The Sooke Music and Art Festival masterfully walks the line between drawing bigger and better lineups and staying true to its local roots.

B次元官网网址淚t started out on a bit of a whim,B次元官网网址� said Peter Jonassen, who launched the first festival in 2016. B次元官网网址淚 was looking out back of what used to be MulliganB次元官网网址檚 back in the day and thought, B次元官网网址榃e can do a festival hereB次元官网网址� and the next thing you know we were. IB次元官网网址檝e been involved since the beginning, assisted by a very capable crew.B次元官网网址�

While the first festival was a one-day affair that featured 10 acts, this yearB次元官网网址檚 event includes an opening party followed by two days and nights with 26 performances featuring a wide range of musical styles.

Some of the headliners at this yearB次元官网网址檚 free, family-friendly event include Los Angeles-based Pink Mountain Tops, Roots Round Up, which has a devoted following in Metro Vancouver, Zenon, plus Lucy Lambert, a vocalist, accordion and violin player from Vancouver.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 awesome,B次元官网网址� Jonassen said regarding Zenon, the award-winning alternative rhythm and blues singer, songwriter and musician from Calgary.

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B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e always gone out of our way to promote local talent since the beginning,B次元官网网址� said Jonassen, whoB次元官网网址檚 played in most of the festivals in the past. B次元官网网址淚 hope to get the chance to perform again, time permitting.B次元官网网址�

This yearB次元官网网址檚 festival continues the tradition of including a strong local presence, with Sooke bands Shale, The Faultline Band, the Gord Phillips Band and Kuba Oms, a Latin Grammy winner from Victoria, all taking a turn on stage.

The festival kicks off in style with an opening party at the Sooke Community Hall on Friday, Sept. 1 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Tickets to the party, which includes live performances, are $10.

The festival moves to John Phillips Memorial Park on Saturday, Sept. 2 and Sunday, Sept. 3, from noon to 10 p.m., with no charge for admission.

To purchase tickets to the opening party, a look at the full lineup or more on the performers, visit sookemusicfestival.ca.

B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址淲e support Sooke-based businesses such as food and beverage entrepreneurs and weB次元官网网址檙e always looking for sponsorship from like-minded businesses and individuals,B次元官网网址� Jonassen said. B次元官网网址淎nd we still do need volunteers to help us pull off SookeB次元官网网址檚 funnest event,B次元官网网址� Jonassen said.

If you would like to get involved, email volunteer@sookemusicfestival.ca or info@sookemusicfestival.ca.