15 Minutes of Fame celebrates 13th festival

By Laureen F. Guenther Times Contributor

15 Minutes of Fame outdoor music festival returns to Rosebud for its 13th summer on Aug. 26.
The festival kicks off with O Canada at noon and ends around 9 p.m. Solo and group musicians perform for about 15 minutes each, all on the outdoor stage next to the Opera House.
“We have some great new acts joining us this year at the festival,” said Lauren Hamm, festival director.
“Locals like the Friesen Siblings and Naomi Esau will be playing the stage for the first time, and acts like Rotary Park, Kendall Rodney Bilan, and Jeffery Straker are all coming to town to experience 15 Minutes of Fame for the first time.”
Accidents and Fairytales, a new Rosebud-based group, will also perform, and Stephanie Lanting, a Rosebud School of the Arts graduating student, will perform a dramatic arts piece.
“I have been attending the festival for six years now,” Esau said. “Every year I have been inspired by both friends of mine who have performed and new artists who I had never experienced before.
“This year I will be performing a short set of covers. I love to take other artists’ music and give it a bit more of a jazzy, folksy twist with my voice and my ukulele.”
Bill’s Big Band and Christina Colyn and her band are among the many returning performers.
Bill’s Big Band was created just for 15 Minutes of Fame, and started performing at the festival in 2010, said Bill Hamm. This year, the band includes piano, bass, tuba, drums, trumpet, trombone, saxophone and several vocalists.
“It’s a robust, exciting sound,” Hamm said. “The repertoire we’ve chosen is immediately accessible. Catchy.”
They plan to perform I’ve Got the Music in Me, Operator, A Night Like This, Summertime, Sister Act’s Joyful Joyful, and the Andrew Sisters’ Sing Sing Sing.
“This is a really fun festival,” said Hamm. “The space is intimate and full of celebration. Fully invigorating and relaxing.”
Festival tickets may be purchased at the door, or in advance at rosebudtheatre.com, or 1-800-267-7553. Most aspects of the event are cash-only.