Adamstock Music Festival Gains Ground in Lamont

Adamstock Music Festival Gains Ground in Lamont

Emily Mailhot Reporter – Vegreville News Advertiser

From August 16-18, the sounds of music could be heard up to the town’s limits in Lamont as the 6th annual Adamstock fundraising music festival hunkered down for another celebration.

Tamara Leash, founder of Adam’s Army, said that the festival was held for the 6th time in Lamont, and the 5th at Conrad Schinkinger grounds.

“After that first year, it became evident that we needed to move on to a venue that was a little further away from town, and where people could camp out for the weekend,” Leash explained.

Adam’s Army, a charitable foundation started after Tamara’s son Adam passed away, raises money to help parents whose children have cancer pay the bills in what can be an overwhelming time.

“Something he was really passionate about was helping kids with cancer,” said Leash. “There are a lot of foundations that help the families, but not a lot who help financially. What we do is raise money to help pay bills; a lot of the time one parent has to quit their job and drive back and forth to the hospital for up to two years.

“Adam had cancer when he was 1, 7, and again at 13, and it was hard. We try to help families out so they don’t have to deal with that extra stress on top of everything else; power, heating, groceries, insurance payments are all things we cover.”

Adamstock is the foundation’s biggest fundraising event for the year, and it takes place on Adam’s birthday, as Adam loved rock music, and the first festival was his birthday party.

“He was still with us for the second one, but passed away a few months after.”

The festival has grown considerably since its conception, with new bands, higher attendance, and the addition of an extra stage in the beer gardens this year.

“It’s awesome to see [how far it’s come]. A bunch of the bands come out for free, and we have a deal with the rest of them that if they sell as many tickets as they can, they get a percentage of what they raised to help with travel costs. Last year, RC Syndicate sold the most tickets, so this year they’re headlining.”

This year there was a contest between some of the bands to see who could raise the most.

“Adam would love it,” reflected Leash. “He loved music, festivals, and helping people…. It’s an emotional weekend for all of us, as most of the main board members for Adam’s Army are his family – me, cousins, aunts, and uncles, his grandma. We’re all exhausted by the end of the weekend but it’s so worth it.”

In another 6 years, Leash says she would like to see the festival a little bigger, but the same at its heart.

“Honestly, it doesn’t have to be huge. We have a lot of local bands, and the festival can certainly get bigger, but I like the personal level. Walking down the street, we see bands who have come out and can stop and have a conversation with them. It’s nice to have a little family.

“Obviously if it gets bigger we’ll be able to raise more money but if we stay small for a little while that’s okay, too.”