WESTLOCK — Westlock and area residents can enjoy an afternoon of music during the annual Music In the Park, Aug. 11, at the St. Mary School Park under the gazebo. The one-day music festival will feature several local musicians, starting at 1 p.m. and will wrap up with a grand finale ensemble at 6 p.m.
The Westlock Cultural Arts Theatre Society (CATS), which is celebrating 40 years this year, will host the event.
“This will be the first Music In the Park presented solely by CATS theatre,” said organizer Tina Wold. “The very first year, we were at St. Mary School Park under the gazebo and we will be back there again.”
The afternoon of music is free to attend and will feature five performers showcase a variety of music genres, with new and returning artists. People will need to bring their own lawn chair and other items for shade.
“We are doing a lot of country (music) this year,” said Wold, noting the mostly local lineup with performances by Westlock’s Dylan Hansen, who will kick off the afternoon music festival, followed by Kailey Brandl, Clyde’s Koltan Potts will entertain, and there will be a duo called Strictly Business from Edmonton before the afternoon finishes with a local favourite, the Joe Ireland Band.
“(Strictly Business) is a little bit on the entertaining, a little bit on the comedy side,” said Wold. “We then have the Joe Ireland Band lead by Francis Kavanagh. Every year they have been there.”
Following the final performance, all artists are expected to join together on stage for a grand finale, noted Wold.
“When his set is done, we are hoping to see the other performers join (Francis Kavanagh) for three to four songs, so we’re going to have a full stage,” she added. “We’re just changing it up a little bit every year.”
Wold said that while cost was a factor in returning to the St. Mary School Park, they are looking at other options and venues for next year and noted that returning to a smaller, more intimate location and atmosphere also provides a chance to showcase some local, home-grown talent.
“It’s an event that the Westlock Cultural Arts Theatre Society hopes to put as a mandate (every year) just to give a free, very small music festival to the people of Westlock, both town and county,” explained Wold. “We’re going to try and make this bigger and better every time, but we also want to promote local.”
