Well, I don’t know if you’ve heard but the Midsummer Music Festival here in Smithers, BC has new dates!
Join us July 1-3rd, 2011, for the 28th Annual Midsummer Music Festival! Our festival is three days of music, fun, friends, camping, great food, children’s entertainment, craft vendors, jamming, workshops and dancing. The performer’s committee has been working hard all year to bring an outstanding lineup for this year’s festival including headliners from around the world and a stellar cast of local/regional musicians coming from as far away as Haida Gwaii to Prince George.
Meet this year’s festival headliners:
The Lee Boys
The Lee Boys are one of America’s finest
African-American sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of three brother, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (7 string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church they attended in Perrine, FL. Here they underwent a rigorous course of training in a variety of musical instruments, including lap and pedal steel guitars. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was the pastor and a steel player himself.
African-American sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of three brother, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (7 string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church they attended in Perrine, FL. Here they underwent a rigorous course of training in a variety of musical instruments, including lap and pedal steel guitars. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was the pastor and a steel player himself.
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“Sacred steel” is a type of music described as an inspired, unique form of Gospel music with a hard-driving, blues-based beat. The musical genre is rooted in Gospel, but infused with rhythm and blues, jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, country and ideas from other nations.
Their unique sound has attracted musical artists such as Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Los Lobos, Michelle Shocked, Gov’t Mule, Derek Trucks Band w/Susan Tedeschi, The North Mississippi Allstars, and The Del McCoury Band, just to name a few, and all who have played with The Lee Boys and/or invited them to tour with them.
The Fugitives are the combined talents of
RICK SCOTT
Rick Scott is an award winning singer, songwriter and actor who combines music and laughter in lively, participatory concerts for all ages. He is Canada’s leading proponent of the Appalachian mountain dulcimer, known by kids around the world as ‘The Electric Snowshoe.’ Over 35 years he has released 17 albums and performed his lively, original music in nine countries. His gift for combining wacky humour and poignant human commentary has earned him a devoted following from four generations around the world.
Over the past 20 years Rick has performed more than a thousand family concerts throughout Canada, the U.S., Australia and Southeast Asia. He is Goodwill Ambassador for the Down Syndrome Research Foundation and performs inspirational keynote concerts for familes, educators and caregivers, and MUSIC AS A SECOND LANGUAGE song writing workshops for people who don’t think that they’re musical.
Headwater
Hearing Headwater is like listening to the West Coast of Canada in song. Freewheeling, fierce, sentimental and sexy, the Vancouver, B.C., quartet has earned its reputation as one of the finest acoustic roots groups around the old-fashioned way.
They work their asses off.
Since forming in 2001, the group has logged in thousands of kilometres criss-crossing Western Canada and playing to anyone and everyone willing to give it some love. With hooks, driving rhythms, adventurous steel guitar and mandolin solos, and beautiful three-part vocal harmonies all featured in tight, concise under four-minute songs, they found fans fast. Or they roped them in at first, street busking before gigs rather than hanging out waiting for crowds to come to them.
They work their asses off.
Since forming in 2001, the group has logged in thousands of kilometres criss-crossing Western Canada and playing to anyone and everyone willing to give it some love. With hooks, driving rhythms, adventurous steel guitar and mandolin solos, and beautiful three-part vocal harmonies all featured in tight, concise under four-minute songs, they found fans fast. Or they roped them in at first, street busking before gigs rather than hanging out waiting for crowds to come to them.
Blackberry Wood
Blackberry Wood is a wonderful, secret and magic combination of alt-country-gypsy-circus music. A high-energy cabaret spin on old and modern music adding spicy flavours like exotic, world beats, jumpin’ ska, folk, punk ‘n many other musical-down-home-ol’style adventures. Blackberry Wood comes down the road like a travelling a caravan, with all kinds of wondrous instruments, vocal melodies and fantastically costumed characters. Playing over 300 shows since 2007, Blackberry Wood has kicked up dust in towns all over Western Canada, the United Kingdom and parts of the United States.
Aurora Jane
Fronted by one of the world’s most exciting female guitar players, Aurora Jane's new sound has been likened to having the fluidity and excitement of a Hendrix Experience, with the deep groove of ‘Blood Sugar’ era Chili Peppers, and the retro get-up-and-dance stylings of 70’s P-Funk. Her latest album 'Deep End' has been making waves around the world. She's "Not a plain Jane" (Rolling Stone, India)
The 28 year old Australian artist, has been touring the globe since 2004, her impressive tour history includes: multiple tours of India (where she is signed to Blue Frog Records alongside John McLaughlin), and has headlined Roots Festival, Pubrockfest & World Music Festival – Ladakh; Canada (in 2008 & 2010 headlining Robson Valley Music Festival); Europe (2008), and endless circuits of her home-turf in Australia where she has opened for John Butler Trio, Blue King Brown & The Waifs, and played countless festivals including: Festival of the Sun, Woodford Folk Festival & Island Vibe Reggae Festival.
The 28 year old Australian artist, has been touring the globe since 2004, her impressive tour history includes: multiple tours of India (where she is signed to Blue Frog Records alongside John McLaughlin), and has headlined Roots Festival, Pubrockfest & World Music Festival – Ladakh; Canada (in 2008 & 2010 headlining Robson Valley Music Festival); Europe (2008), and endless circuits of her home-turf in Australia where she has opened for John Butler Trio, Blue King Brown & The Waifs, and played countless festivals including: Festival of the Sun, Woodford Folk Festival & Island Vibe Reggae Festival.
Emilyn Stam and James Stephens of the trio Eh?!
About Eh?!
Eh?! is a new collaborative fiddle-based trio. Eh?! combines an unparalleled depth of knowledge of traditional Canadian music from throughout the country with innovative original expression.
Emilyn Stam
Emilyn is a young pianist and fiddler who worked closely with Oliver Schroer as a founding member of Twisted String. She is quickly being recognized as a brilliant improviser, composer, and creative collaborator. She has worked with Pierre Schryer, Daniel Lapp, David Woodhead, Anne Lindsay, Bill Brennan, Casey Sokol, Soozi Schlanger and Jaron Freeman-Fox. Emilyn recently released her debut album, Holding Time.
James Stephens
James is known both for his work as a performer/composer and as a producer/recording engineer. In performance, he plays a multitude of stringed instruments with an emphasis on fiddling. He has an abiding interest in various traditional styles and also works extensively with singer-songwriters. He was the principal songwriter in critically acclaimed pop/roots band “Fat Man Waving” and has performed with Lynn Miles, Ian Tamblyn, Melwood Cutlery, and Terry Tufts. Currently he performs with The Brian Picknell Band, Finest Kind, Ecosse, renowned clawhammer banjo player Ken Perlman and JIIG.
MIP Power Trio
In May 2009, 3 eclectic 
Canadian musicians came together to play a “totally mipped out” set at the El Mocambo. While Mip is the title artist and songwriter, it is by the powers of Mip, percussionist Jaash Singh (Om Laila, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Blind Cats), and bassist Greg Kowalczyk (Blind Cats, Skullians) combined that the Mip Power Trio is in full force.
Smart lyrics, quirky melodies, dynamic arrangements, and explosive live performances only begin to define the Mip Power Trio experience. Mip is a champion of neo-retro rock n' roll embodying the spirit of vintage rock and the heart and soul of an eccentric minstrel.
Smart lyrics, quirky melodies, dynamic arrangements, and explosive live performances only begin to define the Mip Power Trio experience. Mip is a champion of neo-retro rock n' roll embodying the spirit of vintage rock and the heart and soul of an eccentric minstrel.
