Wide Skies Music festival features east meets western music

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Wide Skies Music Festival is completely outside this year, July 30 and 31. Mike Spencer and Don Robb announce thew Wide Skies And Lethbridge Blues and Jazz Festival lineups. Photo by Richard Amery
The Geomatic Attic’s Mike Spencer is pleased to present a line up with a Western Canadian flair and a strong Latin flavour.
“We have a lot of western Canadian musicians this year,” Spencer said, adding Vancouver rockabilly trio Cousin Harley, Danny Michel and Eastern bluesman Harry Manx have previously played the Geomatic Attic. they are also  grabbing a couple of people who are also playing the Calgary Folk Festival like Sofia Viola.
“She’s from Argentina and tours all over Central America and South America. She sings in Spanish,which is amazing,” Spencer said.

Vancouver Island’s Carmanah are also on the bill.
“And we‘re still working on a local line up for the second stage,” Spencer said.


 As usual they will block off 11th Street to 4th Avenue next to Southminster United Church, put up two stages, feature a beer gardens, food trucks and artisans.
“The Geomatic Attic has been putting on shows for 11 years, but three years ago in 2017, we got the opportunity to put on a show outside. People like to go to places  they haven’t been before. how often do you get to sit in the middle of a road and see a concert,” he said.

Spencer stressed an important aspect of the festival is reducing the environmental footprint.
“So we’re encouraging people to walk, bike or take public transit,” he said.
 There won’t be any shows in the Southminster United Church as in previous years, however, Spencer is adding a folk fest style workshop in the Church on the Tuesday, July 30 featuring Carmanah, Cousin harley guitarist/singer Paul Pigat, Danny Michel and Sophie Viola . The church will also stand in as an alternate venue in case of rain.
 Spencer said he also tried to get Harpoonist And the Axe Murderer who were rained out last year.
 “ But the dates weren’t available. They’re also playing Calgary Folk Fest, but they were only available on Monday,” he said, adding  he will continue trying to get them back.
“ We’re also working with the Allied Arts Council and with other venues for pop up events,” he said.
Spencer is excited to work with the Lethbridge Jazz and blues Festival, though it is more of a collaboration for media events.
“ A lot of our acts fit right in the the Lethbridge Jazz and blues Festival,” he said, adding they share a common  goal of showing there is a lot of interesting cultural things happening in Lethbridge.
Lethbridge Jazz and Blues Festival president noted they have worked with the Geomatic Attic to present shows  previously.
“We’re excited to work with them again There  is a certain amount of cross pollination,” he said.

 

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 25 April 2019 14:41 )