There’s no better way to end summer than on a high note and this year’s Summerfest is doing exactly that.
The big attraction with Summerfest each year is the wide variety and high profile of the stage performers and this year has no shortage. With two stages and over 30 performers and bands, people will get their fill of live music during the four-day run at Bell Park.
However, these days will have their fill of non-musical entertainment for the family and people of all ages with attractions such as the midway and a waterski show on Lake Ramsey.
“Really, we’re a family event festival,” said Summerfest organizer and spokesperson Chris Nerpin. “We’re a festival that has something for everybody.
Whether you’re two or 92, you can come to Summerfest, enjoy the music, see an entertainer and buy something from a vender.”
This year the four main stage performances at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre at Bell Park are Carly Rae Jepsen on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m., Dean Brody on Aug. 23 at 8 p.m., The Sheepdogs on Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. and Great Big Sea on Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.
Nerpin said the amount of growth and increase in popularity over the past few years has allowed Summerfest to bring in higher-calibre acts.
“We’re looking for what’s new, what’s popular and what the people of Sudbury want.”
Ride operator Chelsea Hill adds a flag to the top of the Tornado, one of a number of rides at the World's Finest Shows midway that is part of Summerfest. Photo by Arron Pickard.
Opening for several of the main stage performances are local bands like My Cousin Karma (which Townehouse Tavern manager Paul Loewenberg has called one of the city's hottest upcoming acts) and Sea Perry. Shawn Fisher, a member of both groups, said it is a great opportunity for them to grow their audience.
My Cousin Karma has been around only about a year and a half, but garnered a following after a mere six months thanks to the music video for their song “Benson,” which was shot by HB Entertainment, attracted more than 1,800 views on YouTube in fewer than three days. They are set to open for Carly Rae Jepsen on Aug. 22.
Sea Perry is a new group, founded this year by members of Nickel City rockers Weatherly and My Cousin Karma. They will be opening for Great Big Sea on Aug. 22.
For Fisher, being part of two different bands shows how rising artists need to work together and pool resources.
“It’s hard being an independent band,” he said. “There’s a lot of competition between indie bands and I think they should be banded together. If we all support each other we will get a lot farther.”
The idea of using local talent is carried over to the Eastlink B–side stage. Out of its 24 groups, only six are not local. The artistic director for B-side stage, Richard Migneault, said Summerfest organizers strive to support local acts and provide a spotlight for young up-and-coming artists.
“We’ve always been committed to showcasing the youth in our community,” he said. “They’re going to be our future entertainers. We want to make them feel part of the community and part of the festival.”
The B-side stage has free admission and will feature a variety of styles geared to both the young and the old. Migneault said they tried to have a different style each night to cater to all audience tastes.
The fun of live music aside, Nerpin wanted the community to know how important volunteers have been to the success of the four-day festival.
“It’s really a community of volunteers working to put on a family event for families,” he said, adding the 2013 Summerfest counts some 200 volunteers, even attracting workers from out-of-town areas like North Bay and Toronto.
He said for coming years they plan on “keeping it at least at this level” and to simply take it from there.
Bring on the midway!
The Midway is returning this year and will be located on the west side of Paris Street, in the southern parking lot in the same place as last year. New to the midway/carnival this year are the Space Port funhouse, Disney Princesses jumping castle, Spiderman bounce, the Turtle Train and the new and improved Tilt-a-Whirl.
Looking for feats of aquatic wizardry — jumps and twirls? How about a watery ballet and human pyramid? The Summer Water Sports will be putting on several waterski shows on Lake Ramsey on Aug. 24 and 25. Saturday shows are at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. while Sunday shows are at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
B-side stage schedule
Aug. 23
Greyson Gritt
7 PM - 7:50 PM
Anti-Queens
8:10 PM - 9:00 PM
Sarah Smith
9:20 PM - 10:20 PM
Dustin Jones
10:40 PM-12 AM
Aug. 24
Groupe 17
1 PM - 1:40 PM
Cymbal Minded
2 PM - 2:40 PM
Ice breaker
3 PM - 4 PM
Mike Charrette and Jamie Dupuis
4 PM - 4:40 PM
My Band
5 PM - 5:40 PM
Anxiety
6 PM - 6:40 PM
Zamboni Slim
7 PM - 7:50 PM
Tightrope
8:10 PM - 9:00 PM
The Snyders
9:20 PM - 10:20 PM
Doghouse Rose
10:40 PM - 12 AM
Aug. 25
Justine Giles
1 PM - 1:40 PM
Gros Dommage
2 PM - 2:40 PM
Canucky Bluegrass Boys
3 PM - 3:40 PM
Jazz Paradis
4 PM - 4:40 PM
Spencer Jose
5 PM - 5:40 PM
Hylan Drive
6 PM - 6:40 PM
R.I.B.S.
7 PM - 7:45 PM
The Willow Wren
8:05 PM -8:50 PM
The Sleets
9:10 PM - 9:50 PM
Hugh Jazz
10:10 PM - 11 PM
Ryen Veldhuis is a freelance writer in Greater Sudbury.
