Submitted by Pat Carrie Smith for the Edge of the World Music Festival Society-This summer's music festival is on the way! The festival will be held this year on July 8, 9, 10 in Tlell. The off-island headliners will be Gary Comeau and the Voodoo Allstars (Cajun blues, Cuban), Plaid Tongued Devils (gypsy, ska, jazz), Third Eye Tribe (hip hop, folk), and Aaron English Band (progressive rock style). Other off-island talent, as well as local talent, will include country/western, folk, Celtic, and traditional Haida songs and dance.
The theme for the festival this year is "Tapping our Roots". To honour the beginnings of the music festival, volunteers are working to bring performers to this year's festival from the very early years of the festival, before its location in Tlell.
At the festival society's last meeting, the volunteer positions were filled. Thanks to the communities for stepping forward to help our festival! Frank Wall is artistic director and festival co-director this year, and Dan Bate is the artistic director for local performers. Check the festival website, www.edgefestival.com for more information and contacts, or call Pat Carrie Smith, festival director, at 637-2312 or pcarriesmith@haidagwaii.net.
The call is out for local performers for this year - the deadline is April 15 to fill out an application. Space is limited, so it will unfortunately not be possible to accept all applicants. It has been decided to give preference to performers with original composition, to help foster the spirit of the Haida Gwaii music festival. Contact Dan Bate at 557-9323, danbate@qcislands.net.
The festival society will bring back a previous festival hit, the Painting Daisies, to play for a dance on May 7 as a fundraiser, location to be announced. Mark your calendars; this is sure to be an amazing music-filled evening!