Artist Spotlight
Discovery Coast Music Festival
Bella Coola is located about 600 miles north of Vancouver in the heart of the Central Coast Mountains. Access by ferry or road is a unique journey offering spectacular scenery. This year’s Discovery Coast Music Festival happens July 22-24, 2011.
Monica Tutt is Artistic & Executive Director of this multi-cultural performing arts event. For 12 years, she’s invited entertainers from across Canada to beautiful Bella Coola Valley. “Our Board and volunteers work hard,” she says, “to bring first-class, premier performance to this isolated region.”
The three day event, held at
a local fair
ground, features food and craft booths
along with lively multi-artist workshops.
At the children’s site,
concerts and
activities delight youngsters.
Clowns, jugglers and acrobats add
colour and pageantry.
This year’s line-up includes a potpourri of rock, blues, roots and funk.
One visiting band with a similar mix is Toronto-based Mr. Something Something.
Their dynamic mix of world music, jazz and funk gets people dancing.
Leader and drummer Larry Graves looks forward to the three day stop-over while traveling in BC and the Yukon. “I’ve heard good things about Bella Coola,” he says. “The band will have time to savour the spirit and meet the people.
Jason and Pharis Romero will be releasing their latest album in June, 2011. Their new duets combine traditional and original acoustic sounds. “We used two guitars, a banjo and lots of vocals,” says Jason.
Pharis is excited about their first
performance at Bella Coola. The beauty of the place and the friendliness of the people create a magical atmosphere for her. “Besides that,” she adds, “they always have a really varied and interesting line-up of talent.”