15 Minutes of Fame music festival celebrates 10th year

Laureen F. Guenther
Times Contributor

 

15 Minutes of Fame music festival celebrates its tenth anniversary with another noon-to-dusk event in Rosebud, Aug. 30, bringing in new and familiar performers.
John Wort Hannam is one of the returning musicians.
“He was very loved last year, so we wanted to bring him back,” said Carmen Paterson, festival organizer.
The Dearhearts, regional champions in this year’s CBC Searchlight Competition, are also returning.
Rob Lagace and Mitch Belot, new last year, are also performing, as are Rosebud alumni Erin Burke with her band The Loose Kannons; Jessica Benini, a one-woman band who recently performed on Broadway; and Jason Bertsch with his acoustic blues trio. Singer-songwriter Natalie Inga Gauthier and Me and the Mrs. will also be back.
Randall Wiebe will again paint his impromptu 15-minute portrait of an audience volunteer.
“That’s always a favorite of everybody,” Paterson said.
Soul and pop performer KevLa, from Edmonton, and songwriter-guitarist Caitlyn O’Connor, a second-year Rosebud student, are performing for the first time. Christina Colyn of Calgary, with her roots-blues-rock band, is also new.
This year’s festival is also introducing a music workshop by John Wort Hannam.
“This is really normal in other festivals, where a whole bunch of musicians will get on the stage and kind of just jam with each other for a bit,” Paterson said. “It’s like you get to see the inside of a little rehearsal, but it’s a little more polished.”
Before the festival, Hannam will work with the musicians over the weekend; then, with Paul Zacharias of the Southern Alberta Songwriting Society, they’ll perform a concert in Thorny Rose Café on Saturday night.
As before, the festival will feature Artists Alley and Vendors Lane, where festival-goers can peruse booths displaying Fireside Tea, developed by Rosebud alumna Karl Sine; Rosebud Honey; and the photography of Kjel Erickson. Alberta-made VK Aroma Therapy Oil and Pain Spray will be available, and so will Lam Jam, made by Richard Lam of Calgary.
Wild Horse Jack’s Restaurant and the Thorny Rose Café will be open for lunch, supper and snacks. In honor of the festival’s tenth anniversary, Paterson said, the crowd will sing “Happy birthday to 15,” and everyone will enjoy a slice of birthday cake.
Get tickets for $18 ($45 for families) in advance at rosebudcentreofthearts.com, or for $20 ($50 for families) at the door. Paterson reminds us it’s a cash event.
Doors open at 11 a.m.
“We’re going to have Garf (Garfield Sproule) kick it off with O Canada with his electric guitar, and then the Badland Boars will bring us into party mode,” Paterson said. “I always hope people get there at noon, because the show has such a great starting that I’m always sad when people miss it.”