Music festival returns

Times Reporter 

 

The Southern Alberta Music Festival is back for its second year at Aspen Crossing this weekend, Aug. 22-23. 

The two-day event features 19 southern Alberta artists playing a variety of sounds from country, to blues, to folk and even rock. 

The event was first started last year as a way to help raise funds for High River after the devastating floods. 

“It is just such a great community event, it’s more than just an Aspen Crossing event, last year we raised money for the High River disaster relief fund and that was the major (charity) and then the (Mossleigh) Lions Club did the bar and beer gardens and so they were also able to make some pretty good money last year,” said Jason Thornhill, owner and founder of Aspen Crossing.

“This year we wanted to have the major one be STARS Air Ambulance and of course the Lions Club is doing the bar and beer gardens again and (Arrowwood) 4-H kids are also telling people where to park and collecting $5 per car. 4-H gets to keep all the proceeds from parking.

“It’s also a great opportunity for all these local artists as well to get their name out there and get a chance to be heard. I was surprised last year just how talented (they are) … I was just amazed.”

Artists include Tanya Ryan, Chet DeFreeze, Freeline, the Free Beer Band, Drew Gregory, Sykamore and Tim and the Toad.  

So far 300 tickets have been sold, but Thornhill and other organizers would love to see 1,000 tickets sell, which would bring in approximately $15,000 for the various charities involved.  

Musician Larry Vannatta had approached Thornhill about the possibility of working together to bring the festival to life, and so far the partnership has proven to be a success, and even includes a partnership with the Calgary Stampede, who have loaned their travelling stage for the event the past two years. 

A third festival is definitely already being planned for 2015, and then the organizers will look at the success of the event and determine if it will keep going.  

The Aspen Crossing campground is booked for the weekend, but there is space in the pasture behind the music festival for people to camp out. Tickets will be available right up to the start of the festival, and are selling at $60 for regular seating for the full weekend or $85 for reserved seating. Regular seating means bring a lawn chair or blanket, and reserved gets you a spot in the first five rows in front of the stage. 

To see the full list of performers, or to buy tickets for the Southern Alberta Music Festival go to http://www.aspencrossing.com/#!music-festival/c1zfa or call 1-866-440-3500. The show starts at 7 p.m. on Aug. 22, and at 11 a.m. on Aug. 23.