Yet another summer festival was caught in the crossfire of extreme weather over the weekend. Bass Canyon 2024, held at The Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington from August 16-18, was abruptly shut down on the second night due to dangerous conditions. Video footage captured by festival-goers showed high winds battering the stage’s LED panels, sending them swaying perilously above the crowd. The campsite didn’t fare much better, with numerous tents and canopies left in tatters by the storm.
The winds were severe enough to raise serious safety concerns, leading the organizers to make the tough call to halt the festival, despite their usual rain-or-shine policy. The decision, made to protect the safety of attendees, staff, and performers, was not taken lightly. While most artists managed to reschedule their sets for the following day, fans were particularly disappointed to miss Rusko’s performance, as he was unable to stay for day three. Thankfully, the weather calmed down for the rest of the weekend, allowing attendees to enjoy the stunning experience that The Gorge is known for. Headlining sets over the three days included Excision, Zeds Dead, Wooli, Ganja White Night, Space Laces, JOYRYDE, and Kill The Noise.
Bass Canyon is just the latest in a string of festivals disrupted by Mother Nature this year. Ultra Miami, Electric Forest, Elements, and Texas Eclipse all faced cancellations due to extreme weather, and Deep Tropics in Nashville was also forced to pull the plug during SOFI TUKKER’s set this weekend due to lightning.
As festival season continues, it’s clear that the unpredictable nature of outdoor events remains a force to be reckoned with.
