The Harrison Festival of the Arts Program Booklet

Produced by the Harrison Festival Society for 44 years, the Harrison Festival of the Arts is known world-wide for its professional artistry and small town hospitality. It is and will remain a beacon for growing acceptance of diversity and purpose-fueled arts programming.

Harrison Fes�val Society

Box 399, 98 Rockwell Dr Harrison Hot Springs, BC, V0M 1K0

www.harrisonfes�val.com

info@harrisonfes�val.com

604.796.3664

Plaza • on the weekends, Harrison Lake Plaza is the main Festival Info/ Sales Centre. Tickets and buttons are available here. Beach Stage • located on the grass at the edge of the Plaza. Memorial Hall • located at 290 Esplanade Ave, one block east of the Plaza. Artisan Market • spread out along the waterfront each weekend. Look for the colourful tents along the paved walkway. Festival Office/Art Exhibit • located at the Ranger Station Art Gallery (98 Rockwell Dr). Open 9am to 5pm daily during the Festival. Tickets and program info are available here as well.

Acknowledgments

The Harrison Festival wishes to recognize its partners and sponsors whose generous support has enabled us to present the 2023 Festival.

Funding Partners

Media Partners

Hospitality Partners

Community Partners

Agassiz Agricultural & Horticultural Association | Breathing Space Creative

Black Forest Restaurant | The Hawthorne Foundation | Diane Jacobi

The Springs RV Resort | Christine Zyla | Bella Vista Restaurant | Globe Printers

Harrison Corner Café | | Crystal Spirit Healing | Kent Harrison Arts Council

Mission Folk Fest Society | Valley Water | Milos Greek Taverna

Len Davidiuk Tax Services| Muddy Waters Café | Old Settler Pub | CSOPA

Vista Shades | Little Mountain Greenhouses | Chilliwack Players Guild

Prospera Credit Union | Sacred Energy Medicine Massage

Land Acknowledgment

We would like to acknowledge the sacred land on which we gather, as the unceded territory of the Sts’ailes Peoples.

The Agassiz ❖ Harrison

Welcome to another edition of the Harrison Festival of the Arts!

What a great thing it is to be able to be back at the side of this stunning lake, gathering together to hear an array of musical styles from around the world, and to celebrate cultural expressions in the visual, literary, and theatre arts.

As Artistic and Executive Director of the Harrison Festival Society, I am so proud of the longevity of this event. We are now launching our 44th festival, and over this span of time the Society has faced numerous challenges with determination and passion, with the knowledge that the community is behind us in our mission. This most recent and unprecedented challenge of a global pandemic brought so much uncertainty to the arts. But we are emerging in good shape, with a renewed sense of mission and purpose!

The opening film of our festival, "Summer of Soul", is a movie that documents a historic event, the Harlem Cultural Festival that showcased a broad range of African American musical styles from gospel to funk, in the summer of 1969 in Harlem, New York. Harrison Hot Springs in 2023 may be worlds away from the era and place of that historic festival, but we share with its founders the belief that the arts are what give communities their heart and soul. And in this time of conflict, worry, and trouble - not unlike 1969 - festivals give moments of coming together, and sharing in something greater than ourselves, and hope for the future. That's no small thing.

Thank you to our staff, volunteers, and our Board of Directors who are essential to making this happen. And of course to all our community partners and sponsors. Enjoy!

Andy Hillhouse Artistic and Executive Director

Best Wishes

The

Early Bird deadline is June 19th

Music on the Beach admission is with a for each day of the Festival. Souvenir buttons are available for $20 and are good for the entire Festival. Festival buttons are a great way to support the Festival. If you are able to make a larger donation when buying your button(s), that would be very much appreciated.

Tickets are available online at com

Ranger Station Art Gallery (98 Rockwell Dr, Harrison Hot Springs).

* Excluding Children’s Day admission.

Photo Cred: HASLETPHOTO

Evenings in the Hall

Film Night - Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution

Could Not Be Televised) | Friday, July 7th @ 7:30pm

In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was largely forgotten–until now. SUMMER OF SOUL shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. The feature includes concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the

King, The 5th Dimension and more.

SUMMER OF SOUL premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award. It is streaming on Hulu in conjunction with Disney General Entertainment’s Onyx Collective; Searchlight Pictures released it theatrically.

Kizaba | Saturday, July 8th @ 8:30pm

It’s rare we hire an artist back two years in a row, but this year we made an exception. Lionel Kizaba and his band performed on the beach last year, and we decided it was a show that would be a lot of fun in the hall, so we have brought them back for a second consecutive year! Lionel Kizaba is a Congolese artist, originally from Kinshasa. His group Kizaba combines electronic sounds with acoustic styles and instrumentation in an exciting coming together of tradition and the future. Growing up in Kinshasa, Lionel first began playing drums in church at the age of 5. He quickly became an in-demand musician. He studied jazz at the National Institute of the Arts in Kinshasa, while playing soukous in clubs after hours, before moving to Montreal in 2011. An exciting performer who gets the crowd going through his high energy drumming and singing, Kizaba performs a danceable style of afro-house music inspired by Papa Wemba, Daft Punk, David Guetta and Stromae, and influenced by the Congolose style of Sapologie.

Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B.

The Seamus Egan Project

Sunday, July 9th @ 7:30pm

It’s hard to think of an artist in traditional Irish music more influential than Seamus Egan. From his beginnings as a teen prodigy, to his founding of Irish-American powerhouse band Solas, to his current work as one of the leading composers and interpreters of the tradition, Egan has inspired multiple generations of musicians and helped define the sound of Irish music today. As a multiinstrumentalist, he’s put his mark on the sound of the Irish flute, tenor banjo, guitar, mandolin, tin whistle, and low whistle, among others. As a composer, he was behind the soundtrack for the award-winning film The Brothers McMullen, co-wrote Sarah McLachlan’s breakout hit, “Weep Not for the Memories,” and has since scored numerous documentaries and indie films. In 2018, Seamus Egan began touring as a solo performer, bringing along friends and musical guests, and making music as Seamus Egan Project. He is joined by the stellar singer and multiinstrumentalist Moira Smiley, and outstanding New York based guitarist Kyle Sanna.

Literary Café | Monday, July 10th @ 8:30pm

This year we are excited to partner on an evening of slam with the Vancouver Poetry House, the largest spoken word organization in Canada. VPH is dedicated to bringing poetry from diverse oral and literary traditions to Vancouver and British Columbia through three programs: Vancouver Poetry Slam, WordPlay Poets Outreach Program, and Verses Festival of Words, Canada’s largest annual spoken word festival.

Tawahum Bige is a Łutselkʼe Dene, Plains Cree spoken word poet and hip-hop artist from unceded Musqueam, Squamish, & Tsleil-Waututh Territory (CKA Vancouver). A Two Spirit, Nonbinary Scorpio-moon’s angst guides them to tell their most soul-rending truth to you, to self, and to power with an abundant love and reciprocity with the land. Johnny D Trinh is an interdisciplinary, community-engaged artist whose practice includes: spoken word, theatre, music, movement, and creative technology with an emphasis on social media and online performance. Johnny is interested in self as performance, and performance of self in relation to building community, especially when community seems inaccessible.

RC Weslowski is a multiple award winning and champion slam poet, whose honours include being a Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Champion, an Underground Indies Champion, a CFSW Team Champion, a Haiku Death Match and Nerd Poetry Slam Champion. RC co-hosts and produces Wax Poetic and Oh No Not Another Podcast podcasts. His first book of poetry, “My Soft Response To The Wars” is out on Write Bloody North Publishing.

Karla Mundy is a vibrant, soulful and diverse vocalist, pianist, arranger and choir leader. She directs The City Soul Choir (Vancouver), Rhythm ‘n’ Roots (East Van), EarthSounds (Bowen Island) and Island Soul Choir (Vancouver Island), and leads harmony singing workshops at many choir and work retreats.

Michael Creber is a Grammy-nominated and Juno Award-winning artist who was dubbed “a cross between Floyd Cramer and Thelonius Monk” by one LA reviewer. As one of the West Coast’s most sought-after musicians, Michael pursues a wide-ranging career as a pianist, film composer, arranger and producer, embracing many genres of music such as jazz, Latin, R&B, rock, pop, musical theatre, country, folk and classical.

Evening of Theatre - The Myrtle Sisters

Tuesday, July 11th @ 8:30pm

The Myrtle Sisters, featuring Candice Roberts, Nayana Fielkov, and Kat Single-Dain, are a trio of east Vancouver performers delighting audiences of all ages with their harmonies, twinklingtap numbers and family antics! They’ve been showcasing a clowning, vaudeville and dance menagerie of musical calamity for over 10 years in a variety of venues. Expect plenty of charm and shenanigans along with their original and historic songs and dances. The music stands on its own, but their onstage family antics, tap stylings and wild tunes are not to be missed.

Following a time-tested path from singing in church to performing in cover bands, and ultimately writing original material, Alberta-based Celeigh Cardinal has reinvented herself with each new chapter in her career. With a confident voice and boundless energy, Cardinal owns the stage, connecting deeply with her audience through humour, passion, and love. Her singing is rich and deep, with a burnished maturity and a nimble technical virtuosity that wraps itself around notes with a purr, a snarl, or something in the middle. With two full-length albums completed, and a future release in the planning stages, Cardinal is poised to expand her profile, which already includes Juno and Western Canadian Music Awards, as well as multiple Edmonton music awards.

Keelaghan | Thursday, July 13th @ 8:30pm

James Keelaghan is no doubt one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices in Canadian folk music. His is known from Australia to Scandinavia as a literary songwriter who takes stories, often based in real events, and tells them in a way that is touchingly poetic and melodic, delivered with his rich baritone voice. With over three decades of songwriting and performing, his deep catalogue includes timeless originals like Fires of Calais, Cold Missouri Waters, Jenny Bryce, Hillcrest Mine, and Kiri’s Piano. Along with his widely recognized place in the pantheon of great Canadian songwriters, in 2015 he was named Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, which “recognizes individuals who make Canada better known to Canadians and the world.” His latest album is Second Hand (2022). He’ll be joined onstage by longtime collaborator David Woodhead.

James

Las Cafeteras |

Friday, July 14th @ 8:30pm

Born and raised east of the Los Angeles River, Las Cafeteras are modern day troubadours who are remixing roots music. They are a sonic explosion of Afro-Mexican rhythms, electronic beats, and powerful rhymes. From Afro-Mexican to Americana, from soul to Son Jarocho, and from roots to rock and hip hop, Las Cafeteras honours the past by using electrifying traditional instrumentation like the eight string jarana, four string requinto, quijada (donkey jawbone) and tarima (a wooden platform). Known as a band that delivers powerful social messages in the most entertaining and engaging way, the band sings in five distinct languages: English, Spanish, Spanglish, love and justice … and they believe everyone understands at least one of those languages.

Kalàscima Feat: Andrea Ramolo

Saturday, July 15th @ 8:30pm

Kalàscima with Andrea Ramolo is an exciting new international collaboration of world music in the Italian language featuring southern Italian electronic/folk band Kalascima and multiple Canadian Folk Music Award nominee and alternative songwriter Andrea Ramolo. This musical endeavour, supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, was created with the intention of introducing Canadian audiences to the ancestral and folk music of southern Italy... but with a twist. Kalàscima blends Italian hip hop, folk, traditional, Balkan and other Mediterranean sounds with electronic music. With Andrea's soulful voice and knowledge of the traditional dance of southern Italy, this project promises to get crowds jumping and dancing in a Mediterranean-style trance. This is high energy music accompanied by goat-skin hand drums, Italian bagpipes, accordion, Bouzouki, mandolin, baritone sax, multiple harmonies, drums, synth, and electronic sounds as well as the soul and passion of southern Italy!

The Soul Motivators |

Sunday, July 16th @ 7:30pm

Finding the right groove means digging deep. With a love of vintage soul and funk, The Soul Motivators have mined their musicality to bring you a fresh revival of a retro sound. Featuring numerous veterans of Toronto’s thriving underground Funk scene, The Soul Motivators are a 9-piece, 3 horn deep funk explosion, with a rough, tough, and soulful flair that motivates people straight to the dance floor. Known for turning out some of the most energetic live funk performances witnessed in the city in recent years, The Soul Motivators have performed at the Opera House opening for Daptone Records soul legend Lee Fields; Toronto NuJazz Festival, NXNE, TD Toronto Jazz Festival, and Toronto Beaches International Jazz Festival.

Authentic Greek Cuisine

234 Esplanade Ave. Harrison Hot Springs

11am-9:30pm 7 days a week

Reservations: 1.604.491.8841

Milosgreektaverna.ca

Children's Day

Come play and experience the world of performing arts! Drop into the activity stations and explore music, drama & physical arts! Enjoy three different live performances on our outdoor and indoor stages. A full day of interactive activities and performances.

Wednesday, July 12th 11:00am - 4:00pm | Harrison Memorial Hall

Admission : $6.00 (Children 3 & under are free, group rates available)

Performances

On the Hall Stage:

Will's Jams - 11:45am & 1:45pm, High-energy rock-pop music in English and French

On the Outdoor Stage:

Al Qahwa - 11:00am & 3:00pm Middle-Eastern songs and music

Vancouver Puppet Theatre - 12:30pm & 2:30pm Experience the magic of live professional puppetry and get immersed in the hilarious characters.

Ongoing Activities

Acting Out | Join in & dress up for dramatic activities. Craft Central | Playful crafts for you to wear or use. Play Zone | Free play for little ones to explore. Games Party | Play some games on the grass with friends | Crafty Beading

Join the Chilliwack Optimists for some fun beading. Climbing Wall | Climb to the top of the mountain with a safe and fun climbing wall.

Children's Day would not be possible without the generous support of the following sponsors and donors:

Agassiz-Harrison Lions Club | Fraser Valley Library | Chilliwack Community Arts Council

Chilliwack School of Performing Arts | Petcurean Pet Foods | Prospera Credit Union

RE/Max Nyda Realty | District of Kent | Hub International Insurance Brokers | Fix Auto

Opening Ceremony

Saturday, July 8th @ 12:00pm at the Beach Stage

Harrison Hot Springs is situated within the traditional territory of the Sts'ailes First Nation, and the festival will begin with a traditional welcome to this land and a cultural presentation from the Sasquatch Dancers.

Photo Credit: Haslett Photo

The Harrison Festival Society is an independent, charitable, not-for-profit organization with a Board and paid staff. The organization came into being at the end of the 1970s, and can trace its birth to three founding entities: Fraser Valley College (now UFV), the Village of Harrison Hot Springs, and the KentHarrison Arts Council. The local Rotary Club also played a crucial role in the early years. The currently stable structure of the organization and Festival as it exists today was spearheaded by the visionary work of Phyllis Stenson (ED/AD) and Ed Stenson (GM), and supported by the many Board members over the years. The Society's main event is the Harrison Festival of the Arts each July, but the Society also produces a Season of the Performing Arts in Harrison from September to May. Over the history of the organization there has been sacrifice, experimentation, and risk undertaken by a lot of dedicated peopleand with it a lot of heart, thought, and plain old hard work. The festival is now under the direction of Executive/Artistic Director Andy Hillhouse, General Manager Bryan Cutler, and Bookkeeper/Administrator/ Market Coordinator Jenny East

Photo Credit: Haslett Photo

44th Annual Harrison Festival of the Arts - 2023 Programming

Programming Schedule

Mend by Sylvie Roussel-Janssens - Ranger Station Art Gallery

A virtual and outdoor installation at the Ranger Station Art Gallery

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

scheduling updates & changes!

Artisan Market

This vibrant Artisan Market showcases the diverse skill and creativity of some of BC's finest artisans and designers. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery as you stroll and shop amongst a dazzling array of genuinely handcrafted items. Pottery, jewelry, glass, clothing, painting, woodwork, food and much more.

Under the tents along the waterfront

July 8, 9 and 14,15,16

Friday 12pm-7pm

Saturdays 11am-6pm

Sundays 11am-5pm

For a full list of our artisans, including links to any available websites or pages, please visit our website at www.harrisonfestival.com/festival/artisan-market

Yoga On the Beach

Back and better than ever, we have Yoga on the Beach daily July 8th - 16th at 9:00am - 10:00am by the Beach Stage. A creative blend of experiences... the precision of the Iyengar tradition, the flow of a Vinyasa class, and the deep realization of Ancient Kriya.

Join Elizabeth each day to inspire the mind, awaken the body, and enlighten the spirit.

The Crystal Spirit mission statement is to bring peace and balance into the lives of this community and beyond, helping them achieve health and wellness of mind and body. Offering a wide range of healing methods all rooted in culture and knowledge that comes from wisdom and the heart.

Known in the community for a compassionate approach and experience adapting classes to meet individual needs, Elizabeth offers a supportive and welcoming space, where students of all ages and physical abilities can come to unwind and explore the healing benefits of Kriya Yoga.

What is Kriya Yoga?

Kriya is a system which deals directly with the mind, its structure and dynamics. Embodied within it is a mystical psychology which offers a profound recognition of how we create, sustain, and dissolve the circumstances of our life.

Sessions are only $6 each. No registration is required but can be made at harrisonfestival.com. Sessions are appropriate for all skill levels. Bring your own mats and be prepared to take in the sweet fresh lake air.

Music on the Beach

Balkan Shmalkan

Saturday, July 8th @ 1:00pm

Balkan Shmalkan is East Vancouver’s sweet dance party orchestra; think global music with local attitude. Their funky brass dance beats are rooted in the aural traditions of the Roma and Klezmorim of Eastern Europe and blended with a mixture of pop and jazz. Members of the group sing in five languages including Serbian, Romani, and Italian. The group contains six to twelve musicians playing reed, brass and percussion instruments of both Eastern and Western origin. The founders of Balkan Shmalkan have had a long history of collaboration in traditional South Serbian Trubaci music. This project is a way of blending that music with other vibrant traditions and bringing it to the general population of Greater Vancouver.

Saturday, July 8th @ 2:20pm & Sunday, July 9th @ 1:00pm

Growing up, Edmonton-based fiddler Alex Kusturok followed his fiddle champion mother Patti to old time dances around Manitoba, where he was immersed in Métis fiddle sounds from a very young age. His vibrant playing has earned him many fiddle trophies, including Manitoba Métis Champion (eight times), British Columbia Fiddle Champion, and Grand North American Champion. He gained international attention as part of the Métis Delegation that travelled to Rome in 2022, when he shared Métis music with Pope Francis, who famously gave him the thumbs up! While Métis fiddling is the core of his sound, he is greatly influenced by Quebecois and Cape Breton fiddle styles as well. He is joined by Robbie Fraser on piano and Abbotsford’s Mark Sullivan on guitar.

Polky

Saturday, July 8th @ 3:40pm & Sunday July 9th @ 2:20pm

Toronto's Polky was created by three courageous Polish ladies, singer Ewelina Ferenc, dancer Ala Stasiuk, and multi-instrumentalist Marta Solek. Polky, meaning "Polish women," came together through a shared passion for Eastern European music's enigmatic and upbeat style. Joined by three Canadian musicians, Polky brings its original sound to Eastern European traditional music by adding a uniquely Canadian and multicultural flavour. They take you on a musical journey to Poland, the melting pot of Eastern and Central Europe, with Ukrainian, Jewish, and Slovak musical influences. Their debut album, Songs From Home (2020), described by Songlines Magazine as an "energetic wilderness," celebrates the multicultural city of Toronto and the band’s Polish roots.

Alex Kusturok

Curtis Clear Sky and the Constellationz

Saturday, July 8th @ 5:00pm

Curtis Clear Sky and the Constellationz create a unifying sound with their funky rhythms, soulful harmonies, and uplifting, empowering lyrics providing an Indigenous worldview. Their music brings together hip-hop with Latin funk, soul, ska, reggae and blues. The band is fronted by Anishinaabe and Nitsitapii MC and vocalist Curtis Clear Sky, and the band is based out of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsliel Waututh territory in the city of Vancouver. Following their 2019 album Indigifunk, their 2022 single Our Home was released as a video in March 2023, and currently a new full length album is being recorded with Grammy nominated and multi Juno Award winning producer and engineer Garth Richardson.

The Moira Smiley Vocal Trio| Sunday, July 9th @ 3:40pm & Monday, July 10th @ 7:00pm

Harrison audiences will be familiar with the highly creative and versatile vocalist, instrumentalist, composer, and educator Moira Smiley through her previous performances here with her vocal group VOCO, and as a member of Jayme Stone’s Folklife ensemble. Her career is marked by collaborations across the music spectrum, from early music to the traditional folk music of Eastern Europe and Ireland, and to the Indie-pop oriented sounds of Tune-Yards, as well as her own work that draws on a range of styles from gospel to Balkan song. Here she is joined by Vancouver singers Karla Mundy and Jennifer Scott, in a varied set of vocal harmonizations by three top tier female singers.

Timba Cartel | Sunday, July 9th @ 5:00pm

Timba Cartel’s captivating high-energy music transports audiences to tropical lands with the distinct sound of modern Salsa called Timba. This dynamic evolution of Cuban popular dance music is a fusion of Mambo, Son, and Afro-Cuban folklore, with an added dash of funk and R&B. The end result is a fiesta of rhythm and melody that gets the audience dancing, singing, and above all having fun. Led by revered Vancouver percussionist and longtime friend of the festival Jack Duncan, the band also includes an all-star array of Vancouver players: Niho Takase (piano), Chris Haas (drums), Mark Beaty (bass), Susana Williams (voice), Daniel Avilan (voice), Brian Harding (trombone), Adrian Smith (trumpet), and Geeta Das (winds).

Al Qahwa| Tuesday, July 11th @ 7:00pm

The group name Al Qahwa is Arabic for “the coffee house”. It was inspired by the coffee house culture in the Middle East where people would go to hear the latest news, music, poetry and stories. The repertoire began with traditional songs from Syria, Egypt and Iraq, and now the band performs original compositions, as well as popular traditional Arabic repertoire – from Sufi Devotional Love songs from the Arab World to popular folk songs and classic Egyptian songs made famous by the stars of Egypt (the Hollywood of the Middle East). Al Qahwa is Maryem Tollar on vocals, riqq (Arabic tambourine) and qanun (Arabic table harp); Ernie Tollar on wind instruments; Demetri Petsalakis on oud; Naghmeh Fahrahmand on percussion; Waleed Abdulhamid on bass and vocals; and Roula Said on vocals, percussion and dance.

Namgar | Wednesday July 12th @ 7:00pm

Namgar is an international ethno collective, fusing traditional Buryat and Mongolian music with elements of pop, jazz, folk, ambient soundscapes, and art-rock that doesn't sound quite like anything else. Leader Namgar Lhasaranova's impressive vocal range can go from playful and childlike to gigantic and soaring within the space of a few minutes. The melodic music that the ensemble creates was inherited from Namgar’s grandparents and father, who sang to her as a child. The original arrangements are new, but the stories told in the songs are as old as the Indigenous Buryats themselves, with stories and myths of ancient Mongolian warriors, champions, horses, and famous battles. Namgar has performed all over the world at major international festivals, captivating the audience with the versatility and depth of Buryat folk songs.

Thursday, July 13th @ 7:00pm & Friday, July 14th @ 2:00pm

Born and raised in Ottawa, Angelique Francis is a naturally gifted singer and multi-instrumentalist, who first garnered attention as a young prodigy. She took to the stage at age 7, and at 13 years old she made her American national television debut on the Oprah Network, writing and composing an original theme song for the Gayle King show. By age 13 she was proficient in playing guitar and bass. Despite her young age, Angelique’s soulful smoky vocals and instrumental techniques are reminiscent of a bygone era. Within her vocal style, you can hear influences of legends like Big Mama Thornton, Koko Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Bessie Smith, and many more. She is joined in the band by her sisters Kharincia and Kira, as well as her father Kiran, with Dave Williamson on guitar.

Garret T. Willie | Friday, July 14th @ 3:00pm

Guitarist Garret T. Willie first arrived on the scene at the young age of 10, when he opened the Alert Bay Music Festival. From there he soon developed a reputation as a blues guitar prodigy. Born in Namgis/Kwakwaka’wakw (Alert Bay, BC), Garret has constructed a sound that blends together blues, rock, and country-folk. He has studiously studied all the right source material, from Howlin’ Wolf, Albert King and Muddy Waters, to Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and Ten Years After, with a little Johnny Cash and Hank Williams thrown in. More than just a technically skilled player (and that he is), he plays with an honesty that comes directly from his experience, and his heart.

Angelique Francis |

Rum Ragged | Friday, July 14th @ 7:00pm & Saturday, July 15th @ 1:00pm

2021 JUNO Award Nominees Rum Ragged take a bold approach to the distinct folk music of the band’s home, Newfoundland. With a reverence for their roots and a creative, contemporary edge, this young band has quickly become known as the finest performers of their great, living musical tradition. Boasting bouzouki, fiddle, bodhran, banjo, guitar, and button accordion, Rum Ragged sings both their own self-penned songs and songs by some of their home province’s finest writers, always reflecting on the distinctive culture and lifestyles of Newfoundlanders. Always honest and thought-provoking, and often humorous, Rum Ragged’s mix of striking vocal harmonies, impressive musicianship, and captivating storytelling gives concert-goers an experience they won’t soon forget.

Joe Craven |

Saturday, July 15th @ 2:20pm

Sunday, July 16th @ 1:00pm

California-based Joe Craven is not just an entertaining musician with a penchant for the mischievous, he is a teacher and student all at once, and he will draw you into his performance by including you as though you’re part of the show. His gift of gab is unprecedented, and his musical knowledge impressive. Creativity educator, former museum curator, visual artist, actor/storyteller, and event emcee, Joe has made music with many folks, notably violinist Stephane Grappelli and Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, as well as David Lindley, harmonica wizard Howard Levy, and banjo fusionist Alison Brown. Always looking for the next expression and object to make music with, Joe is a musical madman with anything that has strings attached; violin, mandolin, tin can, bedpan, cookie tin, tenor guitar/banjo, mouth bow, canjoe, cuatro, CBG, berimbau, balalaika, boot ‘n lace and double-necked whatever. As mandolinist David Grisman has said, “Everything Joe touches turns to music”. Joe will also MC the entire Beach Stage lineup on July 15th and 16th.

Amanda Rheaume

Saturday, July 15th @ 3:40pm & Sunday, July 16th @ 2:20pm

Amanda Rheaume’s rootsy, guitar-driven ballads introduce crucial dimensions to the genre of Heartland Rock, by expanding its geographical and cultural boundaries to make space for new perspectives on resistance and resilience. A citizen of the Métis Nation and an active and proud member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Rheaume makes music that is indeed from the heart, and the land. First a songwriter, Rheaume comes from a long line of tireless, transformational organizers and activists, and carries this lineage forward in her ever-growing role as a crucial builder of Indigenous music infrastructure and community. From the International Indigenous Music Summit, to newly-founded Ishkode Records, and the National Indigenous Music Office, the goal of raising Indigenous sovereignty in the music industry drives all of Rheaume’s work.

Wesli

|

Los Duendes | Sunday, July 16th @ 3:40pm

Ruby Singh and the Future Ancestors

Sunday, July 16th @ 5:00pm

The Future Ancestors come together to conjure sonic remedies - to heal, guide, and inspire the spirits of our kin, both known and unknown, seen and unseen. Ruby Singh has assembled a formidable crew to deliver his self-penned tales of home and wandering, love and longing, justice and hope. Khari Wendell McClelland and Holly Eccleston bring deep soul and harmony with their gift of song; JUNO award winner Gord Grdina shines on oud and guitar; Kenton Loewen (drums) and Peter Schmitt (bass) hold down the rhythm section; and Paul Finlay, on electronics, crossfades and scratches like a painter across a canvas. Weaving together inspiration from the Delta Blues and Qawaali to golden era Hip Hop, the Future Ancestors, as their name suggests, spans from ancient realms toward the coming unknown.

Workshops

Here is a look at our great Workshop Lineup! Most workshops will be held in the Harrison Memorial Hall with the exception of Slam Poetry and Plastic Kebabs. Each workshop only costs a $2+ minimum donation to participate with the exception of Drum Making. RSVPing is not required but showing up a few minutes ahead of time is encouraged.

Plastic Kebabs Saturday, July 8th @ 11am - 1pm ($2 donation)

Entirely made of recycled plastic material, Plastic Kebabs is a wind and human touch activated installation made of colorful plastic. In the spirit of sustainability, I am repurposing leftover cut- off material from previous art projects.

Eastern European Songs and Dances

Saturday, July 8th @ 1pm - 2pm

($2 donation)

Come join Canada’s own women-led Eastern European band Polky as they take you on a musical journey to Poland, the melting pot of Eastern and Central Europe, with Ukrainian, Jewish, and Slovak musical influences.

A Barn Dance

Sunday, July 9th @ 11am - 12pm ($2 donation)

Enjoy the driving music of some of Western Canada’s best traditional musicians, Alex Kusturok and Robbie Fraser, while you learn square and contra dances. A fun experience of community celebration!

Spoken Rhythms | Sunday, July 9th @ 12pm - 2pm

($2 donation)

Using a variety of writing prompts and exercises, workshop participants will spend time writing and then practicing ways to elevate their work off the page. Poets will learn ways to tap into their own rhythms and enhance their voice in front of others.

This workshop will take place in the Ranger Station Art Gallery. 98 Rockwell Drive.

Songs, Movement and Body Percussion with Moira Smiley

Sunday, July 9th @ 1pm - 2pm ($2 donation)

Moira is a renowned, creative, and skilled workshop facilitator. Explore the expressive potential of your voice and body in this special session with her.

Improvisation as a Lifestyle

Saturday, July 15th @ 11am - 12pm ($2 donation)

We are already improvisational creatures as we move through our day. Let Joe Craven show you how you can make connections with what you already do... to the movements of music making. It's a workshop for everybody!

Indigenous Drum Making

Saturday, July 15th @ 1pm - 3pm

Admission: cost of drum kit

Drums : 7" - $45 | 10"- $58 | 12"- $78 | 14"- $98 | 16"- $135

Pre-registration advised. Contact the Festival office at 604.796.3664

Learn the traditional art of drum making from Sts'ailes First Nations member Darren Charlie. Under Darren's guidance each participant will create their own drum. This is always a popular workshop so registration is recommended.

Amanda Rheume

Sunday, July 16th @ 11am - 12pm ($2 donation)

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Métis culture at this workshop! Led by Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk, a renowned fiddler and Métis cultural educator, and joined by Métis singersongwriter Amanda Rheaume, this experience promises a captivating journey. Discover the rich history, traditions, and melodies that define Métis music. From lively fiddle tunes to heartfelt songs and storytelling, this workshop will leave you inspired and connected to the spirit of Métis heritage.

Ukelele Gathering

Sunday, July 16th @ 1pm - 2pm ($2 donation)

Summer is ukulele season; come join enthusiastic locals. Bring a ukulele and good humour to our gathering. We’ll share beginner tips on how to play and gather, then dive in to play old favs and new-to-you tunes. Visit the Festival link or FB’s Harrison Ukulele Gathering to download Play Music on Your Porch songbook.

Art Exhibit

The Festival Visual Art Exhibit is on display in the Ranger Station Art Gallery (98 Rockwell Dr) from July 6-30. Hours during the Festival are 9am to 5pm daily For the remainder of the month the gallery is open 10am to 4pm weekdays and 1pm to 5pm on weekends.

Mend by Sylvie Roussel-Janssens

“If we can make a small gesture of repair, perhaps we can have the courage to fix our broken world.”

"This sustainable art practice in sculpture melds embroidery and environmental concerns. In my recent work, I transferred my experience in textile work to plastic waste material. The plastic debris was gathered in the Fraser Valley during the pandemic. Stitching is healing. If we can make small gesture of repair, perhaps we can have the courage to fix our broken world."

Sylvie Roussel-Janssens

The works exhibited are temporary interventions, “drawing” with string, and continue Alyssa Schwann’s ongoing studies in the intersection of “art + ecology”, examining the temporal and formal relationships between land and place. The work is intended as a meditation on an understanding of the need to nurture a deep relationship to place, using the Coastal Western Hemlock forest—and string—as the subjects.

Alyssa Schwann | Outdoor Installation

Harrison Festival Staff & Site Crew

Vicki Bolan | Jessi Fowlis | Shawna Lawson | Toley Smith | Chris Reid | Ben Hardgraves

Makailla Palliyaguru | Kara Vinchoff | Peter Lepine | Jamea Lister | Jennifer Todd

Delaney Bergstrom | Rebecca Schram | Nathalie Thibault | Colin Farquhar | Hailey Bate

Mike Evans | Vickie Legere | Judy Pasemko | Lyndsay James | Liz Webber

Executive & Artistic Director | Andy Hillhouse

General Manager | Bryan Cutler

Administrator and Bookkeeper | Jenny East

Harrison Festival Board of Directors

Len Davidiuk | Lisa Kenney | Heather Robertson | Jasmine Laurenson

Stephanie Gallamore | Ernie Eaves | Liz Webber | Adam Balfour

The Harrison Festival Board of Directors and staff would like to take this opportunity to extend a huge THANK YOU to the people who really make the Festival happen... our AMAZING VOLUNTEERS! We could not do it without you!!

We’d also like to thank everyone who joined the Festival "Family" this year, with special thanks to the following individuals and businesses who made an extra donation along with their 2023 family memberships:

Lois Wilson | Monica Little | Allan Jackson & Mary Dams | Laurence & Joan St. Pierre

Deborah McGovern | Sharon Meissner | Alyssa Schwann | Stephanie Gallamore

Yolanda Janssen | Christine Zyla | Michelle Drummond | Dominique Ah Loy | Leo Facio

Sharon Blaker | Anne Ah Loy | Val & Wayne Richards | Cindy Brown | Karen Bartlett

Leo & Emee Wenk | Len Davidiuk | Maureen Wendt and Bruce Turner | Laura Munn

Geraldine Mailhot | Trevor & Jennifer Todd | Jane Kivett | Heather Robertson | Michie Vidal

Coral McFadden | Sandy Tait | Dan & Linda Scobie | Lorraine Van Grol | Inge Gilbert

John & Jacquie Zuidhof | Ed Stenson | Dave Stephen & Astrid Beugeling | Patricia Freer

Fred & Liz Webber | Dave & Cora Hampson | Dave & Fran Hastie | Ray & Linda Bennie

FOR THE LOVE OF EARTH! We feel so incredibly fortunate to live and work amongst such breathtaking scenery. Please help us keep its natural beauty pristine - discard your trash in designated garbage bins and recycle this program (unless you’re keeping it for your collection, of course)!

Hiking, Biking, Swimming, Canoeing, Kayaking, Camping, Stargazing, Naturalist Programs &

Fishing, Paddle Boarding, So Much To Explore!

Winter Camping, Snowboarding, Downhill Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ice Skating & Snowshoeing