The excitement is ramping up for the Labour Day weekend's Live at Squamish music festival featuring high profile acts like Matthew Good, Bad Religion and -announced just this week -Vancouver's You Say Party.
Now a few talented Sea to Sky performers have been chosen to headline a third stage on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4 and 5, thanks to festival organizing partner Squamish Equinox Rock Festival (SERF), which moves from its traditional Nexen Beach locale to the Loggers Sports grounds and Hendrickson fields on Loggers Lane for one time only.
"Choosing a small selection of musicians from a total of 54 applications is not an easy task, especially when trying to choose from a lot of talented bands with a variety of styles and backgrounds," said Paul Hudson Vice President of SERF. "Overall, we are very excited with the line-up we will present on this year's SERF stage."
When SERF started in 2007, the local festival hosted two Sea to Sky bands - The Hairfarmers and Kostaman, states a SERF press release.
Kostaman's popularity has grown since then, leading to his Good Vibrations band opening the main-stage at the inaugural Live at Squamish festival.
Similar to the SERF festival, the SERF stage will feature local Sea to Sky musicians in the afternoon followed by regional and national act from across 小蓝视频 and Canada, including Hollerado from Manotick, Ontario.
"Locating the SERF Stage at Live at Squamish in 2010 provides an excellent opportunity for Sea to Sky musicians to gain exposure to a larger audience than normal," said Hudson.
"Having musical acts from across the Canada play the SERF Stage will help bring about awareness to touring musicians that the Sea to Sky Corridor has an active music scene."
Musicians from the entire Sea to Sky Corridor will be represented including Tommy Honest & The Liars, a gritty, rock and roll, five-piece band describing itself as "A Fist on Wheels," and featuring musicians from Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton.
Recent gigs for Tommy Honest include The 2010 Olympics, The Test of Metal, and The Bass Coast Project.
Juno-award winning icon John Bottomley also hits the stage to perform his blues-infused roots style for Sunday's crowds.
Audiences can then get a taste of homegrown group Fogon.
"When it's time to light the fire, Fogon is never far away," said lead singer Evan Captain. "Prepare to unleash the fire within."
Hailing from Quest University, this collective musical montage serves up flavours from around the world, from salsa and Latin to indie-folk and beyond.
Switching genres completely, SERF is pleased to discover a number of hip hop artists residing in Sea to Sky country as Squamish's YukMC delivers his socially conscious lyrical style Sunday afternoon.
Then there's DJ Riddim Fernandez, who makes no secret about being from "Squampton" -although his roots are actually in the Barbados where he was born.
Riddim tells audiences to "expect fun remixes and music that has a futuristic dub feeling."
Earlier Sunday, Whistler's Trish Jamieson and Squamish's Step Twelve have a style that welcomes crowds to the festival with a laid-back groove.
In addition to Sea to Sky bands, the SERF stage will feature Peak Performance winners We Are The City, Squamish favourites Mindil Beach Markets who originate from the Sunshine Coast, Jon & Roy from Victoria, and many more.
