We Sailed the Like Minded Tour Boat Cruise and Got Wavy

When you put 215 people on a swanky ship with seven DJs, two bars, two dancefloors, and send them sailing around a harbour surrounded by mountains and a picturesque city landscape—you really can't go wrong.

Over the past two weeks, the Bass Coast Electronic Music and Arts Festival and What The Festival joined forces for the Like Minded Tour Boat Cruise, bringing a number of DJs from each of their 2015 artist line-ups on a tour through Seattle, Portland, Victoria, and Vancouver. The Vancouver sunset cruise was their final stop, bringing the pre-fest warm-up circuit to a close. Like Bass Coast's most recent Halloween boat party, the race to grab tickets for the cruise before its final departure was an event in itself.

Yet finally, May 15th arrives, and as the sun begins to set over the Vancouver harbour, we board the 'Magic Spirit' for another highly anticipated West Coast festival boat adventure. Local musician, The Tailor, is the first artist on the bill for the evening, warming up the crowd with his sensual grooves.

"We were in the port and they wouldn't let us be loud," he says. "So I had to come in really slow. Step by step. Little bit by little bit. I had to play the most inoffensive music first, you know? Some Sade, Smooth Operator. It was a challenge, but it was luscious."

At 7:30 PM sharp the dock gates are sealed and we set sail. Departing from the harbour, Vancouver-based duo, Sabota (aka Max Ulis and Robbie Slade) take things up a notch with a tasty live tech house set. All smiles and good-natured silliness, Sabota continue to hype the party while energy levels are still on the rise. Gliding under the Lions Gate Bridge, the crowd on the deck hoots and hollers as we progress further out into the Pacific Ocean.

Though things are steadily heating up out on the rooftop deck, I'm curious to take a little stroll around the rest of the vessel and see what other shenanigans may be happening aboard. Making my way to the bow, I join some fellow passengers indulging in cocktails and the breathtaking view of the open sea.

After a few Titanic re-enactments and some good laughs, I head back inside to grab another drink. Waiting in line at the bar, I'm lured towards the downstairs lounge stage by the sounds of local favourites, Woodhead and Ryan Wells, who are busy serving up some funky house flavors. The crowd is loving it and I watch as one by one, others also find themselves attracted like magnets to their unabashed four by four beats.

By the time I made it back upstairs and onto the deck, it was Portland DJ, Barisone, in the booth. In the palm of his hand, he has the entire rooftop dancefloor grinding to his heavy, badass bass music. At this point, the sun has set and the ship's passengers are in full-on summertime celebration mode. It doesn't take long until a few of the dancers directly in the front of Barisone break out into some shameless twerking.

With the night sky above us, the glowing colours of Vancouver's city skyline radiate across the water. Weaving in and around the large cargo ships, we continue to meander around the harbour as the low-bass frequencies become the soundtrack to our starry dome.

After Barisone, it is Bass Coast co-founder, The Librarian's turn to take over the position of sound selector. Feeding off a similar vibe to Barisone, The Librarian keeps the grimy bass beats coming while people on the upper deck continue to lose their shit. Twerking, bumping, and grinding, the dancers keep it up all the way back to shore.

Before we dock and evacuate the premises, I catch up with Barisone. Though we're surrounded mainly by local Vancouverites, his visitor review of the voyage was certification of this event. "It was amazing," he exclaims. "It was the best boat party I've ever been on. I always love playing up here, and the crew tonight…it was epic. They set me up proper with the time slot so I've got to thank Andrea and Liz. I like to do vibey stuff and everyone was really receptive to that. It didn't have to be huge tunes. It was sunset, out on the water, and just fun."

His connection with Bass Coast, though, runs deep and personal. "I played two years ago and then just attended last year. It's by far my favourite," he says. "I've been to a lot of them and I play a lot of them—Bass Coast is special. There's a community vibe and it's run by women. They take care of all of the important stuff. It really shows through that they love what they're doing and that it's for the people."

Though we've had one hell of a voyage aboard the 'Magic Spirit,' all good things must come to an end. However, it is an early evening cruise and the night is still young. As we dock the ship and arrive back on shore at 10:30 PM, people swap info on various other events that are only just beginning throughout the city. Hopping into cabs, on bikes, and on skateboards, the sunset cruise passengers continue to usher in the weekend.

Buy tickets for Bass Coast Electronic Music and Arts Festival here.

Hollie McGowan is on Twitter.