BRENDA GOUGH
NEWS Contributor
You are sure to get your honky-tonk fix when the Coombs Country Music Jamboree presents three days of country music August 22, 23 and 24.
There will be several singing cowboys and cowgirls at the weekend festival, but Angie Harriott says you don’t have to be a hillbilly to enjoy the music being presented.
A country music musician herself, Harriott is helping organize the event and said there will be a great mix of musicians who call Vancouver Island home.
“We are trying to promote country music and Vancouver Island musicians. There are quite a few country music bands on the Island and we want people to discover the local talent,” she explained.
The event was well received when it was held for the first time last year at the Coombs Rodeo grounds and Harriott is hoping this year they will get event more country music fans out to the venue.
She said the jamboree doesn’t even compare to the recent Sunfest Country Musical Festival that brought out 40,000 music lovers and had Tim McGraw as a headliner, but assured it will definitely have a Nashville vibe … just on a smaller scale.
“We aren’t as big as Duncan’s Sunfest … but why bring someone from Nashville when we have talent right here? Ours is a smaller event and we have some awesome talent on the island.”
Not only is there a great line up of performers, there is also a beer garden overlooking the stage and camping for those who don’t want to miss a thing.
The headliner this year will be Trio Grande who will take to the stage on Friday night at 9 p.m. The Nanaimo based group does classic country covers including Merle Haggard, George Strait and Johnny Cash.
Harriott said their lead singer and bassist Henri Crevier has been performing country music for more than 35 years and was nominated twice of Male Vocalist of the Year and once as Bass Player of the year by the BC Country Music Association.
“He is very good. He used to be on the Tommy Hunter Show. The band does classic covers. Their music will appeal to the retired people who live here and have cut their teeth on country music.”
Some of the other bands performing Friday include the Moonshine Mollys, Lonesome 77, Yesterdays Wine and the Big Twang Theory out of Parksville.
On Saturday morning there is an open stage from 10 to 11 a.m. and country music performers are encouraged to participate.
Harriott said it will be a stomping good time on Saturday night with a dance featuring the group Big Daddy.
The Sunday entertainment starts at 10 a.m. with Country Gospel featuring Gord and Myrna. An open stage event goes at 10:45 and then there are performances by Denny Eddy, Pony Club and Terry Brennan to round out the afternoon.
The jamboree is taking place August 22, 23 and 24 at the Coombs Rodeo Grounds located at 2601 Alberni Highway.
For a complete schedule of events and ticket prices email: info@coombscountrymusicjamboree.com or phone 250-738-1661.
