Two new festivals coinciding with the summer solstice and fall harvest have been announced for Revelstoke, starting this September.
The Axis Mundi Harvest will take place this Sept. 18-20, with the Axis Mundi Solstice set to take place June 17-19, 2016.
The festivals are being organized by Hugo Rampen, the former organizer of the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues festival, in conjunction with the City of Revelstoke, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce, Revelstoke Arts Council and Revelstoke Accommodation Association.
Rampen has said the festivals would be “multi-genre.”
“The intent is to create the type of festival that doesn’t really exist in this area at the moment,” he told the Times Review.
Each lifestyle festival will feature events related to music, arts, adventure sports and the environment, “all programmed with a strong sense of community interaction and ecological sustainability,” according to a news release announcing the two festivals.
Axis Mundi is named for a mythical place where heaven meets the earth, and the four compass points meet. The festivals are supposed to represent a connection between culture, adventure, community and environment.
The festivals will include outdoor physical challenges, adventure sports workshops, films and lectures, community initiatives and a music, film and art festival.
The plan is to host events at existing venues around town, rather than create a venue for the festival, Rampen said. Possible venues include the Last Drop, Chubby Funsters, the Village Idiot, Regent, Traverse, United Church, Pythian Hall and the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre.
Both festivals will include a “downtown fringe festival,” with local, national and international artists, music workshops and jams, and family events. The Farm & Craft Market will be part of the events, as well as a local food fair.
There are also plans for an adventure market, where local adventure service providers can showcase their work, and a community gear swap.
Scottish adventurer Jamie Andrew, who has conquered numerous ascents despite having no hands or feet, will be one of the guest speakers. Three other speakers are still to be announced.
Plans for an adventure race taking place over the weekend are in development, said Rampen.
This year’s Axis Mundi Harvest festival will include a concert in Grizzly Plaza on Friday, followed by big shows at Revelstoke Mountain Resort on Saturday and Sunday.
Acts book so far include Canadian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac, electro-funk duo the Floozies, world music artist Adham Shaikh, roots-rock reggae musician Buckman Coe, avant-pop musicians Grounders and Australia’s Sticky Fingers.
“We’re going to be having about 20 artists in total, so you’re only seeing the beginning,” Rampen said.
Rampen said the concerts will start with the more family-friendly acts, while The Floozies and Adam Shaikh will start late and keep the party going well into the night on Saturday and Sunday.
The downtown events will take place during the day, before everything shifts to RMR for the night-time concert.
Wrist-bands that will get you full access to the Harvest festival are now on sale, with early-bird pricing in effect until June 5. Three-day tickets cost $90 for adults, $70 for seniors and $65 for youth and students under 25. Children under 12 get in free.
For more information, visit axismundi.ca.
