Taking It To The Streets returns with a drive-in concert on July 25
After a successful debut event in 2019, the second annual Taking It To The Street concert will provide some musical entertainment in a different format in 2020.
The Bumper to Bumper and Friends hosted event will feature a drive-in concert featuring Justin Labrash on July 25 at 8 p.m. in the Kinetic Park parking lot.
Event organizer Leanne Tuntland-wiebe admitted she had big concert plans for their second annual event in August, but COVID forced the cancellation of that event and caused her to downsize their plans to ensure they could still bring some concert fun to Swift Current.
“The whole point is it’s giving the whole Swift Current community something to do on a summer night,” Tuntland-wiebe said during a recent interview. “Who doesn’t like going to a drive-in? We all remember going to the drive-in. Who doesn’t like summer concerts? And who doesn’t like being out on a beautiful evening in Southwest Saskatchewan?”
Labrash is currently making an impromptu tour across Saskatchewan playing at a variety of outdoor events. The country and western artist from Lumsden will be performing a mix of his own music and cover songs. He released his debut single Play in September 2015 and boasts two albums with 14 songs, and he has produced six music videos. His latest song is See You In The Stars and his most recent album Home Sessions Vol. 1 is available on various digital platforms. During his performing career Labrash has taken his high energy performance from coastto-coast across Canada. He performed at the Diamonds In The Rough showcase at the 2017 Canadian Country Music Awards, and he earned the 2018 Saskatchewan Country Music Association’s Emerging Artist of the Year honours.
Tuntland-wiebe noted that Labrash was among the acts booked to perform in August, and after he performed a drive-in concert in the town of Lampman back in June, it became obvious that entertainment could return safely in Saskatchewan.
“We’re following the COVID rules. It’s a drive-in concert just like the old drive-in movies where he has an FM transmitter and you can tune into the concert on your car stereo.”
She noted that Labrash will also will be bringing a sound system to amplify his music for people closer to the stage. This will also people in vehicles closer to the stage to sit outside in lawn chairs and listen to the concert.
“It’s a new experience for everybody but I think it’s going to be fun and it’s going to give people something to do.”
The free, familyfriendly event, will be hosted at the Kinetic Park grounds, and the the stage will be placed in front of the Grandstand, with vehicles lined-up on the pavement and onto the grassed area behind the parking lot.
The front rows of seating will be open for sponsors in a dedicated lawn chair area.
The concert parking will be done on a first come, first parked basis.
“We’re going to park the cars so that people in that vehicle have to stay with the vehicle they came with, and within arms reach of it. So we’re going to ask everybody, if they want to bring lawn chairs, they can all sit on the driver’s side of the vehicle. So every vehicle will have six or seven or eight feet in between the people sitting outside, and then the width of the neighbouring vehicle, and then the other people sitting outside.”
She stressed that while people can dance, stand, or sit outside, they can’t cross visit and must stay with the vehicle they came in.
“That’s probably one of the most important regulations is you can’t go visit your friends. If you came in that vehicle you have to stay in that vehicle. And if they don’t they’ll be asked to leave because we don’t want to be responsible for people coming around and being in contact with people that they shouldn’t be and something happening.”
She added that trucks will be parked horizontal with the stage so they can set up their lawn chairs in the back of their trucks. And obviously because they sit higher, cars will be parked in front of them.
As provincial rules may change as the performance date draws nearer, they will make any adjustments accordingly.
The City of Swift Current requires that washroom facilities be open during the event, so washroom facilities will have supplies of hand sanitizer, hand gel, and sanitizing wipes in order to follow city protocol.
Tuntland-wiebe said people should feel safe coming to the free concert, and admits it will be a nice opportunity to enjoy live music again and boost people’s spirits.
“It’s free. Come on in. Feel like you’re back in the 60s and 70s at a drive-in, and enjoy some really good music.