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Experience the life-changing nature of festivals, this July in Western Canada
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Festival season is underway, which for a working musician like me means busy season. A season of late nights and early mornings. Of watching every sunrise and sunset for the better part of three months, fuelled by gas station coffee and the pure joy of live music.
I’ve spent the last fifteen summers bouncing from festival to festival with our band, Shred Kelly. It’s chaotic, exhausting, and thrilling, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Shred Kelly (Sage McBridge, second from left) arrive in Millarville, AB, weary but excited.
Recently Shred Kelly was in Millarville, Alberta, to play the inaugural Kin Fest, a festival I hope becomes a mainstay on the Canadian festival circuit. It boasted an incredible lineup of Western Canadian artists, and from my conversations with the organizer I know that so much passion and love has gone into bringing it to life.
We also made it to North Country Fair, now in its 48th year, something that has been on my band's bucket list since we first started touring the festival circuit 15 years ago.
It's a summer solstice celebration we've heard praised by so many fellow musicians and festival-goers, so it feels surreal that we finally got to be part of it.
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North Country Fair
The Brasstactics lead a march through the festival grounds at North Country Fair.
Playing one festival in its very first year and another in its 48th has reminded me just how much these events need our support. Over the past year, several beloved music festivals in Western Canada including Rifflandia and Kaslo Jazz Etc announced they wouldn't be returning.
The reality is simple: festivals can't survive if people don't show up.
As incredible as it is to see a major artist in an arena, it rarely compares to discovering your next favourite band at a festival, eating from local food vendors, wandering through artisan markets, and being part of a community that only exists for a weekend.
Photo:
Chris Istace
The crowd going wild at Five Acre Shaker. Remember this feeling? When did you last feel it?
So much heart is poured into every one of these festivals, and we often don't realize what they mean until they're gone.
My friend Tom van Deursen from The Boom Booms captured it perfectly in a post he made about his experience at North Country Fair:
"I get to participate in the very best and quirkiest part of humanity. Festivals change lives, accelerate decisions, crack open hearts, and teach community."
It's hard to say it any better than that.
So this summer, go discover a new artist. Check out a festival you've never been to before. Support the food vendors, the artisans, and the musicians who make the magic happen.
If you're in BC or Alberta, there are some incredible festivals waiting for you, and your support ensures they'll be here for years to come.
FIND YOUR NEW FAVOURITE ARTIST This July
The Boom Booms at Steamboat Mountain Music Festival
Tropical rock from Vancouver, BC
I first saw The Boom Booms play over a decade ago as we were both steadily touring the music festival scene. Their live set was always incredible and they are masters of creating the experience at festivals we all yearn for with their fan engagement, energy, and passion they bring to the stage.
Their live show is a must-see! Catch them at Steamboat Mountain Music Festival in Edgewater, BC.
Joce Reyome at Mission Folk Music Festival
Blues rock from Charlottetown, PEI.
I first saw Joce perform at a small venue in Winnipeg last year, and this year they are performing at music festivals across the country with their showstopping voice and songwriting. (Think Etta James, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, and Tracy Chapman). Catch them on the festival circuit this summer!
Surf Hat at Vancouver Folk Music Festival
Cold water surf rock from Squamish, BC.
I first discovered Surf Hat on a tour poster at my local music venue in Fernie, BC, The Northern. I tried to get tickets but the show was sold out, and I quickly became a huge fan of the band and their distinct surf rock sound and have been following their journey ever since.
Since then they have been selling out shows across North America and recently finished supporting The Sheepdogs on a cross Canada tour.
FESTIVAL ROUND UP
June 11-July 19 FIFA Fan Festival / Vancouver, BC
The primary location for the live match broadcasts, concerts, and festivities is The Amphitheatre at the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition).
July 3-5 Steamboat Mountain Music Festival / Edgewater, BC
A family-friendly summer arts event held in the picturesque community. It features a diverse mix of live performances.
July 3-5 Fun Field Festival / Jaffary, BC
Fun Field Festival is back for its third year, bringing people together for live music, camping, arts, games, artisan vendors, local food trucks, and more!
July 3-12 Edmonton International Street Performers Festival / Edmonton, AB
North America's oldest and largest festival of its kind. Founded in 1985, this 10-day summer event transforms downtown into "busker central" with world-class circle shows, acrobatics, comedy, and roving artists.
July 10-12 Philips Backyard Music Festival / Victoria, BC
An electrifying music festival held in the heart of a craft brewery, where community vibes blend seamlessly with epic beats.
July 10-12 Pembina River Nights / Evansburg, AB
An annual, family-friendly riverside music festival featuring two full evenings of live Canadian music across genres like folk, country, bluegrass, and rock, alongside outdoor activities like swimming, fishing, and camping.
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July 10-12 Starbelly Jam / Crawford Bay, BC
An annual, family-oriented outdoor music and arts festival known for its intimate, community-focused atmosphere, and diverse lineup of musical acts.
July 10-19 Harrison Festival of the Arts / Harrison Hot Springs, BC
A 10-day summer celebration of music, theatre, and visual arts held annually in the lakeside resort village of Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia.
July 10-13 Bass Coast / Merritt, BC
Bass Coast is an independent, artist-owned festival shaped by a shared love of electronic music, immersive stages & art, and an expressive and open-hearted community.
July 17-19 Folk on the Rocks / Yellowknife, NWT
A popular, family-friendly summer music and cultural festival held annually on the sandy shores of Long Lake in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
July 17-18 South Country Fair / Fort McLeod, AB
An annual, three-day, camping-style outdoor folk and arts festival held in Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada.
July 17-19 Wild Mountain Music Festival / Hinton, AB
An annual, family-friendly summer event held in Alberta, featuring a diverse mix of folk, blues, rock, indie, and country music.
July 17-19 Vancouver Folk Music Festival / Vancouver, BC
A beloved, multi-stage outdoor cultural event and Canadian institution that takes place annually at ʔəy̓alməxʷ / Iy̓ál̓mexw (Jericho Beach Park).
July 17-19 Dawson City Music Festival / Dawson City, YK
The Yukon’s longest-running music event, renowned for its unparalleled intimacy, grassroots spirit, and concerts performed under the Midnight Sun.
July 24-26 Mission Folk Festival / Mission, BC
An annual, family-friendly summer event celebrating folk, blues, Celtic, and global music across multiple day stages and a main stage.
July 24-26 Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival / Salmon Arm, BC
The largest, most musically diverse summer music festival in the British Columbian Interior. The event attracts thousands of attendees with its eclectic mix of folk, blues, roots, funk, and world music
July 24-25 Calgary Folk Music Festival / Calgary, AB
One of Canada’s flagship, trailblazing music festivals. It's been held annually since 1980 at the beautiful Prince’s Island Park in Calgary, Alberta.
July 17-26 K-Days / Edmonton, AB
An annual 10-day summer exhibition and fair. It features amusement park rides on a massive midway, live concerts on main stages, indoor exhibitions, and more.
July 24-26 Islands Folk Festival / Duncan, BC
A long-running, family-friendly music event hosted annually featuring a blend of traditional and contemporary folk, roots, and world music across multiple outdoor stages.
July 28-29 Wide Skies Music and Arts Festival / Lethbridge, AB
A vibrant annual outdoor event featuring a diverse lineup of Canadian and international musicians, alongside a workshop stage, artisan markets, and food vendors.
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What tickets do you have hot in hand? Where are you headed next to experience festival joy? We're here for it at @festivalseekers, be sure to tag us so we can celebrate the collective beauty of the festival scene in Western Canada.
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