Vancouver Island MusicFest executive producer Doug Cox says planning the first live festival since 2019 has not been without its challenges, but the product coming to the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds July 8-10 will prove to be worth all the hurdles.
B次元官网网址淭here have been an unbelievable number of headaches and changes and surprises - itB次元官网网址檚 probably been twice as hard for us as itB次元官网网址檚 ever been, to put this together this year, but we canB次元官网网址檛 wait to get down there, and get it going,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚 think people are in a different mindset now, and I think a lot of people are just really looking forward to being a part of the MusicFest community again. WeB次元官网网址檝e been through a lot in the last couple of years, and I think that part of it is going to be more moving than any of us expect.B次元官网网址�
Cox said some of the collaboration shows being curated will be extraordinary.
B次元官网网址淭he womenB次元官网网址檚 blues revue on Friday night (Shakura SB次元官网网址橝idaB次元官网网址檚 HER Majesty, main stage, 10 p.m.) I think is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime show. IB次元官网网址檝e been in constant contact with Shakura and her artists and they are all really excited about this, so I think that is going to be a real special one,B次元官网网址� said Cox. B次元官网网址淭he daytime Indigenous session that we have, hosted by Chief Wedlidi Speck (Wi WalsgaB次元官网网址檓akw - All Tribes Together; 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Grierson Stage) is going to be really interesting. It features Kanatal from Taiwan - a group of Indigenous Taiwanese people representing four different Indigenous tribes in Taiwan - as well as all the other Indigenous performers at the festival, sharing stories and songs.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a bunch of them, reallyB次元官网网址� collaborations put together exclusively for MusicFest.B次元官网网址�
Check for more details.
Tickets still available
As of June 30, the festival was approximately 80 per cent sold out. Cox said had it not been for the lifting of COVID restrictions, the entire weekend would already be sold out.
B次元官网网址淭icket sales have gone very well,B次元官网网址� said Cox. B次元官网网址淲e originally set our budget for 75 per cent of capacity because of COVID, and once they loosened up on the rules we were able to open up to full capacity. So we are actually past our original (target).
B次元官网网址淭ickets are still available for single days, or weekend passes.B次元官网网址�
For tickets, visit
The campsite is sold out.
Barn Stage to be used
When MusicFest executive decided to go ahead with the 2022 festival, there were still some COVID 19 restrictions in effect. With that in mind, Cox decided to remove the Barn Stage - the only indoor stage - from the festival schedule.
Since that time, COVID restrictions have been lifted, and the Barn Stage is back in business, which is a good thing. Cox said the lifting of restrictions and addition of the indoor stage was more a case of good luck than good management.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to say (COVID restriction being lifted) was the reason for it, but what really happened is I overbooked,B次元官网网址� he said, laughing. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 funny, we have been programming this festival for all these years and it just works to get a certain number of performers. So I wasnB次元官网网址檛 really thinking about that when I booked the festival, I just booked. Then I realized I couldnB次元官网网址檛 even give everybody the full opportunity to have the festival experience without that very important stage. It just wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to work for the performers without having that stage. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 ask people to come here and just do one (performance) - thatB次元官网网址檚 not really the MusicFest experience. And a lot of people love the barn, because itB次元官网网址檚 the one indoor stage we have - so if itB次元官网网址檚 raining or really hot, itB次元官网网址檚 an opportunity for people to get a break from the weather.B次元官网网址�
Expanded liquor licence
For the first time, the liquor licence at the Vancouver Island MusicFest will cover the majority of the site.
B次元官网网址淵ou wonB次元官网网址檛 be allowed to take alcohol down to the Woodland Stage or the Crossroads Stage, because we want to protect the river, but the Grierson Stage, the Grassy Knoll, and the barn is fine,B次元官网网址� said Cox, who does not expect any issues. B次元官网网址淚 know most of the festivals who have done this the past couple of years, it actually works out better, because the people that tend to feel the need to go into the beer gardens and slam down three or four beers arenB次元官网网址檛 going to do that. ItB次元官网网址檚 just a more open, almost European kind of thing. We will still be watching people a lot, but we are not anticipating big problems. We have always been very strict about checking IDs and suchB次元官网网址� We do not encourage intoxication, and we wonB次元官网网址檛 tolerate it. We never have.B次元官网网址�
Take your seats with you
Attendees are reminded to be respectful of others, when it comes to seating. If you plan on leaving an area, take your seats with you. Empty chairs not only frustrate fellow festival goers, but they are also not an appealing sight from the stage.
B次元官网网址淚f you leave your stuff there and you arenB次元官网网址檛 there, we are going to let people sit (in those spots),B次元官网网址� said Cox. B次元官网网址淲e have a hospitality crew that will go in and remove peopleB次元官网网址檚 stuff that has been sitting there unattended for (extended periods). ThatB次元官网网址檚 part of the culture of folk festivals. ItB次元官网网址檚 respect not only for other people, but for the musicians as well. Nobody wants to play to a field of empty chairs.B次元官网网址�
How to get there
Festival goers are encouraged to take the shuttle bus service to the concert site.
Shuttles run from the Comox Presbyterian Church (725 Aspen Rd., Comox) and from the Driftwood Mall in Courtenay (2751 Cliffe Ave., both on perpetual 25-minute loops.
Buses run constantly each day; Friday from 2:30 p.m.-1 a.m., and Saturday/Sunday from 8:30 a.m.-1 a.m.
The cost is $4 per passenger, per ride. Kids 12 and under can ride for free.
There is limited parking availabel at the Comox Valley Sports and Aquatic Centre. Please note Saturday 6 a.m. B次元官网网址� 1 p.m. there is no parking at the Sports Centre due to the Comox Valley FarmersB次元官网网址� Market.
terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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