Saturday July 9 -A perfect day to attend the Vancouver Island MusicFest

By Keith and Heather NIcol

Although the forecast called for showers off and on Saturday, July 9 the actual weather for the second day of the 2022 the Vancouver Island MusicFest (VIMF) was a perfect termperature for listening to music.  This day felt very much like pre covid 19 MusicFests with all stages operating and lots of people turned out to see the varied performances. We opted to catch the main concert stage to start with at 10 am and the very first act was The Burying Ground. This Vancouver based plays country blues music and what a great way to start the day. They have a terrific sound and song writing that everyone can relate to. We stayed at the main concert stage for the next group as well – Roots and Grooves which is another local band that had a varied act of sing alongs and catchy music. 

                                     Devora Laye played the washboard with the group The Burying Ground

 As with many performances at MusicFest, you would like to clone yourself since we also wanted to see the collaborative First Nations session being held in a overlapping time slot at the Grierson Stage. This is something the MusicFest is known for and this collection included all of the First Nations musicians at the 2022 VIMF. It was also to include a group from Konatal from Taiwan but they unfortunately got sick with Covid 19 and so couldn’t attend. But this “All Tribes Together” event was well received and the Grierson Stage was standing room only for their performance. 

                                                      All Tribe Together was very well received at the Greirson Stage

We love the Grassy Knoll stage since it is more intimate and we wanted to catch another local band from just up the road in Cumberland called Corwin Fox and Cumberland Brothers. We liked their combo of fiddle, guitar and banjo and were again impressed with what great talent lies in the Comox Valley. Another intimate stage is the Woodland Stage and we wanted to see the only group from Newfoundland at this years VIMF – Quote the Raven. After living on Newfoundland for over 30 years before arriving in the Comox Valley we have come to seek out East Coast Music. Quote the Raven won Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2019 Group of the Year award and the duo is known for their smooth vocal harmonies. Again we wanted to be 2 places at once so part way through their set we headed back to the main stage to catch a group from Chile – Subhira Quintet. We liked their energetic sound which featured flute, cello, violin, drums and piano.  With 19 albums to their credit they symbolized Chile’s World Music genre. 

                                Quote the Raven are from the Newfoundland and played at the Woodland Stage

We then took at break at home for a couple of hours but returned to the main stage to catch John Boutte, Ferron and Taj Mahal. What a treat to see these performers but we especially enjoyed blues legend – Taj Mahal (see photo below).  He is a multi grammy award winner and we loved his varied music that has influences from Africa, the Caribbean, and of course the American South. What a way to end our Saturday at MusicFest!  Congrats to the organizers for putting together such a varied lineup. For more information on the line up for Sunday’s shows see- https://www.islandmusicfest.com/ 

 

 

Vancouver Island MusicFest is back

 By Keith and Heather Nicol

With a 2 year pandemic break we certainly did not know what to expect when we headed down on Friday , July 8 for the first evening of the 2022 Vancouver Island MusicFest (VIMF) . My brother and his wife are avid VIMF goers and so after they arrived Victoria and we had a quick supper, we caught the last few songs of Jr Gone Wild in the Concert Bowl. As we walked in the main concert bowl we realized that with Covid 19 regulations lifted, everyone was interested in getting back to normal- hugging old friends and setting up their chairs for a night of music under the stars (see photo below). The first evening usually has a wide a variety of performers and the same applied to this opening concert. Jr Gone Wild is a rock band out of Edmonton which broke up in 1995 but reunited in 2013 and has been going strong ever since. 

 Next up was William Prince (see photo below) who is an impressive new talent. This Juno Award winner has an amazing voice and was rewarded with a standing ovation when he wrapped up his set. Prince won the Western Canadian Music Award for Aboriginal Artist of the Year in 2016 and is developing a large following who love his soulful folk music.  Then the volume and tempo really picked up with a Nigerian band Femi Kuti and the Positive Force. Femi (see final photo) has performed all over the world and is at the forefront of Afrobeat music. The last group of the evening was called Her Majesty which is a huge gathering of the best blues musicians and singers in North America led by Shakura S’Aida. What a great start to 2022 VIMF.  

 The next 2 days will have all the regular stages going plus the main concert stage. We are looking forward to catching blues legend - Taj Mahal on Saturday evening plus seeing some performers on some of the small stages. So if you haven’t got your tickets there are still some available. And the weather forecast looks perfect for taking in a festival- not too hot and not too cold. Festival  goers are also reminded that there are shuttles available to avoid congestion at the concert site. Shuttles will run from Comox Presbyterian Church at 725 Aspen Road in Comox and from the Driftwood Mall in Courtenay in 25 minute loops. Buses will run from 8:30 am to 1:00 am on both Saturday and Sunday and costs $ 4 one way. Kids under 12 ride free. 

 Also new for this year is an expanded liquor license which means you can buy a beer and take it with you to the various venues. Off limits though are the Woodland and Crossroads Stages since organizers don’t want possible extra litter down by the Tsolum River. So check out the schedule and get other details at https://www.islandmusicfest.com/  See you at the show!!

 

The 2022 Vancouver Island MusicFest needs you!

By Keith and Heather Nicol

Well after a 2 year Covid 19 pandemic break, Vancouver Island MusicFest is back with a packed schedule but they still need volunteers for the event to be successful. MusicFest is happening in just a few days and runs from July 8-10. Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions from stage crew to parking and traffic. They also need help with the beer gardens and at the Volunteer and Performer kitchens as well as other spots around the venue like backstage and camping security. If you can commit to 3 shifts for a total of 16 hours and want to volunteer please contact the volunteer coordinator directly at mfestvolunteercoordinator@gmail.com. Or come down to the festival grounds and sign up on the spot! It is a great way to see the festival and view what happens behind the scenes as well. 

 Although the campground is full for those wanting on site accommodation, there are still weekend and day passes available. So if you have been watching the weather wondering if the festival would be hit by a heat dome or rain all weekend long- it now looks like the weather should be ideal for the event. Not too hot or cold with perhaps the occasional shower.  So come out and support this amazing musical happening. Its a chance to hear music from around the world and if you want to dance - here is your chance. And it is on our doorstep in the Comox Valley. For more information see: https://www.islandmusicfest.com/

 

 

A great Father’s Day- Skiing at Mount Washington

By Keith and Heather Nicol

It was a big surprise when Mount Washington Alpine Resort decided to open for the Father’s Day weekend. We took advantage of the better weather (but much bigger crowds) on Sunday , June 19 to get in a few runs off the Whiskey Jack chair. I was amazed at the good snow coverage and generally good skiing. Of course with the warm temperatures the snow turned slushy fairly quickly but it was still very acceptable skiing given the date. It may be a first for me...Alpine skiing in June!! 

 So hats off to Mt Washington for doing an impromptu opening like this.  Mt Washington has its typical summer offerings like mountain biking, sightseeing, zip lining etc unfolding as the snow melts and the weather warms so have a look at their web site for special events and activities- https://www.mountwashington.ca/   See you up there. 

 

 

Check out the Evergreen Bike Group if you like to cycle in the Comox Valley

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

The Evergreen Bike Group has rides on Mondays and Wednesdays and is a great way to meet cyclists and explore the country roads and trails of the Comox Valley. On Monday June 20 thirteen cyclists headed from the Exhibition Grounds to Seal Bay Park for a ride that featured both roads and trails. The Evergreen group is open to cyclists over 55 years of age and the group uses mix of electric , hybrid and road bikes.  The rides on Mondays tend to be longer and it gives us a chance to explore places like Denman and Quadra Island as well as rides in Campbell River and Parksville. On Wednesday morning the rides tend to be in the Comox Valley and run for 2 to 2.5 hours in length. If you are interested in finding out more about this cycling group contact Ernie at: ejkimball62@gmail.com  The pictures below are of the group cycling the scenic trails of Seal Bay Park.