By Alex Cooper/Black Press
When word came through the pipeline that J. Louise was leaving on the Arrow Lakes News on short notice, there was a lot of juggling to do – not only would a new reporter need to be found but there was no one to cover the Nakusp Music Festival. I was given the assignment to drive down from Revelstoke where I work as a reporter at the Revelstoke Times Review. I’d never been to Nakusp and there’s much worse ways to earn a living.
I arrived Saturday afternoon while the Pack A.D. were on stage. I showed up at the ticket desk to collect my press pass and was greeted, unbeknownst to me, by Mayor Karen Hamling. We’d be hearing rumours that tickets weren’t selling quite as well this year but she told me that they had sold lots Friday night and more during the day Saturday.
I got in just in time for the end of The Pack A.D.’s set. A barebones, female duo, they were tearing up the stage with their blistering, stripped down rock and roll. I wish I would have caught the earlier ferry so I could have seen their whole set.
I took advantage of the break between bands to tour the vendor village, eye the merchandise, and salivate over the food on offer.
Next up were The Perms, a trio from Winnipeg. I ran into an old co-worker and we caught up in the beer garden while they tore it up on stage.
The next band was Gary Hoey, who was backed by a driving rhythm section. He delivered up some killer guitar playing to the inspired crowd.
At this point I decided to explore Nakusp a bit. I walked through downtown and then headed over to the beach to enjoy the view. The sounds of the music fest wafted over as I took a pause from the action and took a dip in the cold (but warmer than Revelstoke) water.
I got back to the festival grounds to catch Skavenjah, who came recommended by mayor Hamling. The funky ska band got a big dance floor started on the grass in front of the main stage while they played.
I missed Spirit of the West to get dinner with a friend. On my way to meet up, I saw Kevin Costner and his band jamming on the second floor balcony of the Kuskanax Lodge, where I enjoyed a delicious curry.
Costner was the headliner and he had the now-packed crowd eating from the palm of his hands as he and his band, Modern West, played some rollicking country-rock tunes. He talked up the beauty of Nakusp as a near-full moon rose stage left.
Unfortunately, that was it for me in Nakusp. I caught the last ferry back and missed Sunday’s show, which I heard was just as great.
