The East Coulee SpringFest is kicking things up a notch this year on Saturday, May 12. With 36 bands, playing in three venues, the festival is once again transforming the valley into a musical mecca.
There is something for everyone at the festival with acts come from far and wide for perform. Local artists such as the Fire Coulee Bandits and Joe Vickers will be performing along with visitors such as Vancouver’s Emily Spinner, SandyBones & The Breakdown, Calgary’s Joe Nolan and the Kirby Sewell Band, and Ruth Purves & The 581 from Three Hills, just to name a few.
This year will also feature the youngest performer at the SpringFest in 7 year old Robert Mulcrone.
A complete list can be found on the SpringFest website, www.ecsmuseum.ca/spring_fest_1.
Several of the bands playing are finalists in the Calgary Folk Festival songwriting competition. The Fire Coulee Bandits, Joe Vickers, and Joe Nolan will be playing on May 5, starting at noon, at the Ship and Anchor in Calgary.
“The organizing committee has been busy and is extremely excited to host the festival gain this year,” said Brent Noland, president of the East Coulee School Museum and SpringFest. “We continue to build on the festivals success and are constantly looking for ways to improve the festival for the participants. Responding to visitor feedback is a big part of that.”
There have been several major changes this year.
The first is that the festival has moved from April to May, to take advantage of the warmer weather.
The Valley Bus Society is lending a helping hand to the festival this year. Throughout the day, buses will transport festival goers between Drumheller and East Coulee for a small fee.
The East Coulee Motel and Tavern will once again serve as a venue for the festival after many years of being absent. The addition will bring the number of venues to three and stages to four.
There will be blast of party featuring CKUA radio broadcasting live from the East Coulee Motel, starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 11. The Sadlier-Brown Band will open the night for the Kirby Sewell Band.
On May 12, the day of the SpringFest, the music won’t stop at midnight. Following the festival there will be a Midnight Monster Jam.
To make the event a success, the SpringFest will be calling on about 70 volunteers. Volunteers are asked to work a six hour shift and, in exchange, receive free admission for the day. Applications are available online at www.ecsmuseum.ca or by call 403-823-2104.
Tickets are available at Riverside Value Drug Mart, Drumheller Shoppers Drug Mart, East Coulee Motel and Tavern, or online at www.ecsmusuem.ca.
The Sadlier-Brown Band pictured here during the 2011 SpringFest will be kicking off the music marathon during a performance at the East Coulee Motel and Tavern of Friday, May 11.
photo by Lisa Clarke
