As per usual there will be a lot of variety at the twenty-fourth annual South Country Fair this year, July 16-18 in Fort Macleod. The main stage announcements were made May 15 at the second annual South Country Fair songwriting competition, at the Slice.
“We have a very eclectic line up that will appeal to a lot of people,” said Maureen Chambers, South Country Fair director. The line up includes a lot of familiar faces who have played Lethbridge over the past year including Delhi 2 Dublin, Chad VanGaalen, Lorrie Matheson and the Wasabi Collective. As well, David Essig is back this year plus a few surprises.
Beez, a band form Germany is on the bill.
Chambers said they always try to include an international component to the line up.
Lily Fawn, who performed at the Fair last year and at Henotic around Halloween as part of Hank and Lily, will be back to do a solo show. Plus The Ginn Sisters, from Austin, who opened for Fred Eaglesmith during his last tour, will be opening up the main stage on Friday night.
“I’m really, really, excited about about it this year,” Chambers said adding while people are usually more interested in the evening program, there is a lot going on during the day too.
“I haven’t seen Delhi 2 Dublin, though I’ve seen videos, but they’ll be performing Sunday afternoon,” she said adding Indio Saravanja, who just finished an acoustic tour with Leeroy Stagger, will also be performing on The Sunday.
“He’s so beautiful. He’s like a young Bob Dylan,” she enthused.
“It’s all about community. It’s about bringing people together. We get to be who we are for a whole weekend. We don’t get to be that person most of the time,” she said.
There is some very cool things happening at the Lotus Land, spoken word stage this year as well. Among the many poets and spoken word artists performing, will be Ottawa’s Emcee E (Ian Keteku), OpenSecret (Ikenna Onyegbula), Poetic Speed (Komi Olafimihan), Rusty Priske and Brandon Wint best known as ‘The Recipe,’ the 2009 Canadian slam poetry champions.
Froma more practical perspective, advance weekend passes are on sale at for $80 in advance for adults, and $70 for students and seniors.
On the other hand, in order to keep the campsite clear and easy to maneuver around, it will cost $30 to bring a vehicle down to the campsite.
“Last year it was only $10. We’re trying to get people to park up top,” said one of the festival’s founders’ Trent Moranz adding cars ended up taking over the best camping spots, and last year blocked the roads for emergency vehicles.
This year’s festival is attracting lots of interest from volunteers. One of the perks of volunteering is they get first change at the prime camping spots.
