The big event of the week is Bigwood 10, Friday, Aug. 3, an annual celebration of local music, which takes place on Research Centre Road.
While the organizers took a break last year, they are back in force this year with an all star line up of local musicians who have accomplished a lot this year.
“We took a year off to reorganize. This year we‘re excited to have an all local line up,” said one of the organizers, Todd Carter, who sings in the host band the Dirti Speshuls who, along with landowner Tom Glover, put on the event every year.
Usually the event takes place during Whoop up Days, this year, it has been moved so Leeroy Stagger can perform at it.
“The landowner Tom Glover has been a long time friend of Leeroy Stagger. Leeroy brought in Dave McCann and John Wort Hannam because they tour as the Highway 3 Revue every year,” Carter continued, adding they will all be bringing their bands for this show.
They will be joined by Taylor Ackerman’s Global Acid Reset, Shaela Miller and a newer band Hoverkraft. Adequate will end the night on a funky note.
Leeroy Stagger‘s latest CD ‘Love Versus’ has been nominated for two Western Canadian Music Awards forRecording of the year and Roots Solo artist of the year.
“John has a new album coming out in August and Shaela is doing well in the WILD competition and was number one on the Earshot roots music charts,” Carter observed.
Bigwood began as an all local festival so members of the music community could get together and socialize when they’d usually be playing gigs and unable to see each other.
“But we’ve had out of town bands in the past, like Royal Tusk, ” Carter said.
Taylor Ackerman has returned from Halifax where he was supporting his wife’s studies, so Carter is pleased to welcome back his new band Taylor Ackerman’s Global Acid Reset.
Local ’90s style power pop band the Dirti Speshuls are also working on a new record.
“We‘ve always been the host band for Bigwood,” Carter said.
The only band people may not be familiar with is Hoverkraft.
“I put out a call for artists and they applied. They haven’t played a lot of gigs, but I went to one of their rehearsals and it was really close to the recording. They’ll be opening,” Carter enthused adding he is also excited to have funk rock trio Adequate close the night.
Blackfoot Grill will be selling food for the event as their usual food truck The Fiery Greek had another commitment.
The event starts at 6 p.m. and will end around 2 a.m.
Tickets for Bigwood are $25 through eventbrite.ca or $35 in cash at the door.
