Anyone with a serious interest in live music knows thereB次元官网网址檚 something that canB次元官网网址檛 be beat about an outdoor summer show.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a special event. ItB次元官网网址檚 usually something that has a lot more meaning to people,B次元官网网址� VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Jets Overhead lead singer Adam Kittredge said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e crazy, extremely-important-to-the-individual type events because usually people go way out of their way to get to them.B次元官网网址�

Maybe itB次元官网网址檚 the sun (forecasts look good), maybe itB次元官网网址檚 the acoustics, maybe itB次元官网网址檚 that certain sense of collective joy that you get from taking in your favourite bands with a few thousand instant friends. There are no chairs to divide you, no house lights separating your experience from that of the bandB次元官网网址檚. There is only the music, the people and the party.

There are a number of reasons Jets Overhead likes playing outdoor shows. For one, it gives them a chance to play to a large crowd, as opposed to playing clubs or theatres. Another reason is the immediacy. Kittredge said itB次元官网网址檚 often B次元官网网址渞un and gun,B次元官网网址� with no time for sound checks, adding a certain energy to the performance that is hard to find elsewhere.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e super psyched and looking forward to it big time,B次元官网网址� Kittredge said. B次元官网网址淗opefully weB次元官网网址檒l have a beautiful summer, crazy festival.B次元官网网址�

Good weather is key to a great outdoor summer festival, said Scott Stanton, lead singer and guitarist of Current Swell, also a Victoria band.

And, if the elements align just right, there really is nothing like it.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just that feeling of summer, music, barbeque, drinking beers,B次元官网网址� Stanton said. B次元官网网址淚t almost makes you feel like youB次元官网网址檙e living in the B次元官网网址�60s or something, like Woodstock, and taking it all in. I love festivals.B次元官网网址�

Stanton remembers going to see Feist play on the steps of the Legislature in 2008 for B.C. Day with a sea of people. ItB次元官网网址檚 a highlight of his outdoor concert going experiences, which also includes going to Sasquatch!, the annual music festival in George, Wash. In fact, playing Sasquatch! remains a main goal for the band.

B次元官网网址淚 just remember being very intoxicated and running around ... trying to see every single show I could,B次元官网网址� Stanton said. B次元官网网址淎nd you still canB次元官网网址檛 see them all. But itB次元官网网址檚 a lot of fun.B次元官网网址�

One of KittredgeB次元官网网址檚 first outdoor summer concert experiences was going as a teenager to Lollapolloza in 1994 in Vancouver. The first band on the stage was Green Day, right in the middle of their Dookie fame, followed by The Smashing Pumpkins, Beastie Boys and other now legendary acts at the height of their talents.

B次元官网网址淚t was insane,B次元官网网址� Kittredge said. B次元官网网址淛ust the energy. For me as a kid, being around that many people, the collective joy is just overwhelming.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 that shared experience, said Kittredge, B次元官网网址渢hatB次元官网网址檚 probably the coolest part about big venue concerts, ... you have thousands and thousands of people all experiencing the same happiness and sharing something together, an experience together. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 probably one of the most powerful and arguably religious experiences you can have on this earth.B次元官网网址�

Both Jets Overhead and Current Swell will join The Tragically Hip and The Sam Roberts Band to play Rock the Shores this Friday on the lower fields of the West Shores Parks and Recreation complex.

kwells@goldstreamgazette.com