Wednesday Aug. 19, 2015 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST InCLuDeD
Electric vibe fuels festival By Barb Brouwer OBSeRVeR STAFF
Attendance might have been down, but optimism is way up. Roots and Blues numbers were 6,500 people Friday night, 7,400 on Saturday and 6,900 Sunday for a total attendance of 21,000 – down 2,000 visitors from last year. Salmon Arm Folk Music Society chair Lody Kieken said Friday’s thunderstorm is believed to have been a big factor in the drop in overall sales. He concurs with office manager Cindy Diotte, who believes people who usually attend Friday night and buy three-day passes gave this Friday night a miss and, along with it, went the sales of the extended passes. “The financials will come later and I think it might be a breakeven year,” he said. “We were really aggressive over the year, cutting the budget wherever we could without cutting the experience.” Kieken was also upbeat Sunday evening when he said his initial gut reaction to Friday night’s EVan BuhlEr/OBSeRVeR smaller audience was, “this is a Dynamic scene: Mongolian band Hanggai pleased audiences with their unique sound as the sun set at the Main Stage during disaster.” But he had a quick word with himself and acknowledged the Roots and Blues Festival on Saturday, Aug. 15. that in light of what goes on in the world in terms of real catas- and calming influence. ordinator Jeff Topham’s efforts trophes like fires and floods, this “Cindy broke her leg and ran – something that was echoed by was not a disaster. everything out of her house,” he many volunteers, who said they As Kieken and many othwere very happy with their exers who attended Friday night We were really perience this year. sensed, the electric energy aggressive over As were the RCMP, whose went far beyond lightning, with report Monday morning was althe year, cutting performers and festivalgoers most glowing. the budget bent on having fun regardless. “Overall the crowd appeared “I thought Oysterband wherever we to have a wonderful time: There should have been given an could without were no major police incidents Lody Kieken award for carrying on despite cutting the associated directly with the Roots & Blues the rain, wind and a half-empty experience. festival,” wrote Staff Sgt. Scott chaiRpeRson field,” he said. “They gave an West. “The RCMP did see an outstanding performance.” increase in call volume associKieken was also handing ated with having a lot more peoout kudos to this year’s staff and said. “She has done phenomenal ple in town but, from a policing EVan BuhlEr/OBSeRVeR volunteers, including production work – she just leads the festival.” Groovin’: Volunteer George Johnston and Luke Heart dance manager David Gonella for his Kieken also expressed appreSee Volunteers on page A2 together to the rhythm of Amadou Fall Trio. site enhancements, organization ciation for new volunteer co-
This week A hiker manages to fend off an aggressive bear with his walking stick. Find out more on A3. Crowds gather to meet Curtis Lazar, Salmon Arm’s latest NHL star. See more on A14.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Sports................A13-A14 Arts & Events ... A15-A18 Time Out....................A20 Vol. 108, No. 33, 44 pages