4 minute read
The Sunshine Music Fest lives on
Life-long memories & good vibes: The Sunshine Music Fest lives on
BY LIS GENDRON-BOILART
Walking down the gravel path, enticed by smiling faces, the sweet aromas of the delicious food, and the soft hum of the afternoon’s musicians has always been one of my favourite moments of the Sunshine Music Festival.
When: September 2 & 3
What: Annual outdoor music festival with food, vendors, a kids' area, and much more.
Where: Palm Beach
Tickets & Info: sunshinemusicfest.ca
The anticipation as it all comes into focus is simply thrilling – memories of years past, and new ones to be made in the days ahead. Although an overall unique experience for each individual, this is a moment that is shared by many.
Growing up, the Festival – known back then as the Folk Fest – was my family and friends’ end-of-summer tradition; it was the last weekend of the holidays before going back to school.
I attended as an infant, toddler, child, tween, teenager, and university student. After that, I spent many years abroad, but the fond memories would carry me until I returned to Canada and was able to resume the annual tradition.
Spending those last summer days with friends, gorging ourselves on amazing food, admiring the beautiful work of local artisans, and embarking on a musical journey with the bands, is something I look forward to every year.
The year I joined the festival board was the year COVID-19 put the world on hold. An entirely brand new board, we had no choice but to cancel the festival. Having run annually for nearly 40 years without fail, it was quite an unnerving turn of events. Was this the abrupt and untimely end of something so special?
After a two-year hiatus, there were a lot of unknowns. Luckily, this event has a huge group of devoted volunteers that work behind the scenes to make this event a success year after year. An intricate machine of a thousand pieces, it slowly wakes from its slumber and ramps up until it’s all hands on deck for the festival weekend. We had no idea what to expect, and it turned out
to be one of our most successful events yet. Smiles, laughter, and good vibes filled the park once again. My heart was full.
After a successful first day – seemingly to test everyone’s resolve – Mother Nature threw gale force winds and rain at us on Sunday morning, nearly forcing us to cut our weekend short. The iconic tent had to come down before it sailed away, posts and all. The sound techs were ready to pack it in, expensive equipment on the line. But as we’ve seen many times before, a little inclement weather won’t stop us. Die-hard attendees donned their wellworn, trusty rain gear, and vendors hunkered down with extra anchors.
One of our long term and loved regulars who has worn many hats through the years – attendee, musician, volunteer – took it upon himself to squash the last hesitations. He climbed on stage with his guitar, braving the wind and rain, soothing the skies and our hearts.
As his warm voice carried across the park, I looked out and saw a Gore-Tex clad crowd forming where the tent once stood, huddled together, cradling warm drinks, swaying to and fro to the rhythm of his guitar. This is the epitome of the festival to me: true ‘wetcoast’ devotion to good music, good food, and good company.
And with such a strong return, I have no doubts that this beloved local tradition will continue for many years to come.
A FEW GOOD BANDS:
Dennis Bouwman (local)
Be it with or without his band, Bouwman’s combination of heart-wrenching lyrics, warm melodies, and a voice like the bottom 10 pipes on a church organ is sure to captivate you and make you feel. dennisbouwman.com
Ashley Ghostkeeper
A Metis-Cree Country Artist born in High Level AB, raised in Red Deer, AB. Nominated for an Official Country Music Alberta Award in 2023 for “Fan’s Choice.” She was born into a family of singers and songwriters. Ashley’s music connects with her listeners at a deeper level of meaning. ashleyghostkeepermusic.com
The Band Destiny
TBD is a Toronto-based West Indian crossover band that was formed in 2007. They are the three time winners of the CMEA award for Top Soca Band in Canada. Find TBD on Facebook.
For the full line-up, see sunshinemusicfest.ca
