Cue the music, hit the lights: it's Festival Time (chris woodall) Live music, a parade, food, drink... and oh yeah, a couple of ski races. Although the fun of Hongkong Bank Whistler Ski Classic Festival started with a Wild Willies Canadian Team fund-raiser at Buffalo Bill’s on Wednesday night, now that it's Friday there's no excuse for adults or children to avoid partying down. The downhill training run dominates the morning, but the village comes alive as of 3 p.m. Music? You bet we got music. It goes from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the Village Festival Mainstage, featuring bands and individual musicians competing to play with the Paperboys Celtic rock band at Saturday's Party Headquarters event. Musical winners will get free recording time, music store gift certificates and more to kick-start their path to fame and a three-CD deal (yeah, right). The stage started rocking Thursday, but continues today (Friday) and again Saturday, each day going from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday's lineup includes Glen Mishaw and Monty going by the name "Department of Agriculture," Whistler's professional songbird Karen Thirlwall, stylin' hairstylist Terese Dancause, Pemberton's Dale Lachance and the always fantabulous Hounds of Buskerville. Making re-appearances at a Saturday open stage from their Thursday gig might be Raven (Leanne Lamouroux and friends), Pete and Chad's new band Garafraxa, a Pemberton foursome (three dudes and a dudette) called Peaches and Diesel, a trio of Whistler high schoolers calling themselves Underground Convoy, the ever-popular Dank Nuggs, and/or Band X: Brad White, Paul Woodside, Steve St. Arnaud, Sue Hawkesby and Janet McDonald. Saturday night's House Party event at the conference centre will start with the solo musician winner opening for the first set by the Paperboys. The winner of the band competition keeps the crowd roaring, with the Paperboys finishing it off for the night. Tickets are $10 at the door, less in advance. "And that's a bargain, man," sez famous former Pique Newsmagazine social columnist Kristen Robinson. The music never stops on Sunday as some or all of the above will gather at the Boot Pub for the weekly Jam Session, sparked this week by the unveiling of the Boot's Wall of Fame. It all begins at 8 p.m.
