FILBERG FESTIVAL
When: Friday, Aug. 4 through Sunday, Aug. 6
Where: Filberg Heritage Lodge Park, 61 Filberg Rd., Comox
Tickets: $25 daily at filberg.tickit.ca (kids 12 and under are free); $47 for a weekend pass
In the era of cost-prohibitive summer events, with attendees often spending what amounts to a full paycheque to take part, the Filberg Festival offers some much-needed relief.
The multi-disciplinary Comox event, home to the largest juried art show in Western Canada, also offers an impressive lineup of musical acts for its 39th edition, which gets underway Friday. And all for the remarkably low price of $25 per day.
“It would typically cost you more money to see one of the headliners on their own than this entire festival lineup,” said Dimitri Demers, senior talent buyer for MRG Live, which co-produces the event with Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park Association.
“As a result, tickets sales at this point are exceeding where we were last year.”
Headliners for the upcoming instalment include Frazey Ford of Be Good Tanyas fame, Jill Barber, Old Man Luedecke, and Leeroy Stagger, among dozens of others. “Considering what you get for the price, it has to be one of the best-value festivals on Vancouver Island,” Demers said.
The nine-acre national historic site — a portion of which borders Comox Harbour — has become a B.C. Day weekend staple for both its music programming and well-loved artisan market. More than 100 vendors working in a variety of mediums are on-board this year.
That weighed into the decision to expand operating hours this year. The site is open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, which gives those traversing the grounds ample time to take in the musical and arts and crafts offerings.
“We look forward to welcoming our community and visitors to the Park for this year’s annual Filberg Festival, which has grown and will showcase so many loved artisans and musicians,” Linda Thomas, the site’s executive director, said in a statement.
The musical offerings are equally varied. Up and coming acts Georgia Harmer, Steph Strings, and Le Ren are booked alongside more established acts such as Pony Gold, Davers Lang, and Layten Kramer. There are also a few curveballs in the mix, including the long awaited on-stage reunion of fraternal twins Adonis Puentes and Alex Cuba — known previously as The Puentes Brothers.
The Juno Award nominees got their start in Victoria in 2000 before splitting amicably in 2003. Cuba now lives in Smithers, while Puentes remains based in Victoria. They will be joined for their performance by their father, Valentin, who is visiting Victoria from Cuba.
“We have a really wonderful multi-generational lineup of music,” Demers said. “We expect that will appeal to audiences young and old.”
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