For the past 30 years, the Fort Macleod Fish and Games park has provided a pilgrimage of sorts for musicians and music lovers alike, who flock down south every July to the South Country Fair for good times, good music and good vibes.
“I’m excited about it,” enthused artistic director Jana MacKenzie, who has booked another exceptional south stage including some of the favourites from the past as well as performers she has been trying to book at the fair for years.
“It’s the thirtieth anniversary, so it is going to be even more of a reunion than it already is,” she added. She has been attending the South Country Fair for 23 years and volunteering for most of that time.
“I’ve been booking the South stage for five years and the east stage before that and before that I was doing whatever they needed me to do, she said, adding she is excited the festival features a lot of Southern Alberta talent including the Shaela Miller Band and Ryland Moranz, who just released his new solo CD.
As usual this year’s Fair, July 15-17, has an eclectic line up of musicians, more family orientated fare, folk music, world music and a lot of blues.
MacKenzie is excited to finally be able to bring in Nomadic Massive to close off Saturday night.
“I’ve been trying to book them for three years. They’re an eight piece band from Montreal. They are different,” she said adding they combine hip hop with a mix of African, Creole, English, French, Arabic and English music.
“What’s not to like,” Mackenzie enthused, adding she is also excited about fellow Montrealers Bumaranga, a seven piece band who also combine a variety of music into a beautiful, danceable blend. They play a solid blues heavy night on Friday night, which features country/ roots singer/ songwriter Tim Hus and also includes yet another Montreal musician Cecile Doo Kingue and Miss Quincy and the Showdown, who close off the first night at midnight.
MacKenzie is also excited about Kids Rock Camp — a new feature she hopes will become a regular attraction of the Fair. Kids Rock Camp is a week long camp in which young musicians undergo a busy week of classes, learning a new instrument, forming a band and learning a set of music to be performed at the showcase, at 6 p.m. on Friday night.
“They’ve already started working on it,” MacKenzie enthused, adding she is also excited about folk rock trio the Fates’ performance on Sunday afternoon.
“I heart the Fates,” she grinned.
In addition to the music on the stage, there are also wandering performers including the circus act The Insomniacs.
“They do things like fire spinning and stilt walking,” she said.
In addition to activities at the grounds, the South Country Fair is also doing a couple of outreach shows in Fort Macleod.
For Edmonton musician Scott Cook, the South Country Fair is one summer stop he really looks forward to. Cook has played South Country Fair three times and attended another five times.
“It’s sweet. The South Country Fair is like the North Country Fair’s little sister. It is more intimate. There’s only three stages and you can catch everything,” he said
“The first time I went was about 18 years ago and a group of us at the North Country Fair decided to go to the South Country Fair, but by the time it happened they all made their excuses, so I hitch hiked down there on my own. The gal I hitch hiked back with introduced me to a bunch of folks who are still some of my best friends today,” he said.
“And I’m still going there,” he said.
“It‘s me and six of my closest friends,” he said.
“We’re playing the main stage, which is something I’ve always wanted to do. We’re going on around 7 p.m. on Saturday night which is when the festival starts to transition into party time. So we’ll start with a few heart -felt numbers then see if we can get the dance floor moving,” he said.
He is also plays a workshop on Sunday afternoon.
“I think it’s a songwriter in the round thing, but I don’t know who else is performing. (Robt Sarazin Blake, Carter Felker) I’m looking forward to it though,” he said, adding he and the band are there at the Fair for the weekend.
“We won’t get there until Friday, but we‘ll be there until Monday,” he said.
He is already well into a busy season of playing festival.
“I started my festival season in Australia. North Country Fair was number nine and the South Country Fair will be number 11.”
Jr. Gone Wild’s Mike McDonald played a solo set at South Country Fair a few years ago, but also played the Fair many years ago.
“Yep. A long time ago. It’s hard to remember though. But I’ve played there in different bands and my solo band has played there,” McDonald said. He is glad to be part of the thirtieth anniversary fair. He will be bringing his family to stay the weekend.
“I’ve booked those days off. There’s always such a great vibe there,” he said.
Jr. Gone Wild formed in the early 1980’s and combined their love for country music, roots, punk and classic rock, blending all of those influences into an upbeat, energetic sound that is all their own. They reformed three years ago with founding frontman Mike McDonald, bassist Dove Brown, drummer Larry Shelast and lead guitarist Steve Loree.
“We’re going to get there a day or so before to give us time to feel the energy,” he said.
They are excited to play.
“We don’t do a lot of talking. We just play and let the music do the talking. It’s very high energy,” he said.
He is excited to just come and hang out.
“There is always something exciting to discover,” he said adding he is looking forward to seeing Scott Cook.
Jr. Gone Wild plays the South Country Fair on Saturday night at 9 p.m.
Toronto born, Hamilton based blues/ jazz/ swing musician Big Rude Jake is excited to play the South Country Fair.
“I’ve played Medicine Hat and Red Deer and Edmonton. I even have an Alberta band I use,” said Jake Hiebert aka Big Rude Jake. He will be playing South Country Fair with his six piece band including pianist Graham Guest, saxophonist Dave Babcock and trombonist Audrey Ochoa and a bassist and drummer to be announced.
“In the ’90s we converted into playing jump blues. But we swing. We really swing,” he said.
“It’s going to be a nice, big loud, exciting show,” said Jake, who is sometimes described as the godfather of swing punk.
Montreal blues musician Cecile Doo -Kingue is excited to make her South Country Fair debut, Friday July 15.
“There are a lot of firsts on this tour,” she said noting she will be joined by her band , drummer Anthony Pageot and bassist Pierre Desmarias on this eight week Canadian tour.
“It’s the same band I had last year. We’ve really developed a synergy together so we don’t want to mess with it,” said Doo-Kingue.
They are touring in support of her electrifying new CD “ Is Anybody Listening Part 2: Dialogues.
They have a set on Friday night at South Country Fair, but she won’t be able to stick around for the Fair this year.
“Unfortunately we have Folk on the Rocks ( in Whitehorse) the next day but it will be enough to get the pulse of the Fair and the feel of the fair so we can come back next year maybe,” she said.
“ You’ll have to come out and check it out,” she said.
