After surveying Jasperites at the farmer鈥檚 market and online, accepting performer applications via sonicbids.com, hosting the Battle Royale in May and consulting among themselves and with Layne Seabrook (of Wild Mountain Music Festival), the Jasper Folk Music Festival has pulled together a solid lineup. That lineup was released in its entirety on their Facebook page earlier this week.
Talent scouting for the first Jasper Folk Music Festival in six years was a daunting but fun exercise for the new festival committee, reported Cristin Murphy, festival coordinator. With over 150 artist applications to review, 鈥淚t was a really tricky thing. Not all of the artists we鈥檝e seen live.鈥�
In all, 13 artists will perform from Sept. 13鈥�15. The complete lineup features: Michael Rault, Samson鈥檚 Delilah, Five Alarm Funk, Randall Scott Band, Bronwynne Brent, Ray Elliot Band, Tim Vaughn, James Lamb, Rachelle Van Zanten, Alex Cuba, Oscar Lopez and local Battle Royale winners Emma Acorn and Some Irish Pirates.
鈥淲e wanted a mix of artists that people recognized in the region, as well as some who had never been here before,鈥� Murphy said, listing James Lamb, Michael Rault and Bronwynne Brent among the latter.
鈥淲e want it to be a born and bred festival that comes from the people here.鈥�
The selection of artists is attracting some attention, said Murphy. At the Robson Valley Festival earlier this season, she heard buzz going around about Five Alarm Funk appearing in Jasper.
The party funk band played Shambala in 2010, ending with a crowd-pleasing rendition of Europe鈥檚 鈥淭he Final Countdown.鈥� A recent music video to 鈥淲e All Scream,鈥� puts a nightmarish spin on the common neighbourhood ice cream truck with shouting choruses, punchy horns and fiendish lyrics. Add song titles like 鈥淲ash Your Face鈥� and 鈥淰oodoo Hairdo鈥� and you鈥檝e got a pretty fair idea of the funk this Vancouver troupe throws down.
Five Alarm Funk finishes off the night on Friday, while acclaimed Latin guitarist Oscar Lopez headlines Saturday night.
Another consideration for festival organizers was finding the right balance between performers. 鈥淗aving done some of that myself, it鈥檚 pretty important to keep the flow of the day working well,鈥� said Tim Vaughn, whose blues trio strings together original music and occasional classics like 鈥淟ittle Wing鈥� or 鈥淧urple Rain鈥� into skronk-riddled, wah-laden, soaring sets. 鈥淚f I know we鈥檙e coming after a folk act we might start out a little softer, and vice versa, if it鈥檚 a rock act we鈥檒l come out louder.鈥�
鈥淭here are a lot of pieces to that,鈥� Murphy added. 鈥淏uilding towards the final act, trying as best as possible to have acts that complement each other and making sure we incorporated local musicians.鈥�
Making things simpler for festival-goers, the venue will feature a two stage setup with alternating acts so that audience members won鈥檛 have to worry about scheduling conflicts. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to find your spot, get comfortable and all you鈥檒l have to do is turn your chair,鈥� says Murphy. 鈥淯nless of course, you鈥檙e going to the beer garden.鈥�
For more information or to buy tickets, visit facebook.com/JasperFolkMusicFestival.
Jeremy Derksen
[email protected]
