The fourth installment of the increasingly popular Kootenay Festival is almost ready to roll… where does the time go?
This year’s version of the one day spectacular on the Ootischenia plains will be proof positive that organizers are serious about seeing this event evolve.
Each year’s festival has gone under the retrospective microscope and where there’s room for improvement, improvement is arranged.
Basic alterations pretty much amount to more of a good thing.
Audrey Polovnikoff of the Castlegar and District Recreation Commission has been instrumental in each staging of the festival so far, and was pleased to speak on what folks can expect this time around – July 26 – that is.
“It’s always bigger and better,” she began. “Our lineup of vendors has really changed. Much more of a selection of pottery and jewelry. Our entertainment, as usual, is top notch. This year I’d have to say that it’s going to be the best we’ve ever had. We keep growing every year.”
True enough, the festival has grown in stature to the point where performers are beating a path to their door, where as early it was the festival doing the seeking.
Here’s a quick run-through of the acts set for duty on the festival stage come July 26, that’s a Saturday, by the way.
Scottie School of Highland Dance will do what they do so well, what others think they could do (in their dreams).
How about a tribute to the legendary Willie Nelson – courtesy of the Slocan Valley’s own John Creswell?
Set for a spot on the playbill is the dramatic Middle Eastern intensity of Soul Fire Dance.
The alternative rock of Castlegar’s own Roy Has Fire only gets better all the time, and the boys will be in fine form on July 26.
The versatile and charismatic Dawn Graham has a well polished vocal presentation in store for the July 26 event, as does Bobby Bozenzi, albeit in a high energy, percussive sort of way.
For a slight, or perhaps sleight change of pace, Magician Leif David is sure to captivate and delight all ages.
Shemmaho Goodenough brings the aboriginal singing and drumming she’s been perfecting since the early 80s.
Two for Tripping, described as cross-genre acoustic, sort of defy categorization, suffice to say their music is a memorable experience.
More mesmerizing middle eastern dance will whisk you to another realm as performed by Mystic Dreams… only for the award-winning Good Ol’ Goats to bring you back to Ootischenia with their energetic brand of bluegrass-folk.
Crawford Bay’s Angus McDonald will demonstrate that you really can’t get too much magic and Cod Gone Wild will let you in on quite a bit of Modern Celtic Roots Rock.
For the little ones Kootenay Family Place will again be staging a range of kids’ activities. Kids and parents: bring a towel!
Special guests for this year’s party will include the most welcome entourage from Castlegar’s sister-city of Embetsu, Japan.
The Kootenay Festival – a tradition in the making, THIS SATURDAY, July 26 on the grounds of the Doukhobor Discovery Centre, across from West Kootenay Regional Airport. Admission: one thin deuce!