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’s music festival seemed like the perfect place to cap off the band’s run.
“It’s better to go out in a blaze of glory,” she said with a laugh.
Mamaguroove is just one of the festival vets that will be returning to Gustafson and Macdonald’s front yard Aug. 15-17 to celebrate the festival’s 10-year run. Gustafson said she didn’t 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.
“I’m excited about every single person that’s playing here, because I’ve been the artistic director since the beginning of time with this thing, so they’re all people that I’ve chosen over the years for one reason or another,” Gustafson said. “And usually it’s because they blow people’s minds—make them dance, make them cry, make them laugh—so overall it’s going to be just great epicness all around.”
Since evolving out of a “good people’s gathering” 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’s attendance at 1,000 people, because that’s as many as they can fit on their 10-acre front lawn, where the festival has been held all these years.
“We have a pretty small, intimate site here, so we don’t really have the space to grow—but I kind of like it that way—it’s nice,” 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 “earthship” being built not far from their home. The recycled tire structure will serve as an artist’s retreat, and earthship experts will be offering tours of the site all weekend long.
Gustafson also pointed out that they’ve vamped up the festival’s kids zone this year, and are offering other interesting workshops like the Grandmother’s Healing Haka—where workshop-goers will learn a dance based on traditional Mauri warrior dances.
Although she joked that “Monday morning” 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: “the glowing faces and the feedback from people—and how it’s what they look forward to every year,” she said.
“It’s the highlight of their year; it’s what gets them through the next year. Comments like ‘this has changed my life, you have no idea,’ or ‘I had no idea something like that could change my life’—that’s pretty special.”
Tickets for the festival are available in town at the Jasper Legion and Coco’s Cafe, and online at www.robsonvalleymusicfestivalbc.com.
Trevor Nichols
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