ATHABASCA – The Magnificent River Rats have announced their 2025 line-up, featuring some of Alberta’s strongest up-and-comers and a variety of fun family events to keep attendees of all ages busy.
As always, the two-day festival will take place June 30 and July 1, falling on a Monday and Tuesday this year. The Canada Day Parade is a go and motor enthusiasts can look forward to two separate car shows. Once again, the whole affair will be free for the community to take part in, something organizers were happy to bring back for the second year running.
“We’re extremely excited. It’s important to keep it free so there are no barriers to entry. We want to expose as many people as possible to music, new music, and the whole vibe of the festival,” said Fredric Minvile.
Hopefully, people find a new artist or maybe get inspired by the strongman competition. We want to hit people in the heart and fall in love with Athabasca.”
The Monday morning festivities will start on a religious note, with a two-hour-long “Cowboy Church” service from the Athabasca Ministerial Association from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., followed by the Athabasca Community Band.
Hometown talent Karley Bilsky will be performing with a band for the first time ever at 3 p.m., marking her first appearance at the festival.
“I’m super excited, I’ve been going to River Rats my whole life. I remember being four or five years old and just singing my heart out to Aaron Pritchett’s Hold My Beer,” said Bilsky.
“It was definitely a contributing factor to me wanting to be a singer and to perform there. Now, having the opportunity to do so, it’s just hard to believe. I haven’t played a whole lot of festivals so it’ll be cool that my first one is in my hometown.”
After Bilsky comes Calgary-based indie rock band Wilde Oscar at 4 p.m., followed by World Champion hoop dancer and award-winning artist Dallas Arcand.
Megan Paige, Kris Anders and the Flatlanders, and the Denim Daddies will keep guests entertained with a variety of musical genres before headliner Travis Dolter shows why he’s one of Canada’s rising talents in the country music scene.
Minvile said the recruitment process for acts varies. About 80 per cent of performers apply through the website, but some, including Dolter, try to book after a previous show.
“One of our members saw him live last year and just basically fell in love with him,” he said.
“If it was just me that booked the acts, it would be a metal show, so they need to pull me back.”
Canada Day will start with the annual parade, with the festival resuming at 12:30 when the Whispering Hills Country Music Association kicks the afternoon.
Last year’s crowd favourite, the strongman competition, will be returning, with men and women from across the province going head to head to see who can lift, carry and pull the heaviest weight.
A pair young of singer/songwriter’s will be up next, with Riley Baldwin playing his first River Rats festival, and Ava Nayana returning after an outstanding performance last year.
Athabasca local and longtime musical cornerstone Emile Kryvenchuk and Friends will be bringing some old-time fiddle tunes to life. Kryvenchuk, a lifetime achievement award winner from the Alberta Country Music festival, is always a hit with crowds, whether it’s at a local Legion or travelling concert.
Bella Cat brings a funk, blues, and pop tune to the stage at 6 p.m., followed by another alt-rock band from Calgary, Buns, from 7-8:30.
Last but not least, 80s tribute band Rubix Cubed will shut things down Tuesday night, playing classic songs the whole crowd will know for the final two-hour set of the year.
