Life on the Sunfest site is certainly busy, with no shortage of non-musical activities being offered. But don’t let that keep you from sampling the festival’s full musical menu. Here’s five must-see performers on stage through the weekend.
1. DALLAS SMITH
Thursday, 10:10 p.m. (Main Stage)
Thursday is the most under-the-radar day of the Sunfest schedule, due to lower-Island attendees who can’t arrive until midday Friday. Dallas Smith, the former Default frontman, won’t make you regret arriving early. A pro’s pro, and a Sunfest veteran, Smith knows how to make a stage his own, even one as big and intimidating as the one around which the bulk of Sunfest is focused.
2. ORVILLE PECK
Friday, 7:55 p.m. (Main Stage)
Orville Peck is half classic country crooner/half Elvis Presley devotee, which made him a cult favourite upon arrival in 2019. Peck sports a fringed mask and does not show his face publicly, which dampens his commercial appeal, but the air of mystery surrounding the Canada-based country classicist in a share-everything world is refreshing. Do not miss this performance.
3. MACKENZIE PORTER
Saturday, 6:40 p.m. (Main Stage)
Alberta seems to churn out country stars like Victoria does Cannabis shops, but there’s gold in them thar hills. Mackenzie Porter is poised to make a big bang in the magic 7 p.m. slot on Saturday, which is when Sunfest longhaulers eventually make their way to the concert bowl. Keep your ears attuned to this Medicine Hat product. She’s due to impress.
4. JAMES BARKER BAND
Saturday, 11:30 p.m. (Lakenight Stage)
Sunfest’s after-party stage will be active through the weekend with a mixture of bands and DJs, a line-up that includes Ontario’s James Barker Band, who take the Lakenight Stage soon after festival headliner Darius Rucker wraps his set. The quartet has a string of Gold- and Platinum-certified hits in Canada, including Chills, and they are capable of stealing some thunder.
5. HARDY
Sunday, 10:10 p.m. (Main Stage)
Mississippi-bred, Tennessee-based Michael Hardy (a.k.a. Hardy) is going to close-out the festival in feverish fashion. Thanks to recent hits Give Heaven Some Hell and One Beer, the former songwriter-for-hire (who scored chart-toppers for Florida Georgia Line, Morgan Wallen, and Blake Shelton) has officially come into his own. The star-in-waiting of Sunfest 2022.
mdevlin@timescolonist.com
