to ‘Axis Muddy’, as coined by the festival organizers on Twitter. Jason Portras photo