Wintersleep make Wapiti debut
A visit to Fernie Alpine Resort and The Royal was a top priority for Wapiti headliners Wintersleep.
The Fernie ski hill and nightclub featured in the 2010 comedy Hot Tub Time Machine, which is drummer Loel Campbell’sfavourite movie.
“I wanna check that out, hopefully, maybe travel back in time,” joked Campbell.
The Montreal-based rockers also dropped into the historic downtown and Boston Pizza prior to their set at Annex Park onSaturday night.
“It’s our first time in Fernie, it’s really nice,” said guitarist Tim D’eon.
“B.C. is just amazing, we’re from the east coast so it’s awesome play a place that’s outside of Vancouver and see thewilderness. It seems like a cool festival.”
The JUNO Award-winning band is currently working on a new album, which is due out next year.
Campbell promised an “eclectic mix” of new music.
“I guess it’s sort of a progression from our last record, which is called The Great Detachment,” he said. “But we always like toswitch it up.”
New jam session a smash hit
Wapiti artists got an early wake up call on Saturday for a new addition to the indie music festival.
About 50 people gathered at the beverage garden for the inaugural Morning Jam Session, which featured bands including ElkRun Riot, Shred Kelly, Royal Foundry and Elliott Brood.
Each artist took turns on the mic, performing songs that ranged from their latest hits to influential music from their formativeyears and encouraging the audience to join in.
The event was a new addition to the Wapiti Music Festival programme.
“I think that went over very well,” said Wapiti Music Festival Society President Kevin McIsaac.
“The only concern I heard was from the musicians who thought 10 a.m. was extremely early for people used to getting up at 2p.m.
“There was grumbling but in very good spirits and I think they had a lot of fun with it.”
McIsaac said feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive and the jam session would return.
“I heard repeatedly from attendees at the festival that the jam session was a highlight for them, it was something uniquethat’s only going to happen that one time with that exact group of musicians,” he said.
“We’re hoping to do it again next year but it will be different people. It’s a one time thing to see and a unique feature.”
Shred Kelly return home for Wapiti
It’s always a pleasure to come home to play, said the members of Shred Kelly after their Friday headlining show at this year’s Wapiti Music Festival.
“Home town shows, especially Wapiti, are a soul lifter for our whole band,” said lead singer and guitarist Tim Newton.
“It’s really amazing just to see the community support that this festival brings together.”
The crowd was amazing, added Newton.
“We always feed off that energy, and tonight, the energy was high,” he said.
From jam nights underneath the Brickhouse to shooting music videos at remote mountain locations via helicopter, Newton says it’s surreal to think about how far Shred Kelly has come.
The band recently finished a video shoot for their hit song, “Jupiter”, which was filmed at a remote location in the mountain ranges near Island Lake Lodge.
“Every once in a while, because of the band, we get to do something insane and amazing,” said Newton.
“I felt very privileged, and at the same time, insanely stoked that we have this opportunity to do this through partnering with other people in Fernie.”
For almost two weeks following the festival, Shred Kelly is home on holidays.
Following this, they head to the west coast for several concerts and will finish off their summer at Skookum Festival in Stanley Park, Vancouver.
