Jazz, funk and rock at Kulth

The “folk fest with an edge” is back in Coombs with an impressive lineup of funk, rock, electronic, indie-folk, jazz and more.

Phil Dwyer and his six piece band is one of the acts to play the Kulth Festival this weekend.

Phil Dwyer and his six piece band is one of the acts to play the Kulth Festival this weekend.

The festival called “folk fest with an edge” is back for a second year in Coombs this weekend, bursting with an impressive lineup of funk, rock, electronic, indie-folk, jazz and more.

This year organizers of the Kulth Festival (pronounced coolth) added an extra day to include a film festival to the mix, happening tonight (Friday, July 20), starting at 5 p.m.

Children’s entertainers will also be on-site again this year with entertainment both Saturday and Sunday, and children under 12 are free.

Beside popular acts like Wil and The Boom Booms, Qualicum Beach’s own multi-juno-award-winning musician Phil Dwyer will also be playing the festival and bringing with him a troupe of talented individuals from Vancouver.

“It’s kind of exciting because usually I don’t get a chance to actually bring my bands here,” he said.

The six-piece band has recently been touring and have played at seven festivals between here and Halifax. Dwyer said they are doing jazzier arrangements of Canadian pop classics from icons like Randy Bachman, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot.

Dwyer said the Kulth Festival is professionally run and   organizers are doing some creative things.

“It’s a great community event with lots of local acts and there are some interesting ideas that are out of the ordinary,” he said.

The Kulth Festival will be held at the Coombs Rodeo Grounds where both tent and RV camping is available on-site.

Gates open at noon Friday, July 20 to campers and entertainment for those campers begins in the evening.

A collection of eight short and feature films will also be shown that evening at 5 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door or online.

The music opens to the public Saturday, July 21, with the first act from singer songwriter Georgia Murray at 11 a.m. Music ends with the Boom Booms from 9:45 to 11 p.m.

Sunday, July 22 Kumbana Marimba kicks it off at 11 a.m. and Wil will finish off the day from 3 to 4 p.m. A weekend pass is $75 and single days are also available. Camping is $10 per person per night and includes the Kulth Screening (film festival.) Day parking is also $10.

Check out the website for a complete list of performers, including DJs and children entertainers, and more information at www.thekulth.ca.

Parksville Qualicum Beach News