The Wild Mountain Music Festival (WMMF) is gearing up for its 鈥渂iggest and best鈥� year, said chairperson Brian LaBerge.
The three-day music festival takes place from July 19鈥�21 on the Entrance Ranch, just 20 minutes from Jasper National Park. 鈥淭here鈥檚 lots of opportunity to camp out there and just take the show in and enjoy the whole thing from beginning to end and never leave the place,鈥� said LaBerge.
Volunteers have been working around the clock to ensure this year鈥檚 event is a success. 鈥淲e call ourselves the biggest 100 per cent volunteer festival in Canada,鈥� said LaBerge. 鈥淓verything is volunteer [run], right from the organizing, coordinating, set up, tear down, booking of bands, the whole of it.鈥�
This year鈥檚 musical line up 鈥渟peaks for itself.鈥� While headliner Sam Roberts is a must see, there are plenty of different artists and genres to take in, adds LaBerge. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited about the music lineups this year because it鈥檚 so strong from beginning to end.鈥�
Acts include Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, David Wilcox, Elliot Brood, Oscar Lopez, Matt Andersen, Ashley MacIssac, and upcoming artists like 16-year-old Madison Krebs from Okotoks and Edmonton blues guitarist Joe Nolan.
Beginning last year, WMMF added a different cultural aspect to the festival with First Nations involvement. This year the Small Boys Mountain Cree, which consists of singers, dancers and drummers, will welcome attendees with an eagle dance on Saturday. The Strathcona Mounted Troop will entertain guests on Sunday with a musical ride. Additionally, there are children鈥檚 tents with plenty of activities to keep kids entertained.
Jasper businesses are involved in the festival as well, adds LaBerge.
鈥淭he Jasper Brewing Company brewed us two custom beers, so we will be serving the Wild Mountain pale ale and the Crossroads golden ale.鈥�
Sun Dog Tours is providing a shuttle service back and forth from Hinton to the festival site, so 鈥測ou can make it before the music starts and you can stay until the bitter end and you can ride a shuttle home.鈥�
WMMF is just the beginning of the festival season in the region. Next month is the Robson Valley Music Festival in Dunster, B.C. and then in September, the Jasper Folk Music Festival will take place in Centennial Park. That will be Jasper鈥檚 first festival in six years.
LaBerge said WMMF organizers are enthusiastic about Jasper鈥檚 revived music festival. 鈥淲e鈥檙e big supporters of that and we would love to see the West Yellowhead/Northern Rockies become an important place for people to come to for music.鈥�
For more information on WMMF and how to purchase tickets, visit www.wildmountainmusicfest.ca.
Sarah Makowsky
[email protected]
