SONG AND SURF
Featuring: Delhi 2 Dublin, Luca Fogale, R.O. Shapiro, and more
Where: Port Renfrew
When: Friday through Sunday
Tickets: Sold out
Information: songandsurf.com
Tickets to the upcoming Song and Surf Music Festival sold out in approximately 30 seconds in November, which for similar events would rank as some sort of historic accomplishment.
Not so, where Song and Surf is concerned. Immediate sell-outs have been taking place for the better part of a decade, which speaks to the trust fans have in the three-day event. That organizers traditionally announce the line-up after tickets have been put up for sale is another strong indicator of the Port Renfrew festival’s enduring popularity.
“The accommodations in town sell out, and the restaurants are always packed,” said festival director Mike Hann. “There’s a huge tourism and economic impact during an otherwise slow time of year.”
Song and Surf is now the largest annual event in Port Renfrew, but when it debuted in 2008, it was with a much smaller footprint. Two acts played the first edition, which was limited to a single day of operation and had only one venue in play that year. The upcoming installment, which runs Friday through Sunday, has 25 acts booked at three venues.
Despite the steady improvements, Hann said the event will not expand for future events. “We’re not looking to grow it in terms of numbers. We want to produce a really memorable, quality experience for the community and those who attend. It’s not about growing our attendance.”
Port Renfrew would no longer be a suitable venue, in the event Hann decided to expand. Parking and accommodations are limited, and the area was without cell service until recently. There’s no reliable bank machine from which to withdraw cash, either.
The remoteness and instability of the Internet in Port Renfrew means careful consideration must be paid to planning, according to Hann. “There’s an sense of safety involved with [cell service]. People can now find their friends when they are here. We’re looking at it as a positive, as it will help people connect more.”
This week’s instalment includes a mixture of electronic and acoustic acts from the Vancouver Island area (Murge, Pony Gold, Jaxxee) and across Canada (Vancouver’s Delhi 2 Dublin, Toronto’s The Free Label), along with U.S. performers R.O. Shapiro (who is from San Diego) and singer-songwriter Jeremy Sole (Los Angeles). Hann tweaked things in order to make the daytime programming more family-friendly this year, he said.
It helps when he can draw from a pool of artists much deeper than his budget would suggest. Burnaby singer-songwriter Luca Fogale, whose album, Run Where the Light Calls, earned a Juno Award nomination last week for best adult contemporary album, is among a handful of well-ensconced artists performing this year.
“We get sought out by quality acts that have heard about Song and Surf and want to play at it, rather than us reaching out to them.”
Song and Surf is known for showcasing both indoor and outdoor venues, including a beach stage and reformed church. Fans who attend are instructed to dress weather appropriate; the act of braving the elements can often be part of the appeal for festivalgoers, some of whom will seek out a surf spot at least once during the weekend.
“We pay attention to the weather because if there’s a big storm coming in — which we have dealt with before — we need to prepare a little bit differently,” Hann said. “But for the most part, we can handle what comes our way. It’s a winter festival.”
A music program for youth created by the festival is one of the many ways Song and Surf positively affects its environs. Musicians from the area have been given an opportunity to perform at and work at the festival, which is paying divdends. Base Collective, which performs Friday at the Port Renfrew Community Centre, consists of musicians from the Song and Surf music program.
It took a few years for the festival to find its footing, as the learning curve was considerable. But Song and Surf is now something residents look forward to enjoying each winter, according to Hann. “The community has embraced it, on various levels. More restaurants stay open throughout the weekend. It feels like the town and community are on board and involved more than ever before.”
