The upcoming weekend was to be the time when Lucinda Williams, Corb Lund and others brought their musical talents to the Vancouver Island Music Festival in the Comox Valley.

Like so many other events, this yearB次元官网网址檚 festival, set for July 10 through 12, was cancelled in response to health restrictions aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.

The festival organizers, though, do not want the weekend to pass without some sort of celebration, so they have organized an online broadcast to celebrate MusicFest on their Facebook page starting Friday, July 10 starting at 7 p.m. MusicFest artistic director Doug Cox isnB次元官网网址檛 sure, but they might do a second evening on Saturday, July 11, depending on how many contributions he gets.

B次元官网网址淩ight now, itB次元官网网址檚 Friday night for sure,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t might end up being longer.B次元官网网址�

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When the Record spoke to him, he was in the midst of editing the many submissions that have come in already.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 going to be all kinds of archival stuff. ThereB次元官网网址檚 clips that performers have been sending me,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 all kinds of clips from our volunteers and our staff.B次元官网网址�

For this online event, they have asked people to contribute a video greeting or memory to the celebration. TheyB次元官网网址檝e also asked performers to contribute a song, though they remind people if theyB次元官网网址檙e using cell phones to shoot sideways B次元官网网址� in other words, to orient the image horizontally or B次元官网网址渓andscape.B次元官网网址� The sound quality also needs to be clear. The deadline is Monday.

B次元官网网址淭he stuff has been coming in like mad,B次元官网网址� Cox said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really been heartening. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a really fun thing to be working onB次元官网网址�. I really want it to be about the spirit of the festival.B次元官网网址�

They are planning some surprises and special guests as part of the event. Cox does not want to give details, but heB次元官网网址檚 said he has had contributions from as far away as England and Los Angeles, along with people closer to home.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e from all over the place,B次元官网网址� he said.

As important as the artistsB次元官网网址� contributions have been, Cox is just as impressed by some of what festival volunteers have had to say in their submissions about what the event means. He says he has watched a lot of other similar Internet broadcasts recently, and he thinks this one will stand out.

B次元官网网址淭his is, sort of, one of the most heartfelt, cool ones I think anybodyB次元官网网址檚 going to see,B次元官网网址� he said.

People can watch for themselves via the Vancouver Island MusicFest Facebook page on Friday B次元官网网址� and maybe Saturday.

Cox also took part in a livestream B次元官网网址渃oncert in the roundB次元官网网址� event for the fest in late June, performing with The Harpoonist, Carolyn Mark and Corwin Fox. He admits it was a little strange playing without an audience but was still fun.

B次元官网网址淲e had a good time,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淚t was really nice for all of us because none of us had played music with anybody for two months.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver Island MusicFest has also set dates on the calendar for the next festival. It will take place July 9 to 11, 2021.

mike.chouinard@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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