Wide Skies added to festival calendar
TWO-DAY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL IS LATEST ADDITION TO SUMMER PARTIES
Over nine years of music in the Geomatic Attic, concert organizer Mike Spencer has heard a host of great performers. Many of them will be back in Lethbridge this week to take part in the city’s newest festival, the Wide Skies Music & Arts Festival.
Spencer says the two-day event, Wednesday and Thursday, will combine the fun of a street party — with music, art market, food vendors and beer gardens — with the attraction of an exciting variety of world class musicians.
For the new event, Spencer has also secured a new venue. Wednesday evening’s no-charge performances will be staged on 11 Street S. next to Southminster United Church, with six acts alternating between two stages.
The festival will move into the church Thursday, when two for a double bill featuring award-winning Canadian artist Lindi Ortega and Los Angelesbased roots rocking brothers Dave and Phil Alvin with the Guilty Ones.
“The festival vision is one of accessibility for everyone and encourages visitors to embrace the idea of a small footprint in exchange for a big ‘wow’ factor,” Spencer says.
“We wanted to complement what other downtown events are doing by putting a little different spin on things with our festival. Lethbridge has many wonderful attributes and we hope that Wide Skies Music and Arts Festival can be part of showcasing these not only to local residents but also to the rest of the southern Alberta region.”
Wednesday’s attractions will include a hand-made art market organized by the Allied Arts Council, as well as food trucks for a variety of tastes, and beer gardens run by New West Theatre.
The festival is putting an emphasis on environmental sustainability, Spencer says, with on-site recycling and composting programs to manage waste.
As well, everyone who walks, cycles or takes Lethbridge Transit to the event will receive a raffle ticket. Music fans who buy a festival pass will also receive a transferrable bus pass.
Festival pass purchasers will also enjoy preferred seating on Wednesday, as well as admission to the Thursday concert. There’s no charge for Wednesday’s performances, but those attending may want to bring a folding chair.
The festival will kick off Wednesday at 5 p.m. with a mix of big-name performers including blues rockers Lindsay Beaver and the 24th Street Wailers, prairie-folk heroes The Deep Dark Woods, and Juno Award winner Alex Cuba.
Local and regional performers including Ryland Moranz, Shaela Miller and Mariel Buckley will keep the music rolling on the second stage in between main-stage sets.
Southminster doors open Thursday at 7 for the 8 p.m. show. Tickets and further details are available online at