What: Mountain West Music Fest
When: Friday, Aug. 21 to Sunday, Aug. 23
Where: Whistler driving range
Cost: In advance $60 adults, each day, or $100 both, $15 kids over five, each day, or $25 both days
All of the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place to make Whistler's inaugural Mountain West Music Fest a success this summer. In fact, the local company organizing the event, Watermark Communications, has just announced a solid headliner for the two-day event, which runs from Friday, Aug. 21 until Sunday, Aug. 23, and it's looking like the music should set a peace loving, chilled out vibe - nothing agro or angsty here.
Xavier Rudd, an Australian singer-songwriter, is a virtual one-man-band, wielding guitars, Yidaki (didgeridoos), Weissenborn slide guitars, stomp box, harmonica, and percussion during every and any given performance. He's on board to take the stage at Mountain West on Saturday.
The Rastrillos, a 12-piece Mexican reggae band, have also been confirmed as one of the opening acts for Sunday.
Sue Eckersley, president of Watermark Communications, couldn't confirm the other artists in the lineup, as they're still in negotiations with many performers, but each day of the festival should include five acts.
"The rest of that lineup is going to fall into place pretty quickly," Eckersley said.
She explained that Saturday should have more of an earthy, folk music vibe to match Rudd's sound, while Sunday will be all about reggae.
They decided to pursue Rudd as a headliner for the event because his music captures the overall spirit and vibe they're aiming for with Mountain West.
"He embodies everything, and his music and the people that follow him embody everything we want this festival to be," Eckersley said. "It is very family-friendly, it's good-feeling music, it's outdoor-type of music."
Since announcing the festival a few weeks ago, Watermark has been working with Vancouver-based promoter, Derek Arrowsmith, of Upstream Entertainment to nail down the talent portion of the event. And so far, Eckersley is pleased with both the confirmed acts and the offers that are still out on the table.
"Both days are going to be a great lineup - I mean, the value that you'll get is really high, which is exactly what we want," she said.
Value seems to be one of the key focal points for organizers. At the same time they named Rudd as a headliner, organizers announced ticket prices. Early bird prices are $60 for adults each day, or $100 for both days, and $15 for kids over the age of five each day, or $25 for both days. VIP tickets are $200 in advance. During the week of the event, prices increase a bit: adult's will pay $75 for each day or $120 for both, while kids cost $25 each day or $40 for both, and VIP tickets will cost $250.
"I think that that was critical for us... we want to make sure that it's accessible not just to the visitors, but to Whistler locals," Eckersley said. "...I think that what that does is send the message that they're more than welcome, that we want them."
Eckersley also points out that Rudd is touring in Vancouver earlier this summer, and tickets to those individual shows are about $35 apiece, whereas a ticket to either day of the Mountain West Music Fest is just $60, and will give them access to five different acts.
They also have plans to include a smaller stage on site for local musicians, as a chance to showcase local talent between the opening and headlining acts on the main stage.
"So there'll be music all the time," Eckersley said, adding that they will also have other activities and vendors on site.
They also plan to include a small-scale artisan market on site, where local food producers and artists can sell their wares to music lovers.
"We've spoken to Wildwood about having their donairs, and then bring another business that might be doing the burgers and another one that might be doing the hotdogs," she said.
Whatever is sold on site, the keyword will be sustainability - Watermark wants to make sure that attendees are conscious of the environment.
"It is going to be more of an earthy-style festival where we want to promote those types of values," Eckersley said. "We want to have a situation where you bring your own plate and your own cups and you get a discount on foods. We're going to sell water cheap, but then you're going to be able to refill your bottles for free."
The festival will kick off on Friday night with shows at local bars, though organizers haven't finalized details about venues or individual performances. It will then move to the outdoor realm of the Whistler Golf Club driving range on Saturday and Sunday, aiming to draw crowds of 2,000 to 5,000 people per day.
So far, Mountain West seems to be creating a buzz in the community.
"People are really excited that Watermark is doing it and the feeling on the street is that if we can't make a music festival go in this town, then music is in trouble in Whistler," Eckersley said. "I think there's some excitement because they know that we're going to try and make it work financially so it's something that can exist year after year and something that we can build on as a community."
Eckersley hopes that the festival will help support local businesses, even in the first year. Watermark will encourage festival attendees to visit restaurants and stores throughout the village before and after the musical performances.
But Eckersley has a grander vision for future years of the festival.
"In the long term, I want to have Celebration Plaza going and the driving range and Ross Rebagliati Park - multiple venues - and to build it where it becomes a weekend where music lovers do come to Whistler and stay in hotels and go to restaurants."
