Strike up the bands across Island

Enjoy a variety of music this weekend at two festivals and one concert series in Sooke, Coombs and Sidney. • Sooke celebrates the August long weekend with the Sooke Music and Art Festival, Saturday and Sunday at John Phillips Memorial Park.

This is the third year of the music festival, which boasts some of the finest musical talent on Vancouver Island and some of Canada’s best visual artists.

Performers include Adam Bay, Pretty Folk, Bob Menzies and Murder of Crows.

Admission is free. The festival runs from 10:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at John Phillips Memorial Park, 2197 Otter Point Rd. • Listen to bluegrass talent at the Coombs Bluegrass Festival, Friday to Sunday at the Coombs Rodeo grounds.

This is the 41st year of the event, making it B.C.’s longestrunning bluegrass festival.

The lineup includes Queens Bluegrass and the Weavils from Washington, Rough Cut, Backspin Band, 5 on a String, LesterCobb-Hernandez and Swain, Scout Mountain, Coombs Fiddlers Br 11, Sacred Harmony Band and others. You can join in with an open mic, jam sessions and workshops in the hall.

Tickets are $95 for a full weekend pass, $40 for Friday, $50 for Saturday or $40 for Sunday and are available at the gate (cash only). Children 12 and under are admitted free.

The festival starts at 5 p.m. on Friday and ends at 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Coombs Rodeo grounds, 2601 Alberni Hwy. in Parksville. Camping is available at $15 per night per unit.

For information, go to sites.google.com/site/coombs bluegrassfestival. • The Summer Sounds Concert Series continues at the bandshell stage in Beacon Park, Sidney, on Sunday, with the Cousin Harley Trio playing from 2 to 4 p.m.

Backbeat will play on Aug. 11, then there are David James and Big River on Aug. 18, and jazz singer Edie Daponte on Aug. 25.

The concerts are free. The bandshell is at 2546 Beacon Ave. For more information, go to peninsulacelebrations.ca.