The Robson Valley Music Festival is known for its wide range of music and this year is no different.
After celebrating the festival’s 10th anniversary last year, organizers revamped this year’s line up with a collection of brand new artists that have never played at the festival before.
“Last year was our big 10th anniversary so we brought back lots of favourites from the last 10 years and we had a lot of repeat acts, so this year we started with a fresh new whack of people,” said Shara Gustafson, the artistic director for the festival.
One of those new acts is Quique Escamilla, the 2015 Juno award winner for world music album of the year.
Born in Chiapas, Mexico, Escamilla fuses traditional Mexican musical styles, such as ranchera and huapango, with the modern sounds of rock, reggae, ska, pop, jazz, cumbia, bolero, and a variety of other Latin American rhythms.
Another new artist this year is Prince George’s Black Spruce Bog, which has been making waves with its latest album Confluence.
Mixed into the lineup are two reggae artists, Buckman Coe and Souljah Fyah, as well as Samson’s Delilah—Gustafon’s duo with her husband Seth Macdonald.
“We like the world music vibe and music that gets you up and dancing,” said Gustafson.
In addition to music, the festival also incorporates visual artists, such as Milan Basic, who will be painting a mural throughout the weekend.
There will also be several workshops including one about the recently built self-sustaining, eco-friendly, Earthship constructed on the festival grounds located on Gustafon’s front lawn.
On Saturday night, after the music stops, a burlesque and comedy show will entertain adults into the wee hours of the morning.
There will also be a yoga workshop Saturday morning and a mini circus camp for children.
Located in Dunster, B.C., the three-day camping festival runs from Aug. 14 to 16.
“Because of the layout of our site it feels intimate, even when you have 1,000 people here,” said Gustafson.
Tickets are available online or at the gate and include camping. A weekend pass for youth or those who are over 55 years of age is $65, while for everyone else it’s $150. Day tickets are also available.
There is no reserved camping and no hookups are available. Dogs are not permitted and festival goers are asked to bring their own drinking water.
Children under the age of 13 are free and anyone under the age of 19 must camp with an adult.
For more information visit www.robsonvalleymusicfestivalbc.com.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
