Interstellar Rodeo announces 2018 lineup
Feist, July Talk and Courtney Barnett headline three-day music festival
Homegrown indie roots festival Interstellar Rodeo has announced its lucky No. 7 lineup for 2018, with tickets on sale starting Wednesday.
Its top draws range from the celebrated Indigenous electronic hip-hop of A Tribe Called Red, indie pop singer-songwriter Feist, the beautiful Orbison-inspired country harmonies of the Mavericks, and even the Fairfield Four — a cappella masters featured on the Coen Brothers’ record-breaking O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack.
The festival — put on by Six Shooter Records — runs July 20-22 under the giant white tent at Hawrelak Park, where one can stay dry even if it rains.
Other names on the bill include Edmonton expat heroes July Talk, who have made a notable national mark, and deadpan Australian shredder Courtney Barnett (last year, she released an album with Kurt Vile).
Dashing Alejandro Escovedo, who played Interstellar Rodeo’s very first day, is bringing his postpunk Austin charm back to the big stage, and Regina bluegrass breakouts the Dead South will extend the range of hip traditionalists.
Calgary’s Reuben and the Dark also return to perform in the big bowl where one can enjoy a drink — including the festival’s famous band-to-wine pairings — anywhere on site.
Edmonton performer debuts include Acadian banjo player Lisa Leblanc, Moroccan Manitoban Faouzia and Cuban flute player La Dame Blanche, as well as critical favourite Margaret Glaspy from New York.
This year’s Interstellar All Stars house band is a team-up of Tim Baker from Hey Rosetta!, Juno nominee Rose Cousins and Regina’s Jason Plumb and his band The Willing.
Jay Gilday is the first of the many interlude acts, generally local — and the rest will be announced in the weeks ahead.
Interstellar Rodeo also ran in Winnipeg for three years, but walked away last year after that city ran free concerts in the same venue all summer for Canada 150 celebrations.
Past performers at the original Edmonton version include St. Vincent, Charles Bradley, Richard Buckner and Buffy Sainte-Marie.
Feist headlines Friday, July Talk Saturday and Courtney Barnett Sunday. Full day-by-day breakdowns are online at interstellarrodeo.com.
“Our slogan is, just be awesome,” festival executive producer Shauna de Cartier told a news conference inside the CKUA complex downtown.
“When I book artists, I need to feel really passionate about what they ’re doing. When I see an artist play, I need to feel it.”
She adds: “I believe a song can change the world.”
Transferable adult weekend passes are $259, while youth/ senior weekend passes are $135. Each is $10 cheaper when nontransferable.
Adult single-night tickets are $115 a pop, the youth/senior versions are $75. Capacity is limited to 3,000 per day.
Pre-sale tickets at interstellarrodeo.com are available at 8 a.m. Wednesday to anyone who bought weekend passes to either Interstellar event in 2017. Regular weekend passes are on sale through the website and at Blackbyrd Myoozik (10442 82 Ave.) starting 8 a.m. Thursday.
When I book artists, I need to feel really passionate about what they’re doing. When I see an artist play, I need to feel it