A new band connected to B.C.B次元官网网址檚 music royalty will be one of the headliners at a three-day music festival in Sooke over the long weekend.

The Sooke Music and Arts Festival will fill John Phillips Memorial Park with a full stage, lights and sound to support more than 25 bands, with A Family Curse headlining Saturday (Sept. 3), followed by country and folk singer Leeroy Stagger on Sunday (Sept. 4).

The festival kicks off on Friday (Sept. 2) evening with a pre-party at the Royal Canadian Legion.

The entire weekend is free to attend, thanks to grants from the federal, provincial and municipal governments and corporate donations.

B次元官网网址淲e started this out as a free event in 2016, and itB次元官网网址檚 worked out for the last seven years,B次元官网网址� said organizer Peter Jonassen.

B次元官网网址淚 like to keep it free because it gives the festival a community feel. I think when groups start charging, it changes the parameter.B次元官网网址�

A Family Curse is a family band created by 54B次元官网网址�40 singer and songwriter Neil Osborne and his daughter Kandle (affectionally known as Bluesman Niz and Baby Kiz). Often supported by various cousins, uncles and aunts of the Osborne clan.

Kandle describes the duoB次元官网网址檚 sound as B次元官网网址渄iving into a fantasy world of Americana and fuzz-driven blues rock,B次元官网网址� with the added imagery of a father-daughter duo taking listeners B次元官网网址渙n a journey from robbing banks to getting stranded in the desert and catching fire.B次元官网网址�

Osborne co-founded 54B次元官网网址�40 in 1980 with bassist Brad Merritt, and the alt-rock band continues to record and tour.

OsborneB次元官网网址檚 A Family Curse collaboration with Kandle began a few years ago when Neil and fellow songwriter Danny Michel recorded music with melodies and lyrics from Kandle. The songs idled for a time before Osborne rediscovered them, and Kandle went to work on additional lyrics.

The band released its debut album on July 27.

There is limited parking by donation at John Phillips Memorial Park on Saturday and Sunday. Festival-goers are encouraged to find alternate modes of transportation to the event site.

FridayB次元官网网址檚 lineup at the Sooke Legion includes Tremblers of Seven, Hush Hush Noise, Crow (Sooke) and Electric Druids. Other bands participating over the weekend include A Family Curse, Leeroy Stagger, Sarah Osborne, Vox Rea, Brandon Isaak, Carolyn Mark, Basin Boys (East Sooke), Gord Phillips (Sooke), Elise Boulanger, Ed Fury (Sooke), Bob Menzies, Faultline (Sooke), Kat Kadoski (Sooke), Woodland Ritual (Sooke), Supreme Remedy, The Hot Noise, Naked by the Fire, Benty Bros, TYPOH and Chainsaw Chaps.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been able to draw in some really good talent, even with my limited budget,B次元官网网址� said Jonassen, adding the majority of the bands are from the Island.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so much talent on the Island. ItB次元官网网址檚 kind of ridiculous to bring in talent from somewhere else.B次元官网网址�

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