The Harvest Festival will have a new location on Banff's Central Park, coinciding with the farmers market on Sept. 13, but local talent taking the stage will as always offer a chance to witness the great number of acts the valley is able to produce.
The Harvest Festival will have a new location on Banff's Central Park, coinciding with the farmers market on Sept. 13, but local talent taking the stage will as always offer a chance to witness the great number of acts the valley is able to produce.
This year's band lineup will include Samm Bailey, Kasey, Crystal Walls, Rafi, Satalight, Rusty Water, Heather Jean Jordan, Elk, Run & Riot, The Ramblin' Hey Ho Ha's and Kill Your Radio during this year's free all-day concert event.
“We've all played with one another, and this is the fourth year we've now held it in Banff,” said organizer and local musician Gary Gonis.
“The Town of Banff offered me a chance to do this, and all of the food vendors who are there at the market will be there offering lots of selection during the day,” Gonis said. “They've been trying a few things in the town and this came up because every time you put on an event and there's vendors, there are always these questions of a tie-in. I've volunteered over the last three years to produce music for the farmers market.”
Since the Bow Valley is not known for its farm country, Gonis agrees the festival is still a good symbol of the food available at the market, the harvest season and the local talent we have in the area. “This is an excellent opportunity too, because everyone I know is so open and sharing, everyone borrows each other's equipment and gets everyone to take part,” Gonis said.
“We've upped the ante this year by making it an even bigger communal combination of musicians and vendors for the families to come down with their kids and have fun.”
If you are a musician in the valley, chances are you've crossed paths at some point or venue with the SHINE Award recipient. Gonis started holding open mics 13 years ago, and now the Bow Valley has nine venues where local acts can perform.
“It's excellent and just goes to show there is a need for the music and this event is free and you can just walk to it and a number of these bands have played at The Banff Centre. Some have opened for Blue Rodeo; the talent's there obviously - it's just connections. Production is what gets bands going, but the obvious talent is there.”
What Gonis is most happy with is the musician's excitement in taking part in the event, and wanting to put on free entertainment for their community.
“I feel bad because there are so many that want to play it, and next year we are planning on having two days,” Gonis said. “Every year you tweak it because you don't know what's going to happen, and this is the fourth year and we've tweaked a number of things and I always say, ‘No, we're only going to have eight bands, but this year we've have 13 bands - even more than last year.”
