It was Music On The Mountain and now it is perhaps better called Music On The Meadow due to a change of location this year, but the MOM Festival is animating Fort St. James.
This festival is underway this weekend. The opening ceremonies are this afternoon at about 4:45 with the first act playing at 5 p.m. The music and other artistic expressions carry on until Sunday evening (then the 10 p.m. volunteer wrap party).
Their sets are shorter than most festivals - some as short as 15 minutes, none more than 45 minutes - and each act plays more than once throughout the weekend.
Everything from rap to western to folk to rock to photography to aboriginal to jazz forms of entertainment will be showcased.
"After much thought and consideration, Music On The Mountain is moving off the mountain, to the Fort St. James Fair Grounds," said key organizer Lionel Conant. "The Fair Grounds, owned by the Fort St. James Snowmobile Club, are only four kilometres from town and have some excellent infrastructure."
They have 80 acres at their disposal in the new location. Most of that is flat, and already home to services provided by its other users. Having the music festival there will only enhance the overall facility, which is an extra spin-off effect of this partnership.
"We want to thank Murray Ridge Ski Hill and Terrain Park for five years of awesome," said Conant. "The ski club has been an excellent and generous host for us and we will miss the beauty of the hill and the excellent lodge. We will continue to support Murray Ridge whenever we can and we wish them only the very best."
The performers this year are (in alphabetical order): Barefoot Caravan, Black Spruce Bog, Dave Soroka, Dead Body Juice, Devon Coyote, Didoh Ne Drum & Dance Group, Dok Auk, Doug "The Hug" Koyama, Drum And Bell Tower, Folky Strum Strum, Freedom Road Portraits, Hill MystryCwby, Joey Only, Kym Gouchie, Liz Stringer, Megan Lane, MIP Power Trio, Pamela Moul, The Mojo Junction Collective, Power Duo, Red Haven, Samson's Delilah, Sarah Elizabeth, Scott Dunbar, Sober Becky, Tax Free Liquor, Tereza Tomek, The Grid Pickers, The Party On High Street, Twin Peaks, Two Bears North, Wax Mannequin and Zonnis.
Almost exactly half of these artists come from the general region, the other half coming from all over Canada and other parts of the world. It is one of the best opportunities local and regional music professionals have to interact with peers from outside the community.
Weekend and family passes (12 and under are free) are available online at
www.momfestival.com while day-passes are for sale at the gate.
