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i t v s al e F Guide
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FESTIVAL GUIDE 13
Edmonton Animethon 23 / Aug 5 – Aug 7 / animethon.org Animethon is Western Canada's largest and longest-running event celebrating Japanese animation and comics. The festival features panels, anime viewings, special guests, vendors and more. Don't forget to dress up! (Grant MacEwan City Centre Campus) Beaumont Blues & Roots Festival / Jun 17 – Jun 19 / bbrf.ca An Edmonton festival that prides itself on its 100-percent Canadian lineup. This year, catch headliners Sloan, LeE HARVeY OsMOND and Jr Gone Wild. Plus, there'll be performances from Rend, Royal Tusk, Collective West, Stephanie Harpe Experience, Rooster Davis Group with Ann Vriend, Lindsey Walker and many more. (Four Seasons Park, Beaumont) Blueberry Bluegrass & Country Music Society Festival / Jul 29 – Jul 31 / blueberrybluegrass.com/ Three days of bluesgrass and country music from the Earls of Leicester, Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen,
Chris Jones and the Night Drivers, David Parmley and Cardinal Tradition and more. (Heritage Park, Stony Plain) Cariwest / Fri, Aug 5 – Sun, Aug 7 / cariwest.ca Take in the sights and sounds of the Cariwest Festival, which celebrates Edmonton's vibrant Caribbean community. Don't forget to watch the annual Cariwest parade on the Saturday, which fills the streets of downtown with reggae, soca and dancehall beats. (Churchill Square) Edmonton Blues Festival / Aug 19 – Aug 21 / bluesinternationalltd.com Enjoy blues music under the Heritage Amphitheatre tent from Jack de Keyzer, Shemekia Copeland, Paul Oscher's Austin All Stars, Fiona Boyes Trio, Jarekus Singleton, Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, Paul James Band and a whole lot more. (Hawrelak Park) Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival / Aug 19 – Aug 21 / edmontondragonboatfestival.ca Watch as competitors rip up the Saskatchewn River in this annual
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festival lineup Adrian Nation • Ayrad • Basia Bulat Bental, Byrnes, Ulrich • Cecile Doo-Kingue Fortunate Ones • John Wort Hannam Kacy and Clayton • Maria Dunn Martin Harley • Matt Andersen Milk Carton Kids • Ridley Bent • Sam Baker Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar • Young Uns + many more to come
400-metre weekend competition. The event happens rain or shine. (Louise McKinney Park) Edmonton Folk Music Festival / Aug 4 – Aug 7 / edmontonfolkfest.org Folk Fest is a string that holds Edmontonians together—think of it as a rite of passage of Edmontonness. You'll have to wait until June 3 for the full lineup to be released, but don't delay getting tickets for this fest, because it's guaranteed to sell it out. (Gallagher Park) Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival / Aug 11 – Aug 21 / fringetheatre.ca Every August, life truly is a stage as the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival unfolds its curtain with more than 130 unjuried and uncensored shows from around the world—plus an array of shows from street buskers, a phethora of food vendors and craftwork by local artisans. (Various venues) Edmonton International Street Performers Festival / Jul 8 – Jul 17 / edmontonstreetfest.com Magicians, clowns, jugglers, mime artists, musicians and comics take over Churchill Square for 10 funfilled days. (Churchill Square)) Edmonton Pride Festival / Jun 3 – Jun 12 / edmontonpride.ca The Edmonton Pride Festival aims to unify and educate the community by celebrating gender and sexual diversity through a parade, Mayor's lunch, shows and more. (Whyte Avenue; Various venues throughout Edmonton) Edmonton Rock Music Festival / Aug 12 & Aug 13 / edrocks.ca Randy Bachman, Kim Mitchell, Lou Gramm (the voice of Foreigner), 5440, David Wilcox and more will be providing the classic rock tunes all weekend long. (Hawrelak Park) Freewill Shakespeare Festival / Jun 21 – Jul 17 / freewillshakespeare.com Where art thou, Romeo? Find Romeo—and friends—at this year's festival when it showcases a performance of Romeo and Juliet and Love's Labour's Lost. (Heritage Amphitheatre, Hawrelak Park) Found Festival / Jun 23 – Jun 26 / commongroundarts.ca/foundfestival/ The festival places innovating new works in unconventional spaces—on a bridge, in an alley and in the river valley—around the Old Strathcona area. (Old Strathcona)
Heritage Festival / Jul 30 – Aug 1 / heritagefestival.com/ Take a trip around the world by visiting the cultural pavilions at the Heritage Festival. Enjoy dancing and performances from all over the world, while sampling some of each country's best cuisine, too. (Hawrelak Park) Historic Festival & Open Doors Edmonton / Jul 3 – Jul 10 / historicedmonton.ca The festival is focused on enriching the community with stories of our urban and rural history. This festival hosts family oriented events such as tours, workshops and activities at local museums and historic sites. (Various venues) Improvaganza / Jun 15 – Jun 25 / rapidfiretheatre.com Rapid Fire Theatre plays host to some of the best improvisors from around the world. Other events include Theatresport matches and speciality shows. (Citadel Theatre) Interstellar Rodeo / Jul 22 – Jul 24 / interstellarrodeo.com/edmonton// The festival is turning five this year, and its sharing the celebrations with Sam Roberts Band, Lord Huron, Kathleen Edwards, Cat Power, Whitehorse, Jose Gonzalez, The Strumbellas and more. (Hawrelak Park) K-Days / Jul 22 – Jul 31 / k-days.com Ten days of fun-filled games and rides on the midway, deep-fried delights, and don't forget foot-long corn dogs. Yum. Entertainment-wise, there's daily headliners including Ria Mae, X Ambassadors, Wes Mac, Shawn Hook, the Trews, Tom Cochrane with Red Rider, Monster Truck and Finger Eleven. (Northlands) Nextfest / Jun 2 – Jun 12 / nextfest.org A glut of up-and-coming playwrights, choreographers, songwriters, spoken-word raconteurs, filmmakers, rappers and artists take over various venues around the city for 11 days. (Various venues) NUOVA Opera & Music Theatre Festival / May 21 – Jul 3 / operanuova.ca Canada's only summer opera festival is held in our very own city, which celebrates local and national operatic vocalists and chamber musicians. This year's highlights include a special performance of Vincenzo Bellini's bel canto setting of I Capuleti e I Montecchi (Romeo & Juliet), Alfred Uhry's Parade and Giacomo Puccini's
canmorefolkfestival.com ALL AGES | LIVE MUSIC | local acts
14 FESTIVAL GUIDE
VUEWEEKLY.com | APR 28 – MAY 4, 2016
La Bohème. (Various venues) Porkapalooza BBQ Festival / Jun 17 – Jun 19 / porkapalooza.ca For its third year, the Porkapalooza BBQ Festival is launching a threeday concert series—featuring the Sheepdogs, Gord Bamford, Loverboy, the Washboard Union, Prism and more—in addition to the barbecue competitions, food trucks, beer gardens and more. (Clarke Stadium) Rock'n August / Aug 3 – Aug 7 / rocknaugust.com Pancake breakfasts, music, casino nights and street dance combine in this four-day fest that celebrates classic cars. (Servus Credit Union Place, St Albert) Seven Music Festival / Sat, Jul 9 / sevenmusicfest.com After a rockin' inaugural festival last summer, the event returns with performances from Walk Off The Earth, Dear Rouge, the Bros Landreth, the Elwins, Leeroy Stagger, Eyes on Ivan and the Carolines. (Mission Park, St Albert) Sonic Boom / Sep 3 – Sep 4 / sonicboomfestival.com Wrap up the summer with some of the best rock and pop music out there. The lineup is yet to be released, but expect it to be an eclectic mix of toe-tappers, shakers and boppers. (Borden Park) Summer Solstice Music Festival / Jun 20 – Jun 28 / edmontonchambermusic.org/solstice_2016.php Celebrate the summer solstice with the sounds of Beethoven and Chopin alongside the Edmonton Chamber Music Society and it's lineup featuring the Fine Arts Quartet, Matt Haimovitz, Patricia Tao, Charles Richard-Hamelin and more. (All Saints' Angelican Cathedral; Convocation Hall [U of A]) Taste of Edmonton / Ju; 21 – Jul 30 / tasteofedm.ca Treat your taste buds to Edmonton's finest eateries when local restaurants set up shop in Churchill Square. There's plenty of live entertainment going on too, so pace yourself with the eating frenzy. (Churchill Square) The Works Art & Design Festival / Jun 23 – Jul 5 / theworks.ab.ca Thirteen days of free art with over 63 exhibits at 33 venues throughout Edmonton's downtown core. (Various locations downtown)
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FESTIVAL GUIDE 15
FESTIVAL GUIDE FESTIVALS // MUSIC
Never enough
The Not Enough Fest organizing committee // Haley Pukanski
Not Enough Fest returns for a second year
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ast year, Edmonton's inaugural Not Enough Fest showcased a huge slate of brand-new bands, all featuring women, queer, genderfluid, trans and other non-binary people who aren't always well-represented across the city's venues and stages. With the festival's second iteration just under a month away—on May 21 and 22 at the Ritchie Community League, to be precise—two members of its organizing team, Kendra Cowley and Clare Grehan, collectively answered a couple of questions about the festival's second run. VUE WEEKLY: Not Enough Fest is happening in May this year, so we're just about a month away. What part of the festival prep are you working on right now? How's it going? NOT ENOUGH FEST: We still have a couple of events happening before the fest in May, so we're busy pulling those together as well as making sure bands have everything they need before and during the fest such as gear, instruments, jam space and actual band members. VW: This is the second Not Enough
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Fest to happen here in Edmonton. What were some of the things you learned last time? Any major changes going into the second go-around? NEF: Last year there was a huge turn out, and we ended up reaching capacity during most of the day. This year we're going with a bigger venue and holding a weekend-long festival to accommodate the 20 bands who have registered so far and all the volunteers and participants we're expecting. VW: On a similar line of thinking: what sort of conversations happened after the first Not Enough Fest? Did any of the feedback surprise you? NEF: There were a lot of conversations that we anticipated continuing after NEF, like the use of Safe/r Spaces policies, inclusive booking practices, re-
source allocation etc. We are so glad people are talking about what it looks like to centre the art and experiences of folks who are often silenced or dismissed. But there were also some really legitimate, critical conversations that came up after NEF '15 regarding who is represented in the organizing committee, how we interact with our supporters and whether or not our role is to work within an established community, to try to create our own, or to find the best way to navigate both. These conversations really challenged us to consider how we engage with the larger music community and the role and the responsibility we have to honour connections and pre-existing relationships that continue to be valuable to our participants and supporters. This year facilitated a lot of reflection, conversations we know will be essential to any continuation of NEF. VW: Do you have any particular stand-out memories from last year? What are you most excited about this time around? NEF: Last year was so special. So many people showed up, were responsible for their actions and to each other, were enthusiastic and encouraging and honoured the vulnerability of our participants. It was a space so warm, welcoming and accepting that we could feel it profoundly in our bodies. One stand-out moment was watching a band of 14-year-olds play in front of their first crowd—the White Stripes have never sounded so good. The support for all these new artists was so tangible, nerves muddled with excitement, admiration and appreciation and allowed artists to share of themselves in such vulnerable and creative ways. This year, we are excited about all the projects that were inspired by last year's fest. We keep hearing about bands we didn't know existed who are gearing up for NEF independently of our supports. There are
VUEWEEKLY.com | APR 28 – MAY 4, 2016
people coming from Vancouver and Winnipeg to share their first show with us, and we have had artists of all different mediums reach out to discuss collaboration. Also, last year was fairly indie-rock heavy; this year there seems to be a broader spectrum of genres and multi-media performers. We are so excited to see how weird NEFers can get. VW: Anything you want to add? NEF: We would love to acknowledge
all the incredible support and inspiration we have gotten from other folks doing vital work in the city. Brown, Black and Fierce continue to challenge us to think about the ways we can act in solidarity with IBPOC [Indigenous, Black and People of Colour] initiatives essential to the scene we want to see. Venues like the Nina Haggerty Centre and Harcourt House have demonstrated how sharing resources across communities and mediums is essential to supporting a more inclusive arts community. iHuman, Cypher Wild and other youth art-based initiatives in the city remind us of all the people and places that have been doing this long before us and who continue to create spaces for healing, expression and collaboration. Promoters, bands and allies have demonstrated how to show up and provide support in tangible and meaningful ways. Volunteers have shown us how invested they are in seeing NEF continue, in standing by us as we learn, grow and challenge ourselves to do better. We are regularly awed, inspired and moved to action by all those invested in an Edmonton arts community that celebrates the vibrancy of complex identities and experiences, that opens up space for expression and collaboration for all and that continues to engage in transformative conversations in the face of overwhelming obstacles.
PAUL BLINOV
PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM
calgary Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary / Jun 20 – 25 / aawc.ca Since 2011, during the week leading up to National Aboriginal Day, Aboriginal Awareness Week celebrates, promotes and crafts understanding of aboriginal culture, traditions and achievements in Canadian society. (Various locations) Afrikadey! / Aug 10 – 13 / afrikadey.com Afrikadey! is marking its silver jubilee anniversary this year, so expect a big ol' celebration that'll get you grooving. There'll also be delicious food, dance and theatre performances, as well as visual arts displays—all celebrating African heritage. (Prince's Island Park) BBQ on the Bow / Sep 3 – Sept 4 / bbqonthebow.com If it can be barbequed, expect to see it here when teams compete for prize money and a chance to cook at the American Royal in Kansas City. (Montgomery Community Centre) Calgary Folk Music Festival / Jul 21 – 24 / calgaryfolkfest.com Catch performances by Tallest Man On Earth, Oh Pep!, Foy Vance, Whitehorse, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, the Cave Singers, Sam Outlaw, Braids—and that's not even all of the artists slated to play this outdoor fest. (Prince Edward Park) Calgary Fringe Festival / Jul 29 – Aug 6 / calgaryfringe.ca Celebrating uncensored, non-juried indie plays from Calgary and beyond. Expect lots of laughter and tons of fun. (Various venues) Calgary Horror Con / Jun 11 & Jun 12 / horror-con.ca This convention is entirely dedicated to the horror genre, which means a whole lot of scary events going on. This year's guests include Tyler Mane from Halloween, Derek Mears from Predators and Emily Perkins from Ginger Snaps. (Clarion Hotel) Calgary International Blues Festival / Jul 25 – Jul 31 / calgarybluesfest.com/ Some of the best blues music summed up in a week. Appearances by 24th St Wailers, Albert Cummings, Alittle Voodoo, Brandon Santini and more. (Various locations)
Calgary Stampede / Jul 8 – Jul 17 / calgarystampede.com This ain't your average rodeo, baby. Join the 1.2 million people who take part in this grandiose festival that features a rodeo, midway, carnigames, deep-fried eats and music— this year includes performances from Zac Brown Band and Lady Antebellum. (Stampede Park) Chasing Summer / Jul 30 – Jul 31 / chasingsummerfestival.com/ This EDM-focused festival will get you sweating with the hard electronica beats of Martin Garrix, Hardwell, the Chainsmokers, Zeds Dead, Galantis, Marshmello and more. (Max Bell Centre Festival Grounds)
Shakespeare by the Bow / Jun 21 – Aug 21 / theatrecalgary.com/ artists-and-learning/shakesbow Enjoy some iambic pentameter through Theatre Calgary's 2016 presentation of Shakespeare's Hamlet in an outdoor setting. (Prince's Island Park)
heaven, the Sonics, Angel Olsen, Built To Spill, HEALTH and more. (Various locations)
Terminus / Jul 29 – Aug 31 / terminus-festival.com Remember seasons four and five of The Walking Dead when the cast Sled Island / Jun 22 – Jun 26 / all head to Terminus—a mysterisledisland.com ous place promising sanctuary for For five days, Calgary is transformed all? Well, forget that. This festival into an eclectic music-and-arts hub might share the same name as that featuring over 250 bands, comedians, fictional place, but that's where the 1 be a fiFF16SymmerFestad.qxp_Layout lmmakers and artists from all over 1 2016-04-25 comparison1:00 ends.PM ThisPage fest will the world. This year's rendition brings haven for dark-electronica / industrial in Guided by Voices, Peaches, Deaffans with a lineup featuring Noisuf-x,
Venetian Snare, Cold Cave, Daniel Myer, 16 volt and more. (Dickens Pub) When Words Collide / Aug 12 – Aug 14 / whenwordscollide.org Enthusiasts of words and the English language, this festival is for you: When Words Collide provides a platform for readers, writers and publishers to meet and celebrate prose. Featuring Marty Chan, Julie E Czerneda, Ian Hamilton, Robert Runté and Eve Silver. (Delta Calgary South)
Country Thunder Alberta / Aug 19 – Aug 21 / countrythunder.com The Country Thunder festival— dubbed the world's greatest country music festival—has residencies in Arizona, Wisconsin and now Alberta. This year includes performances from Luke Bryan, Chad Brownlee, Tim McGraw, Autum Hill, Big & Rich, Petric, Chris Young and more. (Prairie Winds Park) Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival / May 20 – May 28 / fairytalesfilmfest.com This festival promises nine days of LGBTQA films from all over the world. (Various locations) Funny Fest: Calgary Comedy Festival / Jun 2 – Jun 12 / funnyfest.com Can you die of laughter? Well, this festival will keep you laughing for 10 days straight with over 70 performances in seven venues. (Various locations) Ignite! Festival for Emerging Artists / June 23 – June 25 / sagetheatre.com Sage Theatre offers up-and-coming artists a platform to showcase their work across myriad art forms including music, theatre, dance and visual arts. (Location TBA) Calgary Pride / Aug 26 – Sep 5 / pridecalgary.ca Celebrating Calgary's LGBTQ community with various events around the city, plus the annual Pride Parade. (Various locations) Reggae Fest / Aug 18 – Aug 20 / reggaefest.ca Peace, love and reggae music. This blissed-out weekend focuses on the promotion and awareness of Canadian reggae artists. (Shaw Millennium Park)
VUEWEEKLY.com | APR 28 – MAY 4, 2016
FESTIVAL GUIDE 17
Alberta Alberta fests not in Edmonton or Calgary Alberta's Own Music and Arts Festival / Aug 18 – Aug 21 / ourfest.ca Camp out while enjoying music from some of Canada's up-and-coming artists, such as 240, Alleviate, A M, Dirty Frazier, Follow the Sorrow, Tee y Son, Thrillhouse, Whale and the Wolf, the Red Cannons, the Wild and more. Tickets include camping. (Tail Creek Raceways)
Astral Harvest / Jun 30 – Jul 3 / astralharvest.com This community-minded festival celebrates music, art, knowledge and the human experience, which translates into four days of good vibes. Beats will be provided by local, national and international acts including Coyote Kisses, Krne, the Prototypes, the Funk Hunters, Mark Lower, Matvey Emmerson, Audio Sex and many more. (Driftpile) Big Valley Jamboree / Jul 28 – Jul 31 / bigvalleyjamboree.com Gitty up for the annual Big Valley Jamboree, which brings some of
McCauley Revitalization Celebrate 2016 DATE
TIME
May 26
5 pm
Food Crawl - Chinatown
June 4, 5
11am - 9:15pm 10:45am - 5:30pm
Heart of the City concert Giovanni Caboto Park
July 9
10 am - 4 pm
Summer Market in Chinatown
July 9
10 am - 4 pm
Hallelujah Garage Sale
Aug 28
noon - 8 pm
Viva Italia Day at Giovanni Caboto Park
Sept 10
11 am - 8 pm
Lantern event at City Hall
Sept 24
11 am - 4 pm
Tea & Tranquility - Chinatown 97 St.
Oct 1
10 am - noon
BIG DIG - Giovanni Caboto Park
Oct 21
6 - 8 pm
Nov 26
10 am - 3 pm
Dec 17
7 pm
Dec 4, 11, 18
ACTIVITY
Spirit of McCauley Dinner Burst of Brightness - McCauley School Winter Warmers in McCauley - Studio 96
11 am - 2 pm Frostival Events - Chestnuts Roasting Italian Centre
North Amberica's top country artists out to the prairies. This year's lineup features Randy Houser, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Sam Hunt, Jo Dee Messina, Collin Raye, Clare Bowen & Charles Eston (from the TV show Nashville), Alee and many more. Don't forget to pack your cowboy boots and hat! (Camrose) Canmore Folk Music Festival / Jul 30 – Aug 1 / canmorefolkfestival.com Three days of folk, blues and roots music. The Canmore Folk Music Festival had its humble beginning in 1978, making it the longest-running folk music festival in Alberta. This year features Basia Bulat, Adrian Nation, John Wort Hannam, Kacy and Clayton and Maria Dunn, just to name a few. (Canmore) East Coulee Springfest / May 6 & May 7 / ecsmuseum.ca/springfest/ Kicking off the festival season is the East Coulee Springfest, which boasts two days of blues, folk, rock, roots, country and jazz music. The festival is also a fundraiser for the East Coulee School Museum (East Coulee) Extreme Mudfest / Aug 26 – Aug 28 / extrememudfest.com It's going to get real dirty as highoctane machines battle it out in the mud pits for top prizes from the Canadian Mud Racing Organization. Trooper, Chad Brownlee and Cold Creek County will perform in the evening. (Bonnyville)
Lethbridge Jazz Festival / Jun 10 – Jun 18 / lethbridgejazz.com This year's performers include Dee Daniels & The Sweet Inspiration Gospel Choir, Kat Danser, Tim Tamashiro and many more. (Various venues) North Country Fair / Jun 17 – Jun 19 / northcountryfair.ab.ca North Country Fair, which has been going strong since 1978, has become an Albertan rite of passage, offering festival-goers an authentic experience without the glitz and glam. This year's lineup includes Bend Sinister, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Fred Penner, the Fuzz Kings, Swear By The Moon, Twin Peaks, the Uncas and the Matinée. (Driftpile) North of 16 Blues and Country Music Festival / Aug 26 – Aug 27 / northof16.com After a successful inaugural event last year, the festival will be returning with plenty of blues and country artists to get your feet stomping. (Chipman Ag Grounds) Sasquatch Gathering 21 / Fri, Jul 22 – Sun, Jul 24 / sasquatchgathering.com Think of this festival lik a huge family
picnic in the park with homecooked meals—seriously, there's a potluck dinner on the Saturday—and tons of musical performances. Music will be provided by Post Script, the Gibson Block, Gadjo Collective, We Used To Be Friends, Rend, Revenge of the Trees and more. Want to unwind? There'll be yoga in the mornings. (Rangeton Park) South Country Fair / Jul 15 – Jul 17 / wildmtnmusic.ca A festival that has a little something for everyone: poetry performances, art films, street performances, rock 'n' roll music and more. (Fort Macleod) Spock Days / Jun 10 – Jun 12 / vulcantourism.com/ spock-days.html Live long and prosper with the community of Vulcan for the 24th-annual Spock Days. There'll be star gazing, slo-pitch tournament, dunk tank, carnival games, and fireworks to celebrate all things Star Trek. (Vulcan) Wild Mountain Music Festival / Jul 15 – Jul 17 / wildmtnmusic.ca Nestled in the foothills north of Hinton, this fest offers a serene mountain retreat with musical offerings from Dan Mangan, Serena Ryder, Buffy Sainte-Marie and the Rural Alberta Advantage. (The Entrance Ranch)
B.C. ArtsWells Festival / Jul 29 – Aug 1 / artswell.com The festival is all about art, which translates into over 100 musical performances on 12 stages, a variety of workshops, film screenings, art walks and theatre shows. (Wells) Burn in the Forest / Jul 14 – Jul 17 / burnintheforest.com Want to experience Burning Man without having to fork out the big bucks? Try Burn in the Forest, which swaps out the Nevada desert for a British Columbia setting among the trees. The festival follows the Ten Principles of Burning Man, so it's as close as you'll get to the real thing. (Squamish) Center of Gravity / Jul 8 – Jul 10 / centerofgravity.ca Dubbed as Canada's hottest beach festival, for good reason. The three
18 FESTIVAL GUIDE
The Hills Are Alive Music and Dance Cultural Fest / Jun 9 – Jun 12 / miywasin.ab.ca This festival celebrates the rich heritage of Alberta's Métis with music performances, dance and cultural workshops. (Medicine Hat)
days of heavy EDM music—this year's lineup features Skrillex, Afrojack, Showtek, Machine Gun Kelly—and sports competitions— beach volleyball and BMX—will get you sweating. (Kelowna) Go Fest: Whistler's Great Outdoor Festival / May 20 – May 23 / greatoutdoorsfest.com Experience the great outdoors with four days of active programming from music to outdoor art workshops to sports, while taking in the sights and sounds of Whistler. (Whistler) Golden Mountain Festival / May 20 – May 22 / tourismgolden. com/activities/golden-mountainfestival If your town is surrounded by the Canadian Rockies, then it only makes sense that you'd honour them. Enter Golden Mountain Festival, an annual event that celebrates the rich heritage of the mountains with musical
VUEWEEKLY.com | APR 28 – MAY 4, 2016
performances, art exhibits, scavenger hunts and workshops. (Golden) Kimberley JulyFest / Jul 15 – Jul 17 / kimberleyjulyfest.com Dubbed the community's biggest festival of the year, JulyFest kicks off with 200-some teams vying for the Canadian bocce championships. Of course a festival needs its music, so there'll be plenty of that to keep things grooving. (Kimberley) Mile High Wine & Music Festival / Aug 12 – Aug 13 / skisilverstar.com This is for the wine lovers out there. Learn about wine by taking in the summery views of the Okanagan atop the SilverStar Mountain. There will be tasting events, dinners, music, seminars, art gallery viewings and hikes. (Silver Star Resort) CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 >>
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FESTIVAL GUIDE 19
FESTIVAL GUIDE FESTIVALS //CULTURE
Forty-one years of cultural cuisine The Servus Heritage Festival features 500 food items from around the world
N
has been a mainstay of the summer since its inception over 40 years ago. Over the weekend, Hawrelak Park becomes home to dozens of cultural pavilions that provide hundreds of
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide
o other local festival provides the sheer volume of new—or varied—food opportunities as the Servus Heritage Festival. Held every August long weekend, the festival
VUE WEEKLY: How did the festival get
started?
DEBORAH FORST: In 1974, the Gov-
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20 FESTIVAL GUIDE
thousands of attendees the opportunity to sample authentic cuisine, enjoy various cultural performances, including music and dance, and peruse beautiful handmade crafts. This year's festival will be held on July 30, 31 and August 1 in Hawrelak Park. Vue spoke with Deborah Forst, marketing director of the Heritage Festival, for some insight into the festival's past and present.
/distribution
ernment of Alberta, acting through Minister of Culture Horst A Schmidt, planted the seeds of the Edmonton Heritage Festival by declaring the first Monday in August an annual holiday to recognize and celebrate the varied cultural heritage of Albertans. That year and again in 1975, a multicultural concert was held at Fort Edmonton Park to celebrate Heritage Day. The next year, 11 ethno-cultural communities banded together in Edmonton's Mayfair Park (renamed William Hawrelak Park in 1982) for a display of their cultures' traditional cuisine, entertainment, interpretive materials and crafts—thus marking the first Edmonton Heritage Festival in its current form. Attendance that year was 20 000. By 1978, 30 pavilions were taking part, and annual attendance surpassed 100 000 by 1979. The past few years have had the highest estimated attendance to date: over 350 000 during the three-day event.
VW: How many different cultural pa-
vilions are there now, and are there any new ones? DF: This year there are 66 cultural pavilions. We are excited that Puerto Rico will be joining us for the first time. People will have the chance to try yuca frita, which is fried cassava served with salsa or cream sauce; carne salteada—sautéed beef with peppers, onions and tomatoes; and maduros y tostones—fried sweet/ salty plantains. Also this year, there are several new cultural beverages that are being offered. You can try tea from Iran, dogh—a yogurt-based drink served in Afghanistan, and kava: a Fijian drink made from an indigenous pepper plant that is pounded into a fine powder and mixed with water. Although we are a family friend-
ly, alcohol-free event, China and other pavilions are offering authentic non-alcoholic beers. VW: How often do the menu items
change?
DF: Each cultural group that runs a
pavilion at the festival is responsible for their own menu. Our guidelines are that all food and beverage items that are offered must be culturally authentic. The pavilions decide when they want to add new items or keep crowd favourites. VW: Who are the people working at the pavilions? DF: The food is prepared by the cultural volunteers, primarily on site. Some portions of the food may be prepared ahead of time, but all sites, including the "kitchens" at each pavilion, are inspected and approved by Alberta Health Services. All volunteers who prepare food must be licenced or have taken a provincial food-handling course. VW: How do new groups join the festival? DF: If a new cultural group would like to become involved in the festival, they must apply to take part at least a year ahead of time, and they must be a society that is registered with the Alberta Societies Act—Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Government of Alberta, for a minimum of one year prior to the festival for which they are applying. They also must reflect the culture and heritage of an identifiable ethno-cultural group of which they are a part, and which is a part of their country. VW: What are some of the challenges of organizing a food-based festival this large? DF: The biggest challenge is trying to accommodate all the requests from groups that want to become involved. Also, as an outdoor event, it is a logistic challenge to ensure that all the pavilions have adequate power and running water. Hawrelak Park is actually outfitted with a subterranean electrical and water system that was built and paid for by the festival association. Weather can also be unpredictable—although we try to guarantee three days of sun. If you look at how much food is cooked and consumed over the
VUEWEEKLY.com | APR 28 – MAY 4, 2016
weekend, some of the numbers are quite staggering. One pavilion alone requires more than 1200 kilograms of flour to prepare their deep-fried elephant ears. VW: What is your most memorable meal? DF: It's very difficult to choose since there are over 500 items to sample. Jim Gibbon, our executive director, still fondly remembers the barbecue sardines from over 10 years ago when Portugal had a pavilion. Some popular items are the deepfried llangos from Hungary, the roasted lamb and pork from Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia, causa rellena con pollo from Peru, and the Guatemalan mango loco. VW: A festival this size must produce
a lot of waste?
DF: We're very proud that the Heri-
tage Festival has been a community and event leader for green initiatives since committing, in 2010, to using only biodegradable serving products for 100 percent of all the food products that are prepared and sold on-site. This basically includes every fork, spoon, plate, bowl and napkin that is present in the park. VW: How does the festival give back
to the community?
DF: You can't really talk about food at
the Servus Heritage Festival without talking about the food donations and money raised for Edmonton's Food Bank. We don't charge an entry fee for the festival, but instead ask our attendees to bring a donation to the food bank. Over the years, we have become their single-largest charity drive. Volunteers are located at all park entrances to accept donations of food, cash or unused tickets, which are then turned in for cash. Last year, the food bank was the recipient of 81 705 kilograms of food, and over $66 000 in cash from festival patrons.
VW: What else should people know? DF: Food is one of the most success-
ful components of our festival. It gives our guests the opportunity to try unique cultural food that they would not be able to access any other way. There are over 500 unique food items and numerous non-alcoholic beverages offered for sale during the festival. MEL PRIESTLEY
MEL@VUEWEEKLY.COM
FESTIVALS // THEATRE
The big one
A peek into the planning of Edmonton's theatrical behemoth— the Fringe Festival
E
asily one of the biggest festivals in our summer run of them, the Edmonton International Fringe Festival offers more than 200 different shows over the course of 10 days (this year, that's August 12 – 21). It's an incomparable theatrical experience, and though still months away, the festival's staff are entering into a period of heavy pre-festival lifting. The festival's artistic director, Murray Utas, was kind enough to take some time to answer some questions, via email, about their prep. VUE WEEKLY: It's spring, and, for audiences, the Fringe is still a couple of months away. What part of the festival prep are you working on right now? MURRAY UTAS: This is our serious planning phase and a time of meetings that involve finalizing the site map, completing the poster design (including the wordmark and icons that go with it), and jamming out all the possibilities of how to we can enhance the site for a richer patron experience. It is also our 35th year, so we are cooking up some fun ways to celebrate and incorporate that for the year. Applications are open for vendors, volunteers, and our artists are approaching one of their plenty of upcoming deadlines with the tech component of their form due early May. VW: You've been Fringe Theatre Ad-
ventures' artistic director for a few years now. Has the job shifted at all, now that you've been in the role for a few go-arounds? MU: Each festival is unique with its own set of challenges, so it is vital to make really great notes and debrief once everyone has recovered from the beast. I would say what's different now is that the entire festival is starting to come into focus for me, and to be able to see it as a whole is allowing for where and what the growth potential could be moving forward. VW: Given that the Fringe is famously unjuried—you don't really get a say in the art that people bring out and display—how do you see the artistic director role? What do you get to bring to the festival, in shaping it? MU: One of my many roles is to make sure that the artists have every opportunity to succeed. When I experience something where a change can enhance that, or make it be equal for everyone, that is what I will do. For instance, I heard from the artists how they missed having Studio A [in the Arts Barns] as a green room, so we shuffled some operations around to get them that space back. I noticed the competition for artists to get their posters up in a visible hightraffic area on our site was problematic. We are still a job site a couple days before the festival and there is equipment and set up happening all around. Artists from out of town are not getting here until a day or two before, and some are in their technical rehearsal. To alleviate this issue our production team built
this incredible poster wall by Orange Hall last year, and I asked each artist to drop off a laminated poster to our admin office and I personally put up each poster. This year I will add another area that is highly visible on site where FTA manages the walls, and by FTA I mean ME! The idea moving forward as there is equal representation on site where there are areas for the posters to go and the artist will then only have to get their others materials up on the areas outside of the main site. Our organization is very collaborative in nature and it is important to me that every voice is heard, but decisions need to be made and I am usually a part of those conversations. Within that there are many things that are in need of my role to curate, program and execute. I program the wine tent, special events and invite art onto the site. The Late Nite Cabaret is our show at the festival that we co-produce with our incredible partners (Rapid Fire Theatre, Catch the Keys Productions) to put on nine nights of madness. VW: On a similar line of thinking: how does the festival change every year, if at all? What sorts of shifts happen between each festival? MU: Refinement over reinvention. Each year we hear from all our communities what they like, what they don't like and we listen. We make the changes where possible and communicate the why when we can't. VW: Any particular stand-out memories
so far, from your time in the job?
MU: In my first year I got an email at
exactly midnight on the eve of opening day, informing me that, through some miscommunication, customs officials in Canada had detained two of our international artists. I stared at the ceiling of my room for three hours until the first call came: it was the producer of the show. I spent the entire day on the phone with the consulate in Toronto, lawyers and talking to the distraught cast that made it through and were here in Edmonton. I would literally hand my phone off to someone to hold to do a media interview and then [get] back on. After 11 hours of negotiating and then stepping onto the stage to kick off the festival, I lost the battle and they were put on a plane back home. Along this day, our amazing production team had set up the venue for the group, and after much convincing they did their technical rehearsal and the show went on [without those two artists]. What they didn't know is that I had not quit. Working with one of our board members, we put together documentation and I had plane tickets waiting for the two when they landed, put them back on a plane and got them here. As timing would have it, their ensemble had just finished their second
// Marc J Chalifoux
performance as I flung open the door and reunited everyone. I walked quietly away and into dressing room one and had a cry. It was the most intense 48 hours of my life, and I knew at that moment I was home.
For tickets and info visit ReggaeFest.ca
VW: Do you have a Fringe mantra, a way
you like to think about experiencing the festival, that you'd care to pass along? MU: Take a chance, surprise yourself, get lost in the experience.
CalgaryReggaeFest ReggaeFest_YYC ReggaeFest_YYC
PAUL BLINOV
PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM
poles pegs bug spray
VUEWEEKLY.com | APR 28 – MAY 4, 2016
FESTIVAL GUIDE 21
FESTIVAL GUIDE BC Festival Listings
<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
Motion Notion Music Festival / Jul 21 – Jul 25 / motionnotion.com This spirtual fest spans five days with lots of EDM music to get your chakras dancing. (Golden) Otalith Music Festival / Aug 18 – Aug 20 / otalithfestival.com While the drive down to Tofino might be a bit of a trek, you'll be in for a real (relaxing) treat once you arrive. The festival takes place on Vancouver Island, surrounded by beaches and wildlife. Don't forget the sunscreen! (Tofino) Pemberton Music Festival / Jul 14 – Jul 17 / pembertonmusicfestival.com This festival has become renowned for its universal lineup, which features musical and comedy acts in the heart of the Pemberton Valley.
For its third year, the festival's bringing out performances from Pearl Jam, the Killers, J Cole, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, FKA Twigs, DJ Snake, Miguel, Purity Ring, Billy Idol, Die Antwoord, Mac Miller, Wolf Parade, Tory Lanez, among others. (Pemberton) Retro Concert Weekend / Aug 12 – Aug 14 / sunpeaksresort.com Tribute bands pay homage to the likes of Johnny Cash, Heart, Pat Benatar, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and John Foggerty & Bob Segar. Plus, admission is free. Score! (Sun Peaks Resort) Robson Valley Music Festival / Aug 12 – Aug 14 / robsonvalleymusicfestivalbc.com/ Listen to folk, rock and roots music in the intimate setting of the Raush Valley, located between the Rocky
and Cariboo mountains. This year's lineup includes the Dead South, 5 Alarm Funk, the Misery Mountain Boys, Lexi Marie and many more. (Dunster) Shambhala / Aug 5 – Aug 8 / shambhalamusicfestival.com The annual party on the farm is back. But good luck getting tickets, though: the festival is completely sold out. (Salmo River Branch) Wanderlust / Jul 28 – Aug 1 / wanderlust.com Unplug from your everyday life by taking in this five-day spiritual fest that focuses entirely on the yoga lifestyle. There will be live music— José González, Steel Pulse, Tasha Blank—yoga and meditation programs, lectures and speakeasy talks, farm-to-table dinners and a market. (Whistler)
c h t e a w k s an a s Cinergie: Saskatchewan's Francophone Film Festival / May 3 – May 7 / cinergiesk.ca This Saskatoon festival returns for its 11th year, featuring French-speaking movies from all over the world. Don't speak French? No problem. All the films will have subtitles. (Roxy Theatre, Saskatoon) Connect 21 / Jul 29 – Aug 1 / connectfestival.ca It's an EDM party on the prairies, ya'll. The fest features plenty of local and international EDM acts. Don't forget the glowsticks! (Besant Campground, Moose Jaw) Craven Country Jamboree / Jul 14 – Jul 17 / cravencountryjamboree.com This multi-day country jammer is ostensibly the "World's Greatest Country Music Festival"—thanks in part to its lineups. This year features Eric Church, Zac Brown Band, Alabama and Kacey Musgraves. Yee-haw! (Craven) Folkfest / Aug 18 – Aug 20 / saskatoonfolkfest.com Unlike Edmonton's festival of a similar name, which boasts musical performances on a hill, this fest showcases the multiculturalism of Saskatoon. Festival-goers take a trip around the world—visiting various locations throughout the city—to learn more about the different cultures that make up the community. (Various locations around Saskatoon) Fringe Theatre and Street Festival / Jul 28 – Aug 6 / 25thstreettheatre.org This festival has been entertaining
22 FESTIVAL GUIDE
Saskatoon locals since 1989 by offering accessible and affordable theatre shows from local and international artists, making it one of Saskatoon's most popular summer festivals. (Various venues, Saskatoon) Ness Creek Music Festival / Jul 14 – Jul 17 / nesscreekmusicfestival.com This festival focuses on the environment, keeping in mind the event's ecological footprint on the earth. Ness Creek is a community celebration with music and art performances. (Ness Creek) Regina Folk Festival / Aug 5 – Aug 7 / reginafolkfestival.com Catch the live performances of Sam Roberts Band, the Mavericks, the Wet Secrets, the Head and the Heart, Ry Cooder, the Cat Empire, Terra Lightfoot, Megan Nash and more in Saskatchewan's capital city. (Victoria Park, Regina) Rock the River / Aug 19 – Aug 21 / rocktheriversaskatoon.ca Back for a second year, the festival showcases the a lineup of venerable classic-rock musicians. This year, Sass Jordan, David Wilcox, Starship, Rik Emmett of Triumph, 54-40, Haywire and Loverboy will take you back to the good ol' days. (Saskatoon) Saskatoon Pride Festival 2016 / Jun 5 – Jun 12 / saskatoonpride.ca Presented by the Saskatoon Diversity Network (SDN), this annual week-long festival provides an accessible space in which to celebrate queerness, fostering community pride, while raising awareness of queer culture within the larger community. During the
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week, participate in a prom, golf tournament, boat party, fashion show and more. (Various venues, Saskatoon) SaskPower Windscape Kite Festival / Jun 25 – Jun 26 / windscapekitefestival.ca Yep, this festival celebrates kites, which brings over 40 national and international kite flyers to the Saskatchewan prairies.There'll be a bunch of activities to entertain the kiddies, too. (Swift Current) Sasktel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival / Jun 24 – Jul 3 / saskjazz.com While the festival's roots are in showcasing jazz artists, it features everything in between, too. This year, catch performances from Big Boi (one-half of Outkast), City and Colour, Jesse Cook, the Legendary Downchild Blues Band, Ms Lauryn Hill, Metric, Tedeschi Trucsk Band and Royal Wood. (Various venues, Saskatoon) Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Festival / Jul 6 – Aug 21 / shakespeareonthesaskatchewan.com This is for the Shakepeare fans and theatre lovers. This year, head down to the Saskatchewan River to take in performances of J Caesar, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Roving Show. (Saskatoon) Taste of Saskatchewan / Jul 12 – Jul 17 / tasteofsaskatchewan.ca Get a taste of the culinary delights that Saskatoon locals indulge in by sampling foods and desserts from the city's finest restaurants. (Kiwanis Park, Saskatoon)