Vancouver Island MusicFest sold out on Sunday, July 10, 2022

By Keith and Heather Nicol

Well despite dealing with changing Covid 19 regulations Vancouver Island residents came out to support their favourite festival again by selling out tickets on the weekend. And on Sunday we have learned that the music usually starts with a “don’t miss it session” in the main concert bowl. This is usually has a gospel flavour and the event this year called “Faith” didn’t disappoint. They stage was packed with great blues and jazz musicians featured John Boutte (New Orleans) and Canadian legend Shakura S’Aide as well as many other very talented performers. Two members even mingled with the enthusiastic hand waving crowd. What a great show and we could have listened to them all day!! 

 

                               Faith had performers out with the audience

We stayed in the main concert bowl for the next group that was a real change of pace. Grace Notes is an all women’s choir from Vancouver Island and they sang a variety of Canadian songs.  They were followed by The Mavens which features Shari Ulrich and 2 other performers but they couldn’t make the show so Shari recruited 2 other musician friends who filled in admirably. Colleen Brown was the next performer in the main concert bowl and she is a real Joni Mitchell fan and performed many of her classic songs. Colleen has a great voice (you have to duplicate Joni Mitchell) and is backed up with a talented band. We then took a break to get ready for the final nights evening concert. 

 

           Colleen Brown performed a Joni Mitchell tribute on the main stage

We arrived back the main concert stage for 6:15 pm to listen to The Old Time Radio Show which featured mostly country music from a variety of artists. The next act up was Matt Anderson who we first heard in Corner Brook, NL at the East Coast Music Awards in 2009. He has gone on to be a power house blues performer with many awards to his name including being the first Canadian to win the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2010!! If you get a chance you need see him if you don’t know his music (see photo below).  Our final session was called American South which featured a collaboration of artists which the Vancouver Island MusicFest is known for. We can’t wait to see what Doug Cox has in store for next year’s festival and to stay up to date check out - https://www.islandmusicfest.com/.