As the salmon swims, Grassy Plains is a close neighbour of Prince George. It's Cheslatta First Nation territory and the fount of the Nechako River. It is almost exactly 200 kilometres, almost exactly straight west, and the connection is buzzing with music now that an experienced impresario team is organizing one of the region's boutique entertainment events.
The Hay Fever Music Festival is the new name for the Grassy Plains Summer Festival, which has been underway for the past seven years. It got a new boost this year when the organization of the event was placed in the hands of the Lakes District Folk Society. The LDFS production team includes names familiar to Prince George like Danny Bell (entertainment coordinator with experience animating The Oakroom Grill, Royal Canadian Legion, Omineca Arts Centre, The Thirsty Moose, etc.), Jeremy Pahl, Morgan Paulson, and others.
While Bell is a fixture in the Prince George music scene, Pahl and Paulson have split their time between this river city and the Lakes District, where they are currently living and investing volunteer energy into the Hay Fever event.
"I have never organized a festival before but it is coming together well. With Jeremy and Maureen down there being the driving forces right in the community, that helps," said Bell.
He said the names on the performance bill are a combination of acts returning to a festival they've enjoyed in the past (as are Bell and Pahl from their Black Spruce Bog days) or musicians who frequently collaborate with these two.
"Having it be our first year, we wanted to call on our friends," said Bell. "We thought that would make things logistically easier and a lot of fun. I imagined putting a festival on would be a stressful thing, so it's good to have people around you who support you and love each other and work well together. After we get through a year or two of learning, we will venture out even more."
The July 21-23 lineup includes Rachelle Van Zanten, 5 On A String, Big Fancy, Kym Gouchie, Frontal Lobotomy, Chloe Nakahara, Red Barn Brigade, Saltwater Hank, Raghu Lokanathan, The Devil's Club and more to be announced soon.
The festival happens at the Grassy Plains Community Hall (official address 36267 Keefe's Landing Road). It is situated in between Francois Lake and Ootsa Lake, close to Takysie (pronounced tak-EYE-zee) Lake Resort.
The hall itself is crossing a threshold this year. The 16-acre campus has had a continuous public gathering space since 1937. The festival is part of its 80th birthday celebrations.
"It's an amazing place. It's beautiful, and there's some kind of powerful feeling you get there," said Bell.
"It's a weird little inland island, a very unique and interesting little area. It's a fine place to make music."
Adding some adventure to the Hay Fever Music Festival is the travel process. The picturesque ferry ride (free of charge) across large Francois Lake adds to the quaint atmosphere of isolation, as does the ever growing view of the mountains in North Tweedsuir Park with each minute of driving.
For those who drive right to the shores of Ootsa Lake, the so-called Nechako Reservoir, you get to see one of B.C.'s most enormous bodies of inland water.
It is the beginning of the major river that flows to its end at Prince George where it empties into the Fraser River for its journey to the sea.
The Grassy Plains area is well appointed with modern conveniences for the tourist, but it is a destination unto itself. Only dedicated travellers go there or the many First Nation, forestry and farming families who live in that ancient community.
Earlybird festival passes are $40 for the weekend (online purchase only). Weekend passes will be $50 if purchased at the gate. Children 12 and under are free, and prices include gratis on-site camping.
To get a taste of this festival's sounds and personalities, come to the fundraiser pre-show on Saturday at the Prince George Legion. Doors open at 8 p.m., music starts an hour after. The lineup includes Naomi Kavka, Ben Sures (backed by Bell and Kavka), Chloe Nakahara, The Red Barn Brigade and some others.
