Long before there were coal miners and mayday parades in Cumberland, the K’omoks First Nation eked out a good life on eastern Vancouver Island - a place they referred to as ‘the land of plenty.’
Fast-forward a few hundred years, and the Village of Cumberland is now the land of plenty of bike trails, watering holes, and live music. In our modern world of diminishing wild spaces and global unrest, a timely message from many First Nations artists continues to be one of respect, for human diversity, and for the fragile ecosystems on which we are all dependent.
This is a message that is gaining momentum for many concerned citizens, and one that resonates deeply with Atmosphere organizers. Atmosphere Gathering, which hits the village August 18 to 20, continues to support Indigenous artists from North America and beyond. This summer organizers are supremely honoured to feature three top tier Aboriginal acts from Canada and Australia.
Digging Roots from Ontario is a Juno-award winning power couple. Shoshana Kish and husband Raven Kanatakta, have built a unique musical sound combining romantic optimism with folk-rock, pop, blues and hip hop influences. The duo has collaborated with other major Canadian talent such as Tanya Tagaq, Kinnie Starr and A Tribe Called Red.
Kish’s lilting voice and Kanatakta’s searing guitar is a marriage based on unvarnished truth and unconditional love. They fight against the forces of darkness, hatred, and discrimination through their intrepid music. Their message is one of courage, compassion and peace. Their recent hit single ‘AK-47’ opens fire on oppression and violence. They see themselves as benevolent warriors amidst the carnage of human conflict. According to Kanatakta “ An Anishinaabe word at the end of ‘AK-47’ that distills it all for me is Nizoogide ‘e’. It means ‘my heart is a stronghold.”
DJ Shub is a title earning Mohawk DJ and award-wining music producer from Grande River. A major voice in the Canadian Indigenous electronic music community, DJ Shub ‘AKA Dan General’ is a founding member of A Tribe Called Red.
He parted ways with the group in 2014 and has gone on to create his own unique sound, while staying within the tradition pioneered by ATCR of combining electronic dance beats with Aboriginal singing and drumming. DJ Shub has picked up numerous Indigenous music awards including one for his EP PowWowStep and his powerful video “ Indomitable.”
Hailing from Australia, with that signature feel good Aussie earth-sound, OKA draws on their indigenous connection to place, to provide an irresistible blend of influences spanning house, big beat, reggae-dub, roots, jazz and world music, including of course, the didgeridoo.
When asked about their sound the band says ‘Imagine Bob Marley meets Stevie Wonder via the Chemical Brothers on acid.” With a sound and force that touches the heart and connects the soul, organizers are pumped to be bringing this live dance experience to local music lovers.
Atmosphere Gathering still maintains a low-key family friendly vibe with three distinct stages. The circus tent is occupied by the electronic heart of the festival, the Atmosphere stage features live bands all weekend, and the Cumberland Community Forest stage offers a more interactive experience.
For tickets or more information about these and other scheduled performers check out the website atmospheregathering.com