WinterBites will blast the the post-holiday blues with stellar sounds guaranteed to put a sunny smile on audience faces.
Beginning Jan. 16, the new Comox Valley festival is presenting nine special concerts at a variety of venues over 16 days.
“Due to the short lead time, the music component came together quickly,” says Doug Cox, executive producer for Vancouver Island MusicFest.
Despite the pressing deadline, Cox was able to create an eclectic lineup that includes African, country, blues and much more.
Everyone knows Cox has great contacts in the music industry through MusicFest but the real secret of his WinterBites success goes deeper than that.
“It was a bit of a panic as I only had about three weeks to book the musicians,” he admits. “So I called friends and people I’ve performed with in the past and was lucky enough to find some who weren’t booked during the WinterBites timeframe.”
“Another challenge was that, unlike MusicFest where people buy one ticket to see many performers, each WinterBites concert has to be popular enough to generate sales on its own and actually draw people to the Comox Valley,” he adds.
According to the Discover Comox Valley website, tickets are selling fast. In fact, at least one concert is sold out except for special WinterBites Concert, Stay and Ski packages.
The concert series kicks off with Canadian rock icons Chilliwack Rockin’ The Filberg on Jan. 16. The following night, three-time Juno Award winner Alpha Ya Ya Diallo banishes all thoughts of a Canadian winter with West African Dance Night at the Best Western Plus Westerly Hotel and Convention Centre.
Also at the Westerly on Jan. 18 is Pianorama — a battle royal of blues piano featuring Kenny (Blues Boss) Wayne and David Vest.
The music gets even hotter the following week with An Intimate Evening with Barney Bentall at Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community on Jan. 22 and a double bill Country, Blues ‘N Soul Night at the Westerly on Jan. 23 featuring Juno Award winner Jim Byrnes and the Sojourners.
Be ready to Rock at the Filberg again Jan. 24 to the sounds of multi-platinum-selling Canadian pop-rock trio the Grapes of Wrath and Canadian power pop legends The Odds.
Billed as “one of the most celebrated Canadian roots musicians of all time,” Cape Breton fiddle master Ashely MacIsaac takes the stage at the Native Sons Hall on Jan. 25. Tickets for this concert are sold out except for WinterBites packages.
The last week of the festival showcases an Acoustic Blues Double Header at Crown Isle on Jan. 29 with Blind Boy Paxton and Suzie Vinnick, six-time winner of the Canadian Maple Blues awards.
Closing the concert series on Jan. 31 is Cousin Harley’s Rockabilly Boogie. If that doesn’t dispel the winter doldrums, nothing will.
“I’m really pleased with the diversity of the special concert lineup,” says Cox. “My only criticism is that I wasn’t able to book more female performers and that most acts are B.C.-based. But that will be different with the longer lead time next year.”
Tickets for WinterBites concerts are available at the Vancouver Island Visitor Info Centre (101-3607 Small Rd. in Cumberland or 1-855-400-2882) and online at www.discovercomoxvalley.com/winterbites/concert-tickets. Check out the website for video clips of concert performers and information about other WinterBites events.
Paula Wild is a published author and regular contributor to the Comox Valley Record’s arts and entertainment section. www.paulawild.ca.
