It’s only be October but for Vancouver Island MusicFest artistic director/executive producer Doug Cox, the process of booking performers for the 2013 festival has already started.
“The process began even before last year’s festival was over,” says Cox. “We are negotiating with a number of great acts and will have some major announcements soon.”
But headliners are only half the story when it comes to booking acts for the VI MusicFest. A big part of what makes MusicFest so well respected in the community is the number of opportunities provided to local performers to be part of the MusicFest’s player roster each year.
“MusicFest is about celebrating excellence and we have many world-class artists here on Vancouver Island,” enthused Cox. “Local adult musicians wishing to perform at the festival need to be ready to go professional, or already be professional, which means they should have a CD out that is properly packaged. We also want to support younger musicians who may not be there yet but they should at least have some performance footage on youtube we can have a look at. “
Local recording artist Helen Austin is no stranger to the stages at MusicFest.
“Playing at VIMF as a local is one of the best feelings,” says Austin. “Not only are you playing for your home town, but you’re also being heard and seen by thousands of music fans from all over Canada and the world and that’s a perfect combination.”
Applications for the 2013 VI MusicFest for local Island musicians are now being accepted. Interested musicians may apply by sending a short performer bio, and a YouTube link to their live performance video(s) to islandmusicians@islandmusicfest.com.
All applications meeting these criteria will be considered, but only those selected for the 2013 festival will be contacted.
Here’s a fun, partial list of the legacy of Island musicians who have graced the stages of Vancouver Island MusicFest over the years:
1998
Mae Moore, Wunderbread, The Valiants.
1999
Sue Medley, Gary Fjellgaard, Dana Inglis & Peggie Devost, Rick Bockner, Tammy Fassaert, Rodrigo Figueroa, Sam Hurrie & Eugene Smith, James & Johnson, Gord Carter.
2000
Trent Freeman, Pied Pumkin, Carolyn Mark, Melissa Devost, Susie McGregor with Genevieve, Birgit, Pamela Keld & Jennifer Durrant, Holly Arntzen, The Laws.
2001
David Essig, Eugene Krauss, Jeremy Walsh & Carly Frey, Norbury & Finch, Richard Caissie, Rodney Gage, Sam Lennox, Sue Pyper, The Clover Point Drifters, The Island Girls, The Puentes Brothers, Valdy.
2002
Xavier Rudd (lived in Courtenay then) , bigredtruck, Corbin Keep, David Gogo, Ken Hamm.
2003
Doug Biggs and Michelle Keir, Jack Connolly, The Ecclestons, Peter Gilmore & Tim Brown, Raising Hale, Alan Jossul, Marimba Muzuva, Art Napoleon, Louise Rose, The Victoria Mandolin Orchestra.
2004
Helen Austin, Gayle Ferguson, Simon Fox, Luke Guthrie, Al Pasanen, Spider Robinson, Linda Safford, Nathan Tinkham, Village Park Elementary Choir, White Hat John.
2005
Bobs & Lolo, Bill Johnson & Gary Preston, Donna Konsorado, Layla, Alexandria Maillot, Sara Marreiros, Richard Sales, David Somers, Shari Ulrich, Diamond Joe White.
2006
Judy Brunet & Bruce Wing, Todd Butler Band, Dinah D, Tina Jones Band, Malihini Boys.
2007
Outlaw Social, Hayley Sales.
2008
Marc Atkinson Trio, Qristina & Quinn Bachand, The Flying Accusations, Kerplunks, Patti Lamoureux, Kendall Patrick, Ali Romanow, Shearwater.
2009
Bruce Brackney & Rick Van Krugel, Anela Kahiamoe, Alex Lamoureux.
2010
Banana Fish Orchestra, David Essig, Rick Scott & Shelly Brown, Dave Harris, Lester Quitzau, Jamyang Yeshi.
2011
The Breakmen, Daniel Lapp, Celso Machado, Morlove, The Cumberland Marching Band.
2012
Helen Austin, Blackwood Two, Todd Butler, Bill Johnson Band, Alan Jossul, Anela Kahiamoe, The Kerplunks, Mel & The Wild Cellist, Jim Moffatt, Peter Prince, Joe Stanton, Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra.
