Despite an overnight windstorm, the annual Hackett Park Artisan Fair — a project of the Sunshine Coast Arts Council — attracted thousands of visitors (3,500 on Saturday alone) and raised $10,000 in donations for free arts programs on the Coast.
This year, the arts council collaborated with organizers from Rogue Fest to coordinate the two-day music program, which included yoga instruction by Lesley Japa Morgan on both mornings.
Nearly 65 vendors participated in the event, serenaded by 11 unique musical acts.
Music and murals this weekend
The weekly Sechelt Summer Music Series continues this weekend on the Hackett Park amphitheatre stage, with The Empty Streets performing on Saturday, Aug. 24 at noon. Absorbing and charming, sometimes stark, and also likely to trigger audience participation, The Empty Streets’ music mines the rich veins of Western Canadian indie roots. The cross-Canada ensemble is comprised of singer Baili Clarkwe (from Newfoundland), drummer Cayce Laviolette (Ottawa), guitarist Dan Richter (Vancouver), bassist Jenny Groves (Simcoe County) and songwriter Simon Hocking (Calgary).
In Gibsons, three musical acts will appear as part of the Music in the Landing series. On Friday, Aug. 23, singer-songwriter Jess Hart performs at the gazebo on the dock. On Saturday, Aug. 24, Brazilian world music percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Celso Machado appears in Winegarden Park at 3:30 p.m. Machado is followed by the Brothers in Arms band at 6:30 p.m. Self-described as the “happiest band on the Sunshine Coast,” the group plays West Coast pop music mashed up with world sounds.
At Slow Sunday in the Creek (behind the Roberts Creek library), the music starts at 11:45 a.m. with a performance by the Beachcombers Ukulele Group Singers (BUGS).
The lineup continues with Mel and the Other Guys, a quintet of seniors who grew up in the ‘60s and seem to have gotten stuck there. They play a wide mix of tunes from folk-rock to country. The group includes Barry Kaufman (guitar/vocals/ukulele), Tim Adams (guitar/vocals), Lyle Seaton (lead guitar), Patrick Tritchler (Bass/Cajon) and Mel Eastley (vocals/percussion). Next are The Jazz Budz with Heidi Kurz and Friends playing an eclectic mix of jazz improvisations and classics.
They are followed by Celina Kurz, then Caravan Paradiso — a fusion of funky jazz riffs and world music beats — featuring Graham Ord (soprano saxophone and flute), Heather Anderson (trombone and trumpet), James Law (fiddle and drums), and Anna Lumiere (keyboard and vocals).
The Roberts Creek concert will be followed by a special unveiling of the 5.5-metre Great Library Wall Mural at 3:30 p.m. The unveiling includes an honouring ceremony led by Hollyann Higgins. The mural was created in loving memory of xwu’p’a’lich, shíshálh Nation knowledge keeper Barb Higgins. Attendees are encouraged to bring a snack to share as part of a potluck meal.
Thought-provoking pairings
The third-annual Art & Words Festival will take place this weekend, from Aug. 22 to 25 at the Gibsons Public Market.
Last year, 4,000 people attended the presentation of original art paired with writing created by local writers.
The four-day event also includes the awards ceremony of the Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society book awards for BC authors. See the schedule at www.scwes.ca.
