Organizer Keith Duggan is happy that this year's Bonfire Music Festival, the music and celebration event in Pender Harbour, is taking place at all. Last year's heavy rain and lack of audience nearly choked chances for a fourth annual festival. This year, Duggan says, is the last kick at the can."It's been decided that 2008has to work or we'll very reluctantly have to call it a day," he said.
The festival of 2006 was great, with lots of fans travelling to the Coast from Vancouver, Whistler and Washington to enjoy three days of music, camping and celebration. Then, 2007 bombed.
"I'm confident that 2008 will be a banner year and any discussion of putting Bonfire to rest will have been redundant," he said. "I think we're so close to finding the right formula."
Bonfire Music Festival 2008 runs from Aug. 22 to 24 in Lions Park, near Garden Bay. Friday opens with Guy Wilkins in the afternoon and closes with headliners Flowmotion from Seattle.
"Musically, they're an unbelievable group," Duggan said, "definitely in the category of best-kept secrets."
Earlier that evening, Bonfire fans will recognize members of the Relentless Couchmen from Courtenay, a group born out of other bands, and will groove to mellow jazz from Vancouver's Rabnett 5, recently returned from their biggest gig at the Montreal Jazz Festival.
"One reason we picked these bands is because live performance is where they shine," Duggan explained.
He's also excited at the prospects of The Orion Syndicate performance on Saturday, a funky, organ-heavy, jazz quartet that he believes will raise the bar for other groups. Also on Saturday is vocalist Kuba Oms with Velvet Feat.
"Playing live is my thing," said Oms, whose track This Heaven has recently been chosen to close the film Let it Ride about snowboard icon Craig Kelly.
The fire ceremony and bonfire on Saturday evening will be led by Nova, four women from Comox Valley who juggle fire and hula hoops. Saturday's headliners, Themasses, are on from 11 p.m.
Think funk. Themasses' music is a blend of infectious beats and unique progressions created with live performance in mind.Canadian Beauty, a band from Victoria, headline on Sunday evening. In 2004, these musicians banded together to pay tribute to one of their favourites, The Grateful Dead. Though they've all moved on to bigger things, there are always a few extended jams at their concerts along with some straight-up, song-writer-style renditions of a Deadhead's favourite tunes.
Vancouver's Baked Potato: tight rhythmic funk riffs. Need I say more? OK, here's more: afro-beat, prog-rock, jazz and psychedelia along with a smattering of obscure covers.
The Tuques, a band from Rossland, take bluegrass in a new direction, according to Duggan. They mix rock and roots with great lead vocals from Sue Pepin.
Alright, so we've never heard of some of these bands. Why no-name acts? Duggan has been asked this before and he is clear on the subject. Name bands cost more - this way, they've actually been able to lower ticket prices this year and hope to see the same great turnout they had in 2006 when there were also no-name acts on the line-up.
"I wouldn't book people that I wouldn't pay to see myself," he said.
The festival runs from 11 a.m. every day. Weekend passes for $75 or $90 at the gate include camping and parking. Day tickets don't include camping or parking but are reasonably priced at $25 advance or $30 at the gates for Friday and Sunday, and $35 advance or $40 at the gates for Saturday. Youth passes (11to 15 years with valid ID)are also available. Kids 10 and under are free.
Tickets are at Chemistry Clothing, MELOMania Music, 420 Hemp Shop and Oak Tree Marketor you can buy online at www.bonfirefestival.com.
