The Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival is an event that happens every year here in Whistler in April. The festival is the last big event for the Ski & Snowboard season in Whistler and a big event it is.

Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival Big Air

The event boasts free music from huge musical acts from all over the world, along with other Ski & Snowboard Competitions. The last few seasons there is the main stage at the Whistler base where the huge acts play their sets while the skiers and snowboards finish their day skiing and snowboarding on Whistler Blackcomb.

Animal Nation performing on the main stage at Whistler base

Also at the base of Whistler there is a Big Air event and in the more recent years they have switched it into a snowboard slope style trick style competition.

Animal Nation performing at Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival

Here are a bunch of photos from the 2009 Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival

Whistler Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival Big Air

Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival Superpipe

Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival Superpipe

Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival Superpipe

Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival Superpipe

Metric performing live on stage at Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

Metric performing live on stage at Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

Metric performing live on stage at Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

Warren Williams competiting Grednade Games Whistler Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

Jesmond DuBeau competing in Grenade Games Slope style at Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

Jesmond DuBeau taking home a nice pay check

Craig Beaulieu taking home the win at the Grenade Games Slopestyle at Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

Part of the Grenade Games Slopestyle course

Grenade Games - Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

Grenade Games - Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

Grenade Games - Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

54-40 performing live on stage at Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

54-40 performing live on stage at Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

54-40 performing live on stage at Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

54-40 performing live on stage at Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival

TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival 2009 is a post from: Nick Vail Photography

I’ve been digging threw my archives a lot lately trying to find some old gems to post up. Photo’s are only good if you can share them with people and what greater way to do so than threw the inter web.

A few season ago during the Pontiac World Cup there was a big stage built in the Village Square were every day a few acts would put on a live show to get everyone excited for the World Cup. Two of the big acts that weekend where Hedley and K-os.

K-os Live in Whistler

At the time I had shot very little live music and never really seen big names like Hedley or K-os on stage before, let alone a free out door concert. So you can believe I was pretty excited.

Since K-os released his first album Exit in March 2002 I became a big fan. Everything from his first big chart topper “Heaven only knows” to “Superstarr, Pt. Zero” and “Neutroniks” where a few of my favorites from his first debut album Exit.

K-os Live in Whistler

K-os put on an excellent show with his own sort of unique energy. K-os doesn’t really have the same hip hop vibe that a lot of the other hip hop artists out there have. He creates his own style with the right amount of uniqueness that sets him apart from the crowd.

Not only was K-os singing rhymes from songs like “B-boy stance” to “Love Song” but he also pulled out the guitar and played some acoustic to go along with the melody.

K-os percussion Live in Whistler

Another big act playing during the weekend was Hedley. Hedley is a pop rock band that was started in Abbotsford B.C.

The band received well deserved attention when Jacob Hoggard (the lead vocalist) was in the top 3 of the popular Canadian reality TV show Canadian Idol.

Hedley Live in Whistler

Jacob apparently entered the contest as a bet from his band mates. During the competition he moved threw the rankings and became one of the finalists (top 3) which is when he decided he had enough and quit the contest. An interesting move which worked well in Hedley’s favor.

Hedley Live on Stage

Although the band members changed since Hedley was originally started back in Abbotsford they still kept the original name while adding some talented musicians including; Chris Crispin on Drums, Tommy Mac on bass and Dave Rosin on Guitar.

Hedley live on stage in Whistler

They put on a great high energy show with the lead singer Jacob Hoggard climbing up the scaffolding and jumping back on stage. I can see why he gains some aclaim in the 2004 Canadian Idol.

Hedley Live on Stage in Whistler

I can’t wait to see what acts come to Whistler during the Olympics.

If you enjoyed this blog post you might enjoy some more of my Live music posts; Animal Nation, Grand Analog + Buck65 Live on Stage – Animal Nation and DNA 6 Live on Stage – Wide Mouth Mason Live on Stage

K-os and Hedley Live on Stage is a post from: Nick Vail Photography

Back in the summer of 2008 I decided I needed more portraits to add to my portfolio, so I did a lot of research and ordered a few key items. At the time I had just moved into a new house that had a high ceiling and what I believed was enough space to set up a little studio. So what I did was order a 12′ x 30′ White back drop some hooks to hang it and some new light stands.

When all my new equipment arrived I was super excited to set it all up and start shooting some photo’s with it. So I basically started spreading the word to friends to find people who wanted to do some modelling. My friend Garnet who’s part of Animal Nation was down to shoot some photos, so I got him and Mike to bring their gear over to my house to get a little band photo shoot going.

The morning of the shoot was a nice sunny day in Whistler and when Mike and Garnet showed up there was some beautiful light coming threw the trees in my back yard and It looked like it would be a beautiful accent for a photo. My back yard has a nice rope swing and a coach under a tree which worked perfect little jamming set up.

Mike decided to whip out his turn tables and mount them on the rope swing while Garnet pulled out the Guitar and his Harmonica and we where jamming. We shot for about a half hour in the back yard before we moved into the house where I was excited to pop the cherry on my new studio set up.

As I was setting up my lighting in the studio Mike and Garnet where setting up their turn tables mixers and keyboard to get the ball rolling on the photo shoot. Animal Nation has played a ton of shows in the Whistler area and across North America along with performing several shows in Europe; so there no stranger to putting on a good show.

Before I knew it we where into the photo shoot with some awesome and funny antics being put on by the two performers. Garnet put some soul into playing the piano and Mike put some real spin on the records. The two of them together really know how to feed off each other which helped make for some fun times shooting photo’s in my new studio.

Not too long into the photo shoot the mic’s came out of the trunk of musical instruments and in no time they where swinging them around the circus animals.

When the mics where done going around the world at increasing speeds from the way they where swinging them. Mike then decided to take a step back and do some poses for the ladies, before he got into some different types of spinning.

As the photo shoot was coming near the end the guys put their gear away and I did some close up shots of them together and a few other varieties of solo shots.

I’d like to throw out a thanks to Animal Nation for putting on a good photo shoot, I couldn’t have done it with out them. They where totally a great way to get me back into the groove of shooting portraiture.

If you’d like to check out Animal Nations music you can check them out on Myspace

And if you enjoyed reading about Animal Nation check out more of my blog posts featuring Animal Nation. Animal Nation and DNA6 Live on Stage – Animal Nation, Grand Analog, Buck 65 Live on Stage

Animal Nation Photo Shoot is a post from: Nick Vail Photography

Yesterday I was able to get off work early to meet up with some friends up on Whistler and enjoy the heat of summer on the top of the mountain. It was a perfect day for the Nestea Chill on the Hill festivities was putting on.

There was everything from beach volley ball with real sand and a spot where people could chill on lawn chairs and catch some rays from the sun.

In between chilling on the beach watching people play volley ball there was a Snowboard jam with 3 different features set up by the top of Emerald Chair on Whistler.

I don’t know how they still had that much snow on the top of Whistler with the weather we’ve been getting here the past few weeks but none the less chilling on the hill watching snowboarders send them selves down the rails and kinked boxes and into a vert wall ride at the bottom.

It was fun to watch and you could tell everyone was enjoying themselves.

After the snowboard jam ended they opened up the mini park to public and shortly after everyone moved over to the stage to listen to The Stills rock the hill.

After there first song of the day you could tell they where getting into a nice groove.

It was my first time listening to the Stills and it was a great show just what everyone needed to end a relaxing day chilling on the hill.

If you enjoyed this blog post please check out my other Snowboarding post or my Music posts.

Nestea Chill on the Hill is a post from: Nick Vail Photography

Over this Easter Weekend here in Whistler we where proud to be the host of the Whistler World Cup Ski Racing of 2009. After the trophy’s where awarded to the top athletes competing in the event we where able to enjoy some free music on the Whistler village stage.

Animal Nation

Yesterday I along with everyone else in the village were able to enjoy the performances of Animal Nation and DNA 6. The music started off with a couple MC’s getting the stage warmed up with some horrible antics and singing some “rhymes” which comprised of the only 2 words “Yeah” “Yo”. It was a shame we bad to listen to it but opening act’s have the hardest gig in town.

Armadillo Slim

When Animal Nation hit the stage around 3 o’clock the crowd started to get into a good vibe with the amazing tunes Animal Nation was airing. They where opening up with some new songs off their new album which will be releasing on April 24th. You can check out some of their new songs Including Party Animals on their web page here.

MC Dosia

While I was in the crowd during the Animal Nation performance you could tell everyone was enjoying their music and their quirky jokes (I even laughed at some of them); Even the parents where laughing and getting into the music. The crowds started to grow and people started dancing.

Ryan Stewart

Once Animal Nation finished up there was a small gap before DNA 6 came on stage and when they did they brought a whole new high energy show. Their lead rapper MC Dosia (who also has a new album comming out soon) had some awesome vocals and knew how to pump up the crowd.

Alex Maher

Alex Maher played some awesome guitar but his jazzy saxophone playing was a joy to watch, he put so much love into the sax it just sounded amazing. Along with the sax I was able to enjoy some awesome percussion played by Ryan Stewart paired with some wonderful guitar and vocals by Mario Vaira; It was such an amazing show – can’t wait till they come back.

Mario Vaira

Animal Nation and DNA 6 put on great shows, if you have the chance to see them live do it and you’ll be glad because these guys know how to interact with the crowd, put on an amazing show and play some awesome music!

Whistler World Cup On Stage – Animal Nation, DNA 6 is a post from: Nick Vail Photography

Over the past few days we’ve had many Canadian artists playing on the big stage in Whistler Village, and like the past few days I was able to enjoy some more free music here in Whistler.

Today I was able to enjoy my friends Animal Nation playing on the big stage in the Village square. They where doing an excellent job getting the crowd pumped up to see Grand Analog who they also opened for the previous night in Vancouver. Animal Nation played a few songs from their new album which is coming out soon and the crowd was loving it.

After Animal Nation played their set, everyone watched Mike Armadilo Slim throw a bokay of flowers to his girl in the crowd because it was valentine day and all. I was then able to enjoy Grand Analog for the first time. Grand Analog was a great show to watch while they played a very fun – full band jazzy hip hop show. I would totally recommend you check out their music and help support another up and coming Canadian music group.

It was unfortunate that I wasn’t able to get up close and enjoy the whole Grand Analog show because I was still working my shift when they came on, although I was able to sneak out of work for a little bit to snap a few photos of them on stage. When Grand Analog finished up their was a little bit of a gap between shows. This gave me just enough time to finish up my shift at work so I could get out and enjoy the Buck 65 show.

Now I have to say I’ve always been a big fan of Buck65, not only because he’s from my home town, Nova Scotia, but because he makes music that’s always different than everyone else. I don’t know how to explain it, so just listen to it. When Buck65 went on stage the crowd was huge and you could tell everyone was enjoying the show. Now Buck65 is a solo artist, who sings, Dj’s the turn tables and put’s on an excellent show that suits every age group. It was a total pleasure to watch his live show, especially when he make small jokes about today’s society and how no one slow dances anymore you cause it was valentines day.

Today was a full day of music and just a beautiful day for Whistler to be celebrating Love and the count down to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Whistler Stage, Animal Nation, Grand Analog, Buck 65 is a post from: Nick Vail Photography

Over the weekend we had a big celebration here in Whistler announcing the 1 year count down to the start of the 2010 Winter Olympic games being held here in Whistler. To kick off the celebration there was a huge stage set up in the Village Square just outside of my work with 2 shows being played each day all weekend. It was such a convince to be able to open the door to my work and be able to listen to so many great Canadian artists playing awesome music.

I had the pleasure of watching Wide Mouth Mason put on a spectacular show for us on one of the first nights of celebration. This gave me the opportunity to test out one of my favorite lenses. I’ve shot a lot of concerts since I’ve moved to Whistler, mostly because there’s plenty of them happening year round. But on this occasion I wanted to try something a little different than how I usually shoot.

Wide Mouth Mason hit the stage around 6:30pm so it was completely dark by that time so I decided to shoot wide open at F4 on my Canon 70-200 F4L lens. I’ve never really tested this lens shooting wide open before so I thought this would be an excellent chance to do so.

Wide Mouth Mason was putting on a good high energy show, so it was a perfect time to take some photos of them. As I was maneuvering threw the crowds to find the perfect angles I was able to capture some great moments of them playing some of their hits. After a few songs I had snapped about 80 photo’s which satisfied my expectations, so I put the camera in my bag and enjoyed the rest of the show.

When the show was over, I went home to upload the images to see how my lens worked in the dark conditions while shooting the band zig zagging across the stage. Once I started browsing threw the images I was wide eyed and excited to see some very dynamic images. Images like none that I’ve been able to capture in the past.

At the days end I’d like to give a big shout of to Wide Mouth Mason for coming to Whistler and performing an awesome show. It’s always great to see fellow Canadians doing something they love to do, and sharing it with all of us.

Whistler Olympic 1 year Olympic Count Down! is a post from: Nick Vail Photography