The Robson Valley Music Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and it might just be the last time festival-goers ever get to see Mamaguroove play live.
Shara Gustafson, the creative director of the festival and member of Mamaguroove, said the band is winding down, and the 10th anniversary of her and Seth Macdonald鈥檚 music festival seemed like the perfect place to cap off the band鈥檚 run.
鈥淚t鈥檚 better to go out in a blaze of glory,鈥� she said with a laugh.
Mamaguroove is just one of the festival vets that will be returning to Gustafson and Macdonald鈥檚 front yard Aug. 15-17 to celebrate the festival鈥檚 10-year run. Gustafson said she didn鈥檛 even bother taking submission this time around, because she wanted to pack the lineup with favourites from the past.
That means festival-goers will feast on sonic treats from the likes of the traditional Mongolian-metal mash-up group Namgar, world-renowned drummer Cassius Khan, the Randall Scott Band and High Society.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited about every single person that鈥檚 playing here, because I鈥檝e been the artistic director since the beginning of time with this thing, so they鈥檙e all people that I鈥檝e chosen over the years for one reason or another,鈥� Gustafson said. 鈥淎nd usually it鈥檚 because they blow people鈥檚 minds鈥攎ake them dance, make them cry, make them laugh鈥攕o overall it鈥檚 going to be just great epicness all around.鈥�
Since evolving out of a 鈥済ood people鈥檚 gathering鈥� of friends and family 10 years ago, the Robson Valley Music Festival has been the hub of local music in the area, bringing in stellar acts over the years, and putting Dunster on the musical map.
These days, Gustafson and Macdonald have to cap the festival鈥檚 attendance at 1,000 people, because that鈥檚 as many as they can fit on their 10-acre front lawn, where the festival has been held all these years.
鈥淲e have a pretty small, intimate site here, so we don鈥檛 really have the space to grow鈥攂ut I kind of like it that way鈥攊t鈥檚 nice,鈥� Gustafson said.
This year, along with the music, a grant from the B.C. Creative Spaces program has given Gustafson and Macdonald the opportunity to show off the 鈥渆arthship鈥� being built not far from their home. The recycled tire structure will serve as an artist鈥檚 retreat, and earthship experts will be offering tours of the site all weekend long.
Gustafson also pointed out that they鈥檝e vamped up the festival鈥檚 kids zone this year, and are offering other interesting workshops like the Grandmother鈥檚 Healing Haka鈥攚here workshop-goers will learn a dance based on traditional Mauri warrior dances.
Although she joked that 鈥淢onday morning鈥� is her favourite part of the weekend, she said what really makes her keep doing it every year is the joy it brings to people: 鈥渢he glowing faces and the feedback from people鈥攁nd how it鈥檚 what they look forward to every year,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the highlight of their year; it鈥檚 what gets them through the next year. Comments like 鈥榯his has changed my life, you have no idea,鈥� or 鈥業 had no idea something like that could change my life鈥欌�攖hat鈥檚 pretty special.鈥�
Tickets for the festival are available in town at the Jasper Legion and Coco鈥檚 Cafe, and online at www.robsonvalleymusicfestivalbc.com.
Trevor Nichols
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