IN CONCERT
What: Song and Surf Festival featuring Longwalkshortdock, Fox Glove, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Luca Fogale, Stevie Wise and the Big Feelings and more
Where: Port Renfrew
When: Friday through Monday
Tickets: Sold out
Information: songandsurf.com or 250-647-0036
For all the abuse West Coasters endure about our winter durability — or lack thereof — there’s one music festival that proves we have some degree of mettle.
Song and Surf will bring hundreds to the chilly Port Renfrew area on Friday for the first of four days of musical activity. Unlike its summer companion, the Tall Tree Music Festival, it’s not an outdoor event, but attendees will nonetheless need to prepare for the possibility of snow.
Port Renfrew is generally a few degrees colder than Greater Victoria, which presents some difficulties on occasion.
“It’s a winter festival,” said festival director Mike Hann. “Two years ago, the week of the festival was pretty snowy, a pretty similar scenario. There was a few feet in the area, but we still sold out.”
Hann tipped his touque to the Song and Surf supporters who make the journey to Port Renfrew each February. Tickets for the festival’s 11th edition sold out in two hours after going on sale in October, without mentioning a single performer. At last count, every vacation rental in the town was sold out, Hann said.
“People trust in what we do. It allows us to get a little more creative. We’re not guessing — we know that we’re going to survive, no matter what. It’s sustainable.”
Song and Surf offers a bit of everything in terms of programming. From this year’s bevy of rappers, DJs and electronic artists (Longwalkshortdock, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Astrocolor) to its ample soul, folk and rock acts (Fox Glove, Luca Fogale, Stevie Wise and the Big Feelings), the festival is known for its anything-goes esthetic.
And with programming on three stages running from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. — the Port Renfrew Community Centre at night and a defunct church and Big Fish Lodge during the day — the little brother/sister to Tall Tree has definitely carved out its own niche.
“It is smaller and more intimate,” Hann said. “You can see world-class talent and get to know everybody at the same time.”
The weather is the only loose end heading into opening night. Though temperatures are expected to rise through the weekend, a fresh batch of snow overnight Tuesday will make the drive to Port Renfrew difficult a little while longer.
“There’s not much we can do about the weather itself, other than monitor it,” Hann said. “Everything I see is optimistic. [Temperatures are] warming, and the road crews are working on the road into Port Renfrew now, clearing out trees and power lines that fell.”
Hann said the festival has backup power, should electricity to the area go offline, and attendees have been briefed to travel only in vehicles with winter tires or chains. Hann said he likely won’t hear any complaints from fans who like their winter surfing — hence the title of the festival.
Winter in Port Renfrew is “pretty magical,” he said, and Song and Surf has a way of melting away the winter blahs, even when snow is present.
“We hope that with a week of winter under their belts, everyone’s winter game will be strong. They are a hearty bunch.”
