Scene PG | June 2014

LOCAL EVENTS AND MUSIC

|

JUNE2014

BLOOD HOURGLASS PAGE 4

KAYLA HUGHES PAGE 14

PRIDE PRINCE GEORGE PAGE 29

2

|

|

JUNE2014

local events and music

04 BLOOD HOURGLASS 06 LAUNY SCHWARTZ 08 MIDSUMMER’S DREAM 10 RED 7 14 KAYLA HUGHES 16 THE BURDEN 18 METALLION 20 PETER FERUCCI 22 BRIGHT CITY HEIGHTS 25 BEN YEAGER 28 BRYCE LOKKEN 29 PRIDE PRINCE GEORGE 42 KILLBILLIES 44 NANCY O’S saluting those about to rock

may the schwartz be with you music festival

band of (almost all) brothers kreatively speaking

a weight off your shoulders

47 AWAKENING 50 MADISON SMITH 53 DANIEL MCLEOD PHOTOGRAPHY 56 BMO 58 BLACK SPRUCE BOG 62 BCNE

47

the sukunka valley music festival

mr. smith goes to hollywood (north) will work for fuel kids art dayz

from the ground up go big or go home

metal for the masses

14

29

speed demons

hitting the heights

downhill mountain bike racer can you guys play acoustic?

2014 legacy

kicking it with the killbillies living the dream

AVAILABLE ON-LINE AT:

08

www.pgcitizen.ca or thescenepg.com General Inquiries ‹ 250-562-2441 Publisher ‹ Colleen Sparrow Editor ‹ Neil Godbout Reader Sales ‹ Alan Ramsay Director of Advertising ‹ Dave Smith Founder/ Promotions Executive ‹ Norm Coyne Graphic Designer ‹ Candice Rosenbaum Writer ‹ Charelle Evelyn Photographers ‹ Christos Sargiogos, Trevor Moore Motorcycle Fashion Shoot Hair & Make-up artists: ‹ Razor’s Edge Hair Studio and Day Spa Amanda Ramsey-Hair, Dara Crandall-Hair, Nicole Kenney-Make up, Theresa Riggan-Make up

44

Welcome to the June 2014 issue – our nod to the fast cars, artists and musicians of Prince George. You may have noticed that this issue of the Scene PG is DOUBLE the size! After our recent national award wins at the Newspaper Canada Great Idea awards, we decided the time was right to take things to a whole new level. What you hold in your hands is a 64 page massive assault on the visual senses. 64 pages means more content with more exposure to more arts and entertainment! Beyond that, you will see our fashion shoots take on a little more of a theatrical flair (most notably our first ever VILLAIN!). We are also very excited to have a very special partnered section with our friends at Pride Prince George. A huge thanks in this issue to our regular team of collaborators and contributors who had to do twice as much work with this gargantuan issue and a very special thanks to our troupe of models and make-up artists who really elevated the fashion pages to new heights . As always, I hope you enjoy yourselves in what is the BEST issue to date!

- Norm Coyne Scene PG

Car Fashion Shoot Hair & Make-up artists: ‹ Swag N Glam Millie Furlong-Make up, Becky Black-Hair

The scene pg is a product of Please Recycle

INTERACTIVE PRINT

Download the free Layar App

Scan this page

Discover interactive content

ON THE COVER: Photo Credit: Christos Sargiogos | Model: Shawn Paterson | Clothing from One Boardshop | KTM Motorcycle from Forest Power Sports | Paintball Gun from Predator Paintball

JUNE2014

|

| 3

SALUTING THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK

By Charelle Evelyn

TIME IS JUST BEGINNING TO DRIP FOR BLOOD HOÜRGLASS, AND THE PROGRESSIVE METAL BAND SETTING ITS SIGHTS ON DRAGGING THE ENTIRE PRINCE GEORGE MUSIC SCENE UP ALONG WITH THEM.

“We had great, great music produced here in Prince George,” said singer Cole Pruden. “There’s so much thirst for it, but now it’s really dry.”

“It’s not like we want to get ahead of everyone in this town, we want the music scene to grow with us,” noted guitarist Ryan

Wishart.

The six band members – Pruden, Wishart, covocalist Cole Franz, bassist Riley Murphy, guitarist Cameron Cochlan and drummer Ryan Mathers – are ready to play anywhere at the drop of a hat.

“We started off our, our first show was with a DJ, and the crowd actually really adored our music and wanted us to play more,” said Pruden.

“Those two groups don’t really mix but we did it anyways and we got really good feedback from our style.”

It’s a style that features extended-range guitars á la Lamb of God, Meshugga and Thy Art is Murder that’s still in a fairly experimental stage, said

PHOTO CREDITS: Trevor Moore 4

|

|

JUNE2014

blood hourglass | saluting those about to rock

Cochlan. Toss in some 1960s and 70s prog rock and you might have a starting point for the Blood Hoürglass sound.

“It’s fairly heavy though, the lower-tuned guitars strings, two vocals, crazy drum and basses. It’s trying to take it heavier,” said Franz, the newest addition to the band.

Apparently, there’s an appetite for something new, a hunger that hasn’t been satiated.

“Our style is more progressive, so it’s different from what you normally hear. It’s not something you really hear in a town like this,” said Murphy.

And when people go see

blood hourglass | saluting those about to rock

a live show, they can’t resist the thall.

“It’s really all about the energy when you go to a live show and that’s how most people start to get into it because it’s really an acquired taste. You go to your first live show and you get sucked in,” Murphy said.

When not saving the local

music scene with their live performances this summer, Blood Hoürglass will focus on recording their debut EP, Copious Amount of Cancer.

Keep up with them on their Facebook page.

JUNE2014

|

| 5

AS I SIT HERE WRITING MY FIRST ARTICLE FOR SCENE, IT HAS BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE MY ARRIVAL IN PRINCE GEORGE TO JOIN THE TEAM OVER AT 94.3, THE GOAT. Like the old cliché goes, what a 365 it has been. I will always remember the hiring process because of what sold me on Prince George – Costco.

For the record, they don’t do endorsements, although I wouldn’t mind some free gas, but I digress. So how on earth did that seal the deal?

Well if they set up shop here, I couldn’t imagine there would be much missing from what I was used to in big bad Toronto. Then my friends started doing some research.

“Don’t you know it’s the most dangerous city in Canada?” they would say. My reply was pretty straight forward – “no, but thanks for telling me!” Yet here I am, all in one piece. Not a single break-in. I have yet to be mugged. My car is still the same one I drove out here.

So what kind of danger were these people speaking of?Like any city, crime is where you find it. I guess my problem is that I haven’t looked hard enough. I’ve been too busy seeing how incredible it is living in the Capital of The North. I’ve tried more game meats in one year than I have in the 34 years I spent in the big smoke. There is a hill in Ontario that is technically a mountain where people go

skiing. Although Tabor is no Whistler-Blackcomb, I can say that I’ve skied the mountain around the corner more times than I shredded the so-called slopes out East. Never mind the fact that the Rockies are within a few hours driving distance. Something I have taken full advantage of since moving here because condos don’t exactly have that “wow factor”. Seriously, other than an architect, who admires soulless concrete structures that obscure the views? Not that Lake Ontario is all that and a bag of pork rinds. Without a doubt, moving to Prince George to follow my dream of being in radio has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I’ve met some great people and seen the beauty that surrounds us which some of you may take for granted. I know it sounds like I’m ragging on Toronto a lot, but for 34 years I lived the city life. Go to work so you can make enough money to pay your rent, fill up on gas twice a week so you can get to work, buy some food, and if there is enough money left over, buy enough toilet paper to last the year. So until I’m back on the SCENE, focus on the positives PG. You’re surrounded by it. Launy “The” Schwartz is co-host of 94.3 The GOAT’s Morning Breath. You can tune in from 6am-10am so when you read his articles in SCENE Magazine, you can picture him sitting right next to you as your faithful narrator.

Rest assured, he smells better than a goat.

PHOTO CREDITS: Submitted 6

|

|

JUNE2014

launy schwartz | may the schwartz be with you

JUNE2014

|

| 7

By Charelle Evelyn

You have to dance like no one’s watching.

Prince George’s only transformational music festival returns July 18-19 and the organizers behind MidSummer’s Dream want nothing more than to create a safe space and an amazing experience.

It’s still a new message, said Karm Manhas. Just because you’ve been to a nightclub or a wedding and hit the dancefloor doesn’t mean it’s going to be the same thing at the over-

W

night, all-day event.

“There are no limits to your dance. There is no way how to do art or to dance so it truly is an ecstatic form where you can be rolling on the ground, to miming,” Manhas said. “That’s in your heart, and if it makes you happy there’s this release that comes from that. You don’t know, until you have it experienced it.”

The 19+ event is drug and alcohol free.

Engrained into everything throughout the day are messages about the power of intention.

“There is a change that happens when you set an inten-

tion – I want this to happen for myself and the way how to do it,” said Manhas. “We incorporated it throughout the day. It’s constantly happening in messages everywhere: hidden in the lasers in the trees, to signs and the imagery and all of the social media. The message once is that it’s about growing and learning and making it cool. It’s cool to have healthy relationships, to communicate.”

They recognize this type of event isn’t for everyone, but Dave Mothus said those who participate don’t leave unaffected.

“But the people who do come,

no matter what background they have, what personality type they have, every person who ever comes and attends leaves saying the same thing: ‘Wow.’”

This year’s festival lineup features a cavalcade of DJs including Vespers, MoonTricks, Nelos, Phil Brown, Freddy J, Tommy Boy, Griz Lee, Akimi, ShockRA, BreO, Benedict Beattie, DJ Gravage, Seclipse, Hedway, Seedspark, Sadowick, Circadian Rhythm, ILOVETT, Carissa Gem, Bob Smoke and Colin Syck.

“We added a second stage for Saturday, which is going to be ridiculous,” said Mothus.

PHOTO CREDITS: Christos Sargiogos

8

|

|

JUNE2014

midsummer’s dream music festival | that merry wonder of the night

There are also vendors, visual and performance artists, seminars, workshops, and sacred spaces. It’s too much to contain in one day, like previous editions of the festival.

“We had so much talent and so much desire for people to be involved and people approaching us that… logistically it was so much work for a one-day event we saw a need to go for two days,” said Chad Bohanan.

That extra night will have a folk and acoustic music focus, as well as a spotlight on visual art.

If you don’t have a ticket for MidSummer’s Dream yet, visit MidSummersDreamPG.com.

midsummer’s dream music festival | that merry wonder of the night

JUNE2014

|

| 9

By Charelle Evelyn

IF YOU BUILD IT, THE MUSIC WILL COME. “It’s kind of the long way of recording, to build your own room,” laughed Brent DiGiuseppe.

But that’s exactly what the members of hard rock band RED7 did, setting up their own

studio space on the drummer’s property.

Part of the project, which began late last summer and spanned a few months, was out of necessity.

The busy work and family lives of Brent and his bandmates guitarist Matt Morris and bassist Dan Morris meant it wasn’t too practical to hire studio space when the group could only guarantee three or four hours Continued on page 12

10

|

|

JUNE2014

red 7 | band of (almost all) brothers

HOMEWORK R001768897 4.00x65.0-4C PG21 / 019232

JUNE2014

|

| 11

The end result is You’re Analogue, released June 1 – a tight collection of tracks that combine the musicians’ varied tastes and influences ranging from Stone Temple Pilots to Dayglo Abortions.

Continued from page 10

at a time together.

“This was, we could take a leisurely approach to it, and get it exactly the way we want,” Brent said.

Crafting a studio was also part vanity project.

“Brent and I really like doing recording stuff so I guess part of it was we were up for the challenge,” said Matt. “We wanted to see if we could do it and see how good we could make it sound by ourselves with everything we could scrape together.”

The end result is You’re Analogue, released June 1 – a tight collection of tracks that combine the musicians’ varied tastes and influences ranging from Stone Temple Pilots to Dayglo Abortions.

Brothers Dan and Matt are Prince George natives who, upon returning to the city after living elsewhere, started looking for a drummer to round out their sound in 2012.

They found their final piece on Kijiji, after responding to an ad featuring a photo of Darth

Vader holding a bass guitar and began writing songs and playing shows last summer.

“We managed to click,” said Dan. “We all have jobs and families and households to maintain so it’s not like we’re the guys who could throw our gear into a van and go and tour for months on end, so it really synced up perfectly for us that we all have similar circumstances.”

That connection made it easy for Brent to slide in to the family dynamic.

“Brothers or not, they work well together and everybody’s interested in doing the same thing. That’s kind of the most important part of it,” he said.

Keep up with RED7 on Facebook or visit www.red7.ca.

PHOTO CREDITS: Christos Sargiogos 12

|

|

JUNE2014

red 7 | band of (almost all) brothers

JUNE2014

|

| 13

Kreatively speaking

By Charelle Evelyn

14

|

|

JUNE2014

kayla hughes | kreatively speaking

IT’S HARD TO EXPRESS YOURSELF IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Though she was taking classes as a young teenager with the talented Betty Kovache, something wasn’t clicking for Kayla Hughes and she felt constricted.

“I didn’t even know who I was as a person yet,” said Hughes.

“I didn’t who I was, to selfmaster, to put myself on canvas.”

For years, Hughes floundered in an art-less void, abandoning art classes, hanging up her paintbrush and pursuing a science-based post-secondary education.

“I ended up failing miserably at everything that I tried and it wasn’t working for me,” said the 21-year-old, who was at her most content as a child when she could just scribble colour on a page. “For five years of my life, I was completely unhappy with myself.”

But that changed for the better when Hughes signed up for a photography course. “It

opened up who I was as a person,” she said, and it also opened her up to a whole new scene of like-minded creative individuals.

“That was my portal to get back into painting… which I’m grateful for.”

After a two-year New Media, Communications and Design program at College of New Caledonia, Hughes has found a way to be creative for a living with her Kreative Eye Studios.

Hughes doesn’t have a chance to get bored with her work in a variety of media – photography, web design, graphic design and illustration.

“I couldn’t see myself doing [traditional] art for the rest of my life, I like the variety,” said Hughes.

From fingerpainting, to scrapbooking, to helping her father with carpentry projects, Hughes said if it’s creative, she’s on board.

“As long as I’m just doing what makes me happy, I feel complete.”

Check out www.kreativeeyestudios.ca.

PHOTO CREDITS: Trevor Moore

kayla hughes | kreatively speaking

JUNE2014

|

| 15

A WEIGHT OFF YOUR SHOULDERS

By Charelle Evelyn

INK FETISH R001790638 2.00x65.0-4C PG21 / 614946

16

|

|

JUNE2014

the burden | a weight off your shoulders

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS HALF WAY WHEN IT COMES TO MUSIC FOR MEMBERS OF THE BURDEN. “I had a pretty rocky childhood, I had a lot of problems,” said vocalist Cole Franz. “I didn’t go to school very much, I hung out with the wrong people and music is what kept me out of trouble.”

In guitarist and singer Jake Olexyn, Cole has found a kindred spirit.

The two realized they had a musical connection when playing together in a previous band and when that group disintegrated, Cole and Jake were tighter than ever.

“As our old band grew apart and discovered their niches were different, we found ours were still the same and we never looked back,” said Jake.

The path that The Burden has chosen isn’t an easy one. In addition to being full-time musicians, the duo also wants to make music that makes a difference.

“I want to help people who’ve gone through a lot of the same things as me and I want to inspire kids to actually follow their dream,” said Cole.

Everyone has an album they turn to for inspiration, said Jake and Underoath’s They’re Only Chasing Safety has played a major role for both him and Cole in the past decade since its release.

Making music isn’t only therapeutic for the listening audience; it’s also a release for the musicians.

“You don’t lie when you write music – it’s pure emotion,” said Cole. ”It’s 100 per cent honest, 100 per cent you.”

“Every hit on the drum, every chord on the guitar I find just translates a part of you into the music. It lives on forever,” Jake agreed.

This summer, The Burden plan to spend the summer writing and tightening up their material to get it ready for recording and eventual release. They’ve already released a two-song demo on BandCamp, which they said is generating a lot of positive feedback.

Get the link to the music as well as keep up with The Burden on their Facebook page (Facebook.com/TheBurdenBand).

PHOTO CREDITS: Christos Sargiogos

the burden | a weight off your shoulders

JUNE2014

|

| 17

By Charelle Evelyn

“THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT PLAY MUSIC, BUT THERE’S VERY FEW THAT STAY TOGETHER,” SAID BRAD FOSTER. As one-third of Deveined, Foster is currently experiencing that musical synergy with Sean Robinson and Les Figura.

Formed in the summer 2010, the trio is made up of Prince George metal mainstays who have a combined 100 years of musical experience between them.

Members have recorded, toured and been part of the metal promotion scene for decades.

“It’s what all three of us were born to do, for sure,” said Foster. “Even when I was in a

band for five years, I still put on concerts for other bands with my gear.”

It’s a commitment to a scene that’s not always committed in return.

“Prince George particularly is very fickle,” said Foster. “The music scene – for metal anyways – goes up and down.”

This summer, Foster and Deveined are bringing their musical expertise to give the metal scene a kick in the ass.

The inaugural Metallion heavy metal and rock festival takes over Vanderhoof Aug. 15-16 for two days of balls-to-thewall music.

Nearly 20 bands are slated to play what the organizers hope is the first of many Metallion Festivals, this year held at the

Brookside Resort, 65 kilometres west of P.G. A $65 ticket includes a weekend camping pass to experience bands such as Endast, Over the Coals, Cocaine Moustache, Cradle to Grave, Deviened, Axis Disrupt, Mathias Rock, Kleaver, Red7, and Seraphic Nhilist.

Tickets are available at Brookside Resort, Electron Sound and Percussion (Prince George), Earthen Ware (Vanderhoof) and Loonie Bin (Fort St. James).

Where bands may have pulled in an audience of 400 strong to a local show five years ago, today it might only be about 70 of the most hardcore supporters.

But that doesn’t stop Foster and his ilk from going out there and

melting faces.

“I would compare it to if country band are riding around in an old jalopy, the metal bands get to rip around in their Ferrari,” laughed Foster. “It’s a completely different sensory overload.”

More than 300 people have already indicated they’re attending Metallion on the event’s Facebook page.

“People should get to know their local metal scene,” Foster said, citing bands such as Hell Men, Crucible of Scorn, Ashes of Descent, Damned Before Birth, Red Seven, Axis Disrupt, Kleaver, The Adonis Effect and Seraphic Nihilist. “That’s what I wanted, even when I was putting on shows – for the scene to be successful.”

PHOTO CREDITS: Christos Sargiogos 18

|

|

JUNE2014

metallion | metal for the masses

JUNE2014

|

| 19

By Peter Ferucci

Imagine you have an interest that borders on obsession. It conjures excitement into the small hours of the morning, making sleep elusive. It is an abyss, gently drawing in most all of your available time and money. Over time, this escalation of commitment causes others to question your reasoning and no matter how concise your explanation, you simply cannot make them understand.

20

|

|

JUNE2014

peter ferucci | speed demons

PHOTO CREDITS: Trevor Spencer Photography

You confer with professionals and fellow enthusiasts the world over as their experience helps you avoid costly missteps. Eventually, your journey reaches its end you`re left to marvel at how far you`ve come, the distance a testament to your sacrifice and determination. Sadly, no one outside of a handful of friends and supporters will ever know about it. If you think this is tragic, you now know what it is like to build, tune, and race sports cars in northern British Columbia; or what it was like.

In late 2013, a handful of local sports car enthusiasts discontent with the lack of cohesive automobile culture in Prince George decided it was time to begin a change.

It’s not that there was a lack of fellow enthusiasts but that the northern BC communities’ largely fragmented sports car scene consisted of pockets of friends who, like the circles of a Venn diagram that nearly overlapped, existed independently. Utilizing the peter ferucci | speed demons

power of the social media mainstay, Facebook, two groups began an endeavor to bring these individuals together.

The first, Prince George Cars & Coffee, builds on the SoCal phenomenon where drivers meet at a coffee shop every week or two to show off and check out cars you simply will not see 6 days a week. From the Facebook page, “We are an open community of car lovers with no restriction on make, model or country of origin.

We simply want to create a local group of people that like getting together once or twice a month to talk cars and show off their hard work.” With over 150 members to their page and between 20 and 30 regulars attending gatherings, this collective is already gaining some palpable momentum.

The second page, Norspeed, caters to those drivers whose primary focus is just that, driving. “Norspeed is a cooperative collective of driving fanatics who wish to

practice their craft in a safe, controlled, and above all else, fun environment.” Organizers are working with facilities managers to host 3 to 6 events at 3 local venues where drivers will be able to explore the limits of their vehicles and improve their driving abilities.

The highlight of their 2014 season will be on Canada Day when group members make their pilgrimage to the 2.7km road course at Castrol Raceway for a track day (where participants are able to drive their street cars at speed on a race track and receive coaching and feedback from seasoned sports car drivers and instructors) hosted by the Edmonton based performance driving program, Track Junkies.

Moving forward, Norspeed’s purpose will be to take high performance driver education (HPDE) in northern British Columbia to another level with local HPDE events featuring professional instruction, competitive local races, and a large annual race.

Culture does not simply occur instantly, it must be cultivated from the members of a community. If the initial level of interest displayed after only a few months is any indication, the Norspeed and Prince George Cars & Coffee crew have definitely started a movement toward building that culture. As T.E. Lawrence wrote, “Big things have small beginnings.”

Peter Ferucci JUNE2014

|

| 21

HITTING THE HEIGHTS

By Charelle Evelyn

LEE-WAI YU IS THE VOICE. THAT’S NOT GRANDSTANDING. IT’S A FACT. HE EVEN HAS THE TROPHY TO PROVE IT. As the inaugural champion of the singing competition hosted by 101.3 The River in March, Yu’s voice also kickstarted a whirlwind process for his band

Bright City Heights.

Part of The Voice prize package was recording time with Rick Irvine at Chesletta Studios and radio airplay. My Dear and Ivory are in rotation on both The River and 93.1 CFIS and the Bright City Heights debut album is slated for a July release.

With such a quick progression, it’s only natural to think the four members of Bright City Heights (Yu – vocals,

guitar, piano; Mike Vigano – guitar; Nick Tindale – drums; and David Baycroft – bass) have been chipping away together for years.

Not so much. Yu returned to Prince George in 2013 after living in Vancouver for three years and looked into starting a band with long-time collaborator Vigano.

“I met these guys just playing gigs in a music shop, Sound Factory … and then we totally just

hit it off from there,” Yu said.

The group debuted at Riley’s October.

“What really propelled the thing was the fact that he won the Voice,” said Vigano. “That’s the thing that really hit it - it just gave everybody a boost of encouragement.”

(Baycroft also brings hardware to the group’s trophy case, as the winner of 2013’s PG Idol.)

Bright City Heights songs are rooted in folk music Continued on page 24

PHOTO CREDITS: Christos Sargiogos 22

|

|

JUNE2014

bright city heights | hitting the heights

JUNE2014

|

| 23

Continued from page 22

with an overall indie rock/ pop vibe (with dashes of funk for good measure).

“We’re not trying to be any one genre,” said Baycroft.

The band has spent the entire spring in the studio and prepping a Peak Performance Project application.

The fast pace – though at times trying – has its definite advantages. “”It’s nice to see progress,” Tindale said of the constant motion.

“If you don’t have wood in the fire, it burns out really quickly.”

It was Tindale who submitted Yu’s entry to The Voice and he said it’s the singer’s unique sound 24

|

|

JUNE2014

that helps the band stand apart.

“I think it’s definitely of huge importance in how we play to his voice and I think that’s something that’s really unique,” he said. “We work all of our parts and we all relate back to [Yu’s] vocals and the root of what [Yu has] written too. That’s what makes it so cool.”

Bright City Heights is touring northern B.C. this summer. Keep up with their progress at Facebook. com/BrightCityHeights or hear their music at brightcityheights. bandcamp.com.

bright city heights | hitting the heights

RIDER PROFILE

MY NAME IS BEN YEAGER AND I AM 19 YEAR OLD DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKE RACER BORN AND RAISED IN PRINCE GEORGE, BC. I started riding when I was three years old and I have always loved riding the diverse trails that Prince George has to offer. I started riding at Ottway when I was younger, then progressing to Pidherney and other trails in the city.

I started my racing career in 2011 where I raced all of the BC Cups. I am now just starting my fourth season of racing and I plan to compete in all of the BC Cups as well as Canada Cups in the pro category. I could not do this without the support of my parents, my family at Ruckus Skis Boards and Bikes, as well as my other sponsors, Shimano, Pro Components, Schwalbe Tires, Muscle Mlk and the Prince George Cycling Club. Cheers!

ben yeager | downhill mountain bike racer

BEN YEAGER

JUNE2014

|

| 25

26

|

|

JUNE2014

JUNE2014

|

| 27

CAN YOU GUYS PLAY ACOUSTIC?

by Bryce Lokken

THIS IS THE MOST OFFENSIVE QUESTION I’VE EVER BEEN ASKED - AND I’VE BEEN ASKED WHETHER I’M A LESBIAN OR JUST REALLY FEMININE IN PICTURES. I’m a rock musician. I make real rock music, the kind with riffs and breakdowns and yelling and feelings, and words about all of the things in life that make me angry enough to write. I love heavy music, and I have since I first heard Tool’s Ænema at 13. It changed me forever, in the same way other rock records changed two generations before me.

Rock has been around a long time - it was around before electronic music, it was around before hip-hop, and it was even around before Dr. Luke realized that a 4/4 kick drum at 130bpm makes white chicks dance and sells a shitload of records. (Full disclosure: I listened to Katy Perry and Kendrick Lamar all morning, I’m in no way an elitist).

So, given the illustrious history of rock music, why do I get the feeling that it’s become the bastard stepchild of the world’s music collection? Why do I hear Skrillex and Katy Perry and Luke Bryan whenever I’m in the mall, and not Linkin Park or Tool? Why do I see festivals that were previously full of rock bands slowly becoming EDM and indie-popfolk circlejerks?

For the answer, or to see if it’s all in my head, I reached out to this city’s #1 authority on rock music: Matt Porteous of 94x. During our long discussion about music, Matt kept touching on marketing and money. I can see where he’s coming from.

“The competition of digital music, streaming services, and satellite radio have forced all music outlets to turn into “Greatest Hits Stations”...tugging on people’s memories and nostalgia to keep their business model alive in28

|

|

JUNE2014

stead of actively searching out and breaking new tunes.”

Safety turns into listeners, ticket sales, ad revenue, and profits. Pop is safe. EDM is safe. Hell, modern country is just pop with that 4/4 kick lower in the mix and a slide guitar slapped on. (For good measure, talk about trucks and booze). Safety. Marketability. Easy placement in film and television. Money.

Rock’s ‘problem’ is that it isn’t safe.

“Is business scared of heavy music?

Yep. It’s unpredictable and makes waves with a good portion of the population,” mused Mr. Porteous via email. “Business is shooting to be everything to everyone as much as possible. They know that someone that loves heavy music has a good chance of sitting through some lighter music. But someone that loves lighter music - (classical, acoustic, jazz) - they are much less likely to sit through a heavier performance.”

This has been a point of amazement for me in regards to Coldsnap. It’s a festival that’s so proud of its diversity that it has days dedicated to world fusion and francophone - but it doesn’t bring in heavy music. Like Matt said - rock fans will sit through Skrillex and groove out, they’ll have fun at a Lady Gaga concert - but the inverse isn’t as likely.

So this brings me full circle to my opening quote. Last year, when my band released our debut record, we started to apply for festivals and events and gigs. And we got the same response again and again and again: “can you play acoustic”?

No. We can, but we won’t. We won’t in the same way that you wouldn’t ask an author to pull the ‘naughty bits’ from her book before it hits the shelves of the PG Library. We won’t in the same way you wouldn’t ask a painter to censor their painting before it hangs at Two Rivers.

I’ll take being gigless over watering down my art every time, not that I really have much of a choice. But I sure do hope that we see rock given more of a chance - maybe the masses can surprise the marketers.

bryce lokken | can you guys play acoustic?

PHOTO CREDITS: Your Mind’s Eye Photographic Services

pride prince george | 2014 legacy

JUNE2014

|

| 29

30

|

|

JUNE2014

pride prince george | 2014 legacy

PRIDE PRINCE GEORGE R001790901 4.00x132.0-4C PG21 / 614899

pride prince george | 2014 legacy

JUNE2014

|

| 31

32

|

|

JUNE2014

pride prince george | 2014 legacy

pride prince george | 2014 legacy

JUNE2014

|

| 33

34

|

|

JUNE2014

pride prince george | 2014 legacy

PRIDE PRINCE GEORGE R001790916 4.00x132.0-4C PG21 / 614899

pride prince george | 2014 legacy

JUNE2014

|

| 35

36

|

|

JUNE2014

pride prince george | 2014 legacy

SCENE STYLE

Clothing available at Art of Tanning photocredits: trevor moore & christos sargiogos

JUNE2014

|

| 37

SCENE STYLE Stylish Chair available at RK Furniture.

38

|

|

JUNE2014

location: NT Air | clothing available at extreme, homework & one boardshop

Motorcycles available at Forest Powersports photocredits: trevor moore & christos sargiogos

JUNE2014

|

| 39

SCENE STYLE 40

|

|

JUNE2014

location: NT Air | clothing available at extreme, homework & one boardshop

photocredits: trevor moore & christos sargiogos

JUNE2014

|

| 41

Kicking it with the

Killbillies

By Charelle Evelyn

Lance, Kirby and Steve make up country/rock cover band The Killbillies. The Scene PG sat down with bassist/vocalist Steve to talk about where the trio comes from and where they’re going.

Q: How did The Killbillies start?

Steve: We started in 2008, but we were a band before that – it was a four piece called 30 odd 6. Every time [the fourth member] took time off we didn’t want to stop playing. The three of us continued playing as The Killbillies when 30 odd 6 was not playing.

Q: Why form a cover band?

Steve: We’re all ex-road musicians.

We’ve always performed in bars and dances and such – whatever event we get hired for. Playing cover tunes is something that’s continued on from those days, that’s what bar bands typically do, play cover songs.

Just because we got old, doesn’t mean we have to stop doing it.

We just do it a little less now. And that’s partially by choice, partially

because the venue availability has certainly diminished over the years, in this area for sure.

Q: What was it like opening for Dwight Yoakam at CN Centre last year?

Steve: Being in a cover band, there’s probably a very small percentage of people in that room who know who we are.

It’s when you’re half way through the first song you start playing, it’s a realization that comes to you right there: “What’s going to happen when this song is over?”

You’re either going to get a cheer, applause or it’s going to be tumbleweeds and crickets.

You’re just never sure what’s going to happen. Fortunately for us there was a good response and it continued to be a good response throughout the whole set we did.

Q: What’s your goal when you play a gig?

Steve: All depends on where you are. If you’re in a bar, your goal is to sell beer – that’s what bar managers like. The goal is to keep

people in the room. So staying as high energy as you possibly can, trying to read the crowd, see what they’re in to. We can usually assess if it might be more of a country crowd or vice versa, a rock crowd. We have a big enough repertoire that we can call on either/or.

If we’re at a dance, we’re trying to keep the dance floor full. We never usually have any problem with that because of our selection.

Q: What do you do when you get together to rehearse?

Steve: We rehearse once a week.

Even if we’re playing classics, we’re trying to update the classics, so we’re getting completely stale – finding new songs but still ones we know are going to work. In terms of our rehearsals, I’ve never been in a band that rehearses so little and gets so much accomplished.

It’s the most bizarre thing.

The Killbillies have been working on some original music too.

Q: How’s that going?

Steve: It’s very slow process for us.

We’ve all got some pretty good ideas. We’ve got one down and recorded already – when it sees the light of day is unclear.

There are a few venues that have already told us we’ll do an original music night and they’d certainly hire us. The way we’re going we’re retiring before we get to that. But we’d certainly like to get a few more done and put it out there for consumption and see what happens with it, if there’s any interest.

Q: What does it sound like?

Steve: We’re all rock heads at heart, but we want to tone it down a bit, in a sense… not metal, sort of a more hard-rock approach. One of the songs we’re working on now has a tinge of R&B/blues in it, but it’s still considered a rock song.

To book The Killbillies, contact killbillies@shaw.ca and check their Facebook page for updates on shows.

PHOTO CREDITS: Submitted 42

|

|

JUNE2014

killbillies | kicking it with the killbillies

JUNE2014

|

| 43

Dream

Living the

By Charelle Evelyn

IT STARTS AT HOME FOR EOIN FOLEY AND GARRETT FEDORKIW. BOTH RAISED IN SOCIAL HOUSEHOLDS, THE FRIENDS AND COOWNERS OF NANCY O’S HAD PARENTS WHO WERE ALWAYS ENTERTAINING. They’ve recreated that atmosphere in their popular downtown Prince George restaurant to lucrative results.“It just felt natural to us,” said Foley. “When you have guests over, you treat them as guests, make them comfortable. We do that with the performers we have, make them want to

come back.”

When they opened their doors on Oct. 26, 2009, Foley and Fedorkiw wanted to give people a reason to come back downtown.

Sure, you could book a band or a comedian to play a hall, but before the performance starts or once it’s over, what’s to keep the audience hanging around?

Good food, good atmosphere and an even better alcohol selection. Recent renovations have expanded the bar’s capacity, bringing in more liqueurs and expanding the beer list from 50 choices to 60.

“We saw a real gap in the community,” Foley said, who still had two years left to finish on his Bachelor of Commerce degree from UNBC when

Nancy O’s got off the ground.

But Foley and Fedorkiw didn’t need a degree (though they both have one) to understand that treating people like the hired help wasn’t going to advance their vision for a vibrant downtown.“What we’ve learned from talking to so many [performers] over the years is that when they’re on the road, going to different towns there’s a lot of owners and managers and venues that don’t really treat them particularly well,” said Foley.

“We create an atmosphere which they themselves would probably want to hang out in.

And they go, ‘We love this place. We just like coming here.’”

And they tell their friends: when you go through Prince

George, stop at Nancy O’s.

“Almost never, ever do we seek a band to play here,” said Foley. “We’ve found a band to play here on a specific night probably five times in five years.”

In its inaugural People’s Choice Awards for Northern B.C. and Cariboo Chilcotin Coast in 2012, BCLiving.ca readers voted Nancy O’s as the best live music venue.

While the summer is typically a busy time for artists to tour, this year is shaping up to be unprecedented, said Foley.“We’ve never had so much live music booked over the next two to three months as we have this time right now.

We have an incredible amount lined up.”

In addition to supporting local Continued on page 46 PHOTO CREDITS: Bobbi Carpino

44

|

|

JUNE2014

nancy o’s | living the dream

JUNE2014

|

| 45

Continued from page 44

and regional talent, Nancy O’s also supports local food.

Early last year, they began making a solid push towards localizing the menu where possible and in the spring of 2013 the owners made it a point to have all the meat on the menu raised and processed regionally.

“And that’s been wildly successful,” said Foley.

“We’re quite proud of the fact customers ask ‘what do you have for local stuff’ and we can tell them just about everything

has local ingredients.”

As they come up on their fiveyear anniversary, Foley said he couldn’t have imagined their 1261 Third Ave. space becoming what it is today when they started.

“It’s been better than what we dreamed of. We’re happy – incredibly happy – with how it turned out.”

Head to www.NancyOs.ca or Facebook.com/NancyOsPG for coming shows and featured menu items.

PHOTO CREDITS: Bobbi Carpino 46

|

|

JUNE2014

nancy o’s | living the dream

POKING THE

SLEEPING BEAR

By Charelle Evelyn

THIS ISN’T THE TIME TO HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON. NOT WHEN THERE’S THREE DAYS OF MUSIC, ART AND GETTING WEIRD TO EXPERIENCE. The inaugural Awakening electronic music festival rises and shines July 11-14 in the Sukunka Valley (about 70 kilometres south of Chetwynd), promising world-class DJs, artists, performers, spiritual healing, learning and more.

The 19+ event is drug and alcohol free in a cell phone service void, which means attendees can focus on music, dancing and however else the spirit moves them once the

gates open on July 11.

The line up includes artists from Prince George, Fort St. John, Vancouver, Calgary, Vernon, Grande Prairie, the U.K. and more with names like Stickybuds, Jpod, Neon Steve, Lou Potter, Whipped Cream, Blu J, Kona, JayFresh, Kursa, Shamanic Technology, Ricky Business, Jimi Smyth, and dron3 populating the bill.

There’s a method behind the madness in selecting artists for the first outing, said festival performer and talent manager DJ Nige (a.k.a. Nigel Rimmer).

“Our goal was to try and connect and unite as many different groups as possible from all around B.C.,” Nige said. “We know that if we’re getting DJs from different cities in B.C., they’ll be bringing their friends and their groups to unite and have one big, northern B.C. experience.”

The Sukunka Valley venue can Continued on page 48

the sukunka valley awakening music festival | poking the sleeping bear

JUNE2014

|

| 47

Continued from page 47

hold thousands of people, but in its infancy, organizers are hoping for anywhere between 500 to 1,000 festival-goers to cross the gates. In addition to the music, there will also be hooping classes, yoga instructors, reiki healing, harm reduction, public art projects, meditation as well as art, clothing and food vendors.

“I think the ultimate goal is just to be a part of something from the ground up and start something that hasn’t been there before. We’re hoping to eventually get to the point where we are on the major festival circuit in Western Canada” said Nige. “People are coming from all over Northern BC, several cities in Alberta, we’ve got crews coming from the Kootenays and as far south as Vancouver

& the island. The support has been overwhelming especially in the first year.”

Smaller communities don’t always have the population to support the kinds of shows that would allow people to see their favourite acts.

“We’re creating an central place for them to go, an outlet to do that,” Nige said.

And for those behind the decks, it also provides an opportunity to play in front of a major crowd – something Nige himself is looking forward to.

“I’m so stoked to get a chance to perform on such a huge stage alongside some of my idols!”

Early tickets are still available for $100.

Visit www. valleyawakening.com for more info.

PHOTO CREDITS: Submitted 48

|

|

JUNE2014

the sukunka valley awakening music festival | poking the sleeping bear

ORGANIZERS ARE HOPING FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN 500 TO 1,000 FESTIVAL-GOERS TO CROSS THE GATES.

the sukunka valley awakening music festival | poking the sleeping bear

JUNE2014

|

| 49

MR. SMITH GOES TO HOLLYWOOD (NORTH)

By Charelle Evelyn

IF GETTING ATTACKED

BY A CGI CREATURE WHILE YOU HAVE YOUR JUNK OUT IS A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR A SUCCESSFUL ACTOR, THEN MADISON SMITH IS WELL ON HIS WAY TO A PROSPEROUS CAREER. It’s hard to stand out in a film that’s already called Chupacabra vs. the Alamo, but Smith goes down in the annals of TV history with the memorable part of “young, horny teen who gets his penis bitten off by a chupacabra” in last year’s Syfy venture.

Spoiler alert: he didn’t make it. But hey, neither did fellow

Kelowna-born actor Taylor Kitsch, who met an untimely end while smoking up and attempting to join the Mile High Club in Snakes on a Plane.

Raised in Prince George, Smith, 24, didn’t have time for the dramatic arts given his busy sport schedule. He played hockey and baseball his whole life, up until the point he decided he was going to give acting a shot.

“I always had plans to go to post-secondary school, but baseball was the biggest reason I was going,” said Smith, who played two years at Okanagan College. When he decided to hang up his cleats in 2011, he was at a bit of a crossroads. It was his mother who suggested he finally give in to the acting bug.

“I can’t believe I’m one of the

people that’s lucky enough to have parents to have told me to pursue this dream rather than the ones who say ‘Why don’t you have a realistic goal?”

Within three months, Smith was enrolled at the Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts (VADA) for a six-month program that he said taught him some key lessons about being an actor – specifically how manoeuvre the tricky world of being on a set.

“If it wasn’t for VADA, it would have been a huge learning curve,” Smith said.

He got to use those skills for his first gig in 2012, booking a role in the Kelowna-filmed TV movie A Mother’s Nightmare.

He was technically late to the party, learning about the casting and sending in his headshot and resume a day after casting had ended, but

he was so perfect for the part that (especially given that he looked so much like lead actor Grant Gustin, which was a key plot point) that he was hired.

Since that first role, Smith has gone on to play the supporting lead in Canadian thriller Evangeline, which is currently on the festival circuit as well as the opportunity of a lifetime – to close out one of his favourite TV series, Psych.

The USA network’s fauxclairvoyant detective comedy ended its eight-season run this spring with Smith playing the role of lead character Shawn Spencer’s replacement.

“If I never book anything again, in my mind I’m a successful actor, because I got to tell that story,” said Smith. “That, for me, is the best part.”

A VADA instructor once told Smith that you know you’re Continued on page 52

50

|

|

JUNE2014

madison smith | mr. smith goes to hollywood (north)

JUNE2014

|

| 51

Continued from page 50

an actor when you start telling people you are, and that’s something he’s taken to heart.

Though he works at the Cactus Club to pay the bills between roles, Smith doesn’t say he’s pursuing acting – he’s doing it.

And like his hockey scout father used to say about finding talent in smaller northern B.C. communities, Smith believes it doesn’t matter where you’re from because if you’re good enough, the world will know you.

“Being an actor in Canada, you have to put in your time, put in your work and people will find you eventually,” Smith said.

“As much as it’s tough to wait, you’ve got to know it’s worth it. The people who try for a bit and eventually give up, that’s not for me. I want to be happy I’ve made it, not take for granted what I get.”

PHOTO CREDITS: Submitted 52

|

|

JUNE2014

madison smith | mr. smith goes to hollywood (north)

DANIEL MCLEOD IS NOT A NEW FACE TO THE PRINCE GEORGE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY. HIS STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY HAS BEEN FEATURED IN THE SCENE PG BEFORE AND HE WAS ONCE A RESIDENT IN THE ARTISTS COLLECTIVE - THE PICTURE BOX - DOWNTOWN. Now heading into a new project that is anything but stationary, Daniel McLeod and Rii Levesque have undertaken an artistic journey across the country .The traveling beauty photographer and Rii - one of his top models are on a 3 month cross Canada RV/ photography tour called “Will Work For Fuel” So what exactly does that mean? “It means that we are looking for models and photogs to work with along the way to help pay for fuel, but also not limited to photography and modelling.” Mcelod said.

Accommodations meaning somewhere to rest the motorhome for their stay in each area which is a costly thing. As well, the gypsy duo are looking for people with a large property/farm/local business that are willing to let them work off the spot Continued on page 54

daniel mcleod photography | will work for fuel

JUNE2014

|

| 53

Continued from page 53

by working on their farm or business.

All the while they are recording the journey and the interesting jobs they are doing and broadcasting it in a web reality series on YouTube.

“Maybe one week we are at a dairy farm and have to milk cows then the next week we are the docks of nova scotia getting ready to go to sea and catch fish!” Daniel mentioned.

“Who knows what we will have to do in order to make it across Canada and back but each week will be a different

adventure for everyone to follow along with. “ You can find the two adventurers on YouTube at my channel “Daniel McLeod”.

Their journey started June 1st so content will be coming out within a few weeks after that and will be updated every week.

For information on how to get involved in Daniel and Rii’s adventure or to inquire about making your town a stop along the way, go to www. willworkforfuel.com

PGA - NORTHERN SPORTS CEN R001777965 4.00x65.0-4C PG14 / 363549

54

|

|

JUNE2014

daniel mcleod photography | will work for fuel

PHOTO CREDITS: Daniel Mcleod

daniel mcleod photography | will work for fuel

JUNE2014

|

| 55

Each year in early July Prince George families don their sunhats and warm up their creative muscles in preparation for BMO KidzArt Dayz. Hosted by Two Rivers Gallery, BMO KidzArt Dayz is a two day family celebration encouraging creative play for all ages. The partnership between BMO Bank of Montreal and Two Rivers Gallery has been ongoing for eight years but KidzArt Dayz has an even longer history in our community. Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12, 2014 marks the 24th anniversary

of the event and the entire community is invited to join in the creative fun.

Two Rivers Gallery Director of Public Programs, Carolyn Holmes explains that “BMO KidzArt Dayz is our gift to the north. It is a free and accessible event where children are encouraged to experiment with materials, dream up new ideas and express themselves.�

Where else can daycares, summer camps and families find over twenty hands on art activities in one place?

Inside and outside the Gallery kids can try everything from

easel painting to launching homemade paper rockets, DIY face painting to pendulum painting. Some highlights for this year include a community doodle, the Lorax landscape and a giant paint spinner.

For the second year in a row, live music will add another dimension to an already vibrant community event.

BMO KidzArt Dayz has an annual attendance of 5500.

This success can be attributed in part to the many volunteers and community groups who donate their time to support this great local event. Over

90 volunteers help to facilitate the exciting art activities and organizations including Huble Homestead, UNBC Active Minds, Science Alliance, REAPS, and, of course, the Bank of Montreal provide creative projects for kids to sink their teeth into.

Since BMO KidzArt Dayz is free and takes place in an easily accessible downtown location, the celebrations are an ideal occasion for all families to exercise their creative side.

PINKFROGY GIFTS DBA SHHHH R001768886 4.00x65.0-4C PG14 / 315858

56

|

|

JUNE2014

bmo | kids art dayz

JUNE2014

|

| 57

FROM THE

GROUND UP

By Charelle Evelyn

BRINGING BACK THE TROUBADOUR SPIRIT, BLACK SPRUCE BOG IS TELLING THE STORIES OF THE STORIES OF THE LAND FROM WHENCE THEY CAME – AS BAND ANYWAY. Hailing from parts as far flung as eastern Canada and Minnesota, the five-piece Canadiana outfit is telling the northern story.

58

|

|

JUNE2014

Spencer Hammond (bass, vocals), Danny Bell (drums), Amy Blanding (mandolin, vocals, harmonica), Jeremy Pahl (banjo, vocals) and Eric Welscher-Bilodeau (guitar, vocals, piano) all had an established musical pedigree, making names for themselves as soloists and in groups such as the Salt Water Brothers, Ivan and Wyn, Canadian Waste and The Bricks.

Jeremy, Eric and Amy met at a 2013 Canada Day house

party show and jam sessions soon brought in Danny (who had played on the Salt Water Brothers EP) and Spencer to round out the group.

So why join forces?

Spencer: You could always play by yourself but you’re always stuck with yourself.

Being able to play music with people just adds more elements to it.

Amy: Eric and I play as a duo together, but I think a band, for me it forces me to a different Continued on page 60

black spruce bog | from the ground up

black spruce bog | from the ground up

JUNE2014

|

| 59

Continued from page 58

PHOTO CREDITS: Submitted

60

|

|

JUNE2014

comfort zone, vocally and expressively. Being able to perform in that capacity, that’s totally different and I always wanted to do it. I secretly always wanted to be Stevie Nicks…

Eric: We found, quite quickly

when we got together, that we’re all a little bit out of our comfort zone but this line up allowed us to expand in areas we weren’t accustomed to.

Danny: I need a band. I don’t have a choice.

What are the northern B.C.

stories Black Spruce Bog are trying to tell?

Amy: The songs that Jeremy that Eric have written are about people riding trains to Rupert and working at the mill and that type of thing, but it’s not just industry, it’s people who live here… We all love it here.

There are pretty unique people that decide to live in northern British Columbia and their stories are really colourful, so why not write we know, what we’re in contact with on a daily basis?

Black Spruce Bog recently completed a successful crowdfunding campaign to raise money to record their debut album. Visit BlackSpruceBog.com or find the band on Facebook for details on how to get the earpleasing and mouthwatering (the digital downloads come with mixed-herb seed cards) debut release and check them out at various festivals across the region this summer.

black spruce bog | from the ground up

JUNE2014

|

| 61

GO BIG OR GO HOME

By Charelle Evelyn

PHOTO CREDITS: Submitted

THE B.C. NORTHERN EXHIBITION ISN’T READY TO TURN IN YET. At a spry 102 years old, the fair – formerly known at the P.G. Exhibition – is taking its new “Go Big” motto as far as it can.

“We represent all of northern British Columbia versus just Prince George,” said BCNE board president Alex Huber.

“The other two regional fairs in B.C. are the PNE in Vancouver and IPE in Armstrong. We are in the elite club, if you want to call it, of being a regional fair now. We’ve got to act our part a little bit.”

So how is this year’s exhibition stepping up its game? By going

62

|

|

JUNE2014

not just big, but huge for the four-day event running Aug. 7-10.

You want a big-name act to headline the fair? How about Alice in Chains on a Sunday night? Other main stage performances include KISS, Guns n’ Roses and Tom Petty tribute acts.

TV personalities float your boat?

Come check out celebrity chef Bob Blumer as he holds down the fort for the duration of the fair at the Flavour Arena inside Kin 2 and hosts professional and amateur cooks in the PG Iron Chef competition.

(Stay tuned for the announcement of more celebrity guests.)

The BCNE has also linked up with Pacific Western Brewing Co. to create the Cariboo, featuring a skateboard and

BMX half-pipe demos, mechanical bull contests, sprinklers and water cannons and beach volleyball.

The BCNE team has also arranged for bigger and better rides this year – that will be open an extra hour until midnight – and an expanded midway.

Traditional fair elements won’t be lacking either. A sanctioned massive team-penning event will bring nearly 500 riders and 300 head of cattle looking for points to get to finals.

“It’s damn near a stampede,” said Huber.

Heavy horse pull will also be expanded, with riders from as far out as Manitoba coming to participate.

And for the first time in seven years, livestock will be back at the fair.

“It’s important to go back to our roots,” Huber said. “The core is still agriculture and showcasing local producers.”

Family passes (two adults, two kids) to the BCNE come in at $25, with $5 for each additional child. Kid’s Day at the fair will also return where admission for youngsters is only a toonie. Parking has been reduced to $3, with proceeds going to local non-profit organizations that count on the fair for funding every year.

Visit www.bcne.ca or the British Columbia Northern Exhibition page on Facebook for more information.

bcne | go big or go home

JUNE2014

|

| 63

64

|

|

JUNE2014