On Saturday, July 18 from noon to 1 a.m. at the Vallican Whole Community Centre, ALT Fest will debut. This one-day mini-festival is a vibrant celebration of alternative culture, jam-packed with music, spoken word, workshops and visual art. No matter what your idea is of a good time, there’s a good chance you will find it here.
If it’s musical variety you’re after, look no further. Here you will find punk and metal to folk and ragtime, to loop pedal beats, soul, and more. The evening’s headliners are the oh-so-danceable High Society. They are only one of an array of local and imported musicians, including Rhoneil, Storm of Sedition, Kale and Molly, and the Tin Town Shinners, with Koko Hotbus winding up the evening. As well, an open acoustic stage invites performers to share their talents throughout the day.
Workshops are a big part of ALT Fest, including Gender Identity, Sorcery, Ethical Wildcrafting, Street Art, and Songwriting. One unique offering will be “Crones and Elders: Still Creative After All These Years,” eight mentors offering tips on rural survival as artists, writers, political activists, and performers. As a taste of what will happen here, Rabi’a will share her stories about being an artist, Tom Wayman about being a well-known poet (now that’s an accomplishment!) and Gitta Ridder will talk about taking Wen Li Do around the world, and working to create women’s land at home. These mentors will also be available on site for one-on-one conversations.
This event takes place on unceded Sinixt territory. Taress Alexis from the Sinixt nation will welcome everyone at an opening ceremony, and will hold a workshop/conversation later in the day. Taress represents the up-and-coming generation amongst the Sinixt people, and is developing a significant reputation as an educator in her own right.
Interspersed throughout the day between music sets, local spoken word artists Zagnab, Samuel Stevenson, Blair Leaman, Peter McPhee, Andi Grace and more will share their verbal creativity, as well as a special creation by thespian Marya Bee.
The building and grounds will be graced with local art, curated by Bubzee. Both established and emerging artists will be on display, providing just some examples of what the community here has to offer. ALT Fest has a commitment to offering exposure to as many emerging artists as possible.
And of course there will be food, ice cream, coffee, and spontaneous outbreaks of creativity.
To find out more, go to facebook.com/altfest2016.
