BANFF – Bust out the comfy lawn chairs and put on some splashy shades: the party to end all summer parties in Banff has arrived.
Harvest Festival, showcasing the Bow Valley’s many talented musicians, artisans and foodies is Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 7-8) from noon to 9 p.m. at the scenic Central Park in Banff.
The forecast is sunny for the free event, which includes a market, beer garden, grub and the grounds are pet friendly.
Though many community-based aspects are featured, perhaps the smooth-sounding singers are the Harvest Fest’s main attraction.
“Events like this keep the local music scene alive,” said Garry Gonis, organizer and frontman of The Ramblin’ Hey, Ho, Ha’s.
“There are a lot of new venues … doing music that keep local musicians playing and going and I think having the festival is just another way of turning local talent to keep it going, it’s something that will keep it going. There’s a venue and event that will keep it going.”
Local musical acts performing Saturday are the Tommy’s Unplugged winner Carly Makerras at 1 p.m., Buffalo Galz at 3 p.m., The Ramblin’ Hey, Ho, Ha’s at 5 p.m. and 40 Watts at 7 p.m.
On Sunday, Bobby Hughes kicks things off at 1 p.m., Mr. Bird is at 2 p.m., Andrew Staygold and Fred MacPhail at 3 p.m., Tyler Woods at 5 p.m., Venus & Mars at 6:30 p.m., and The Super Sonic Rocky Mountain Alpine Choir close the show at 7:15 p.m.
From soloists to duos and trios, the acts range in variety from folk to blues to rock and are set to play a mix of originals and covers at the grassroots show.
Gonis said the essence behind Harvest Fest is giving locals opportunities to try new approaches to their art.
“Basically, the theme of this, and it’s always been a background thing, Harvest Fest is an end of summer celebration for the people of the Bow Valley and Banff having a hard summer working all summer and it's the gathering of the local musicians and those two things,” said Gonis.
“A lot of people say ‘why don’t you get a real [outside] good band for it’, and it’s not about that. It’s about the Bow Valley music scene and keeping it alive.”
On paper the band line-up is quite new from previous years; however, there are many local musicians involved in different bands that are playing, such as Heather Jean Jordan and Irene Poole forming the dynamic duo Buffalo Galz with a set list of family-friendly mountain folk music.
“We’re both Banff gals and I’m really excited because we both have original songs that we're gonna play and then harmonize with each other,” said Poole. “We’ve come up with some really neat sounds together and I’m excited to give it to our first show as a group together.”
Poole, who learned to play the ukulele from Jordan many years ago, said Harvest Fest adds to the fabric and balance of the mountain resort town: “a lovely little mix of tourists and locals.”
“It’s such a great way to kind of cap off summer and welcome in fall,” she said.
