A new live music series SummerSounds 2013, hosted by the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel, will bring in live music on Saturday afternoons from June 22 to Aug. 17. Music performances will feature local bands and run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. each day. DJ Royal Alex will spin the dance mixes from 3 to 5 p.m.
"Originally we were thinking of hosting a couple of bands, but the community support was so overwhelming we found we could provide a series of events over the whole summer," says Jim Conley, museum director and series organizer. "The donations of time and funds from both non-profit and business sponsors have been just fantastic."
Conley, along with talent co-ordinator Brian Noer worked closely with the Cranbrook Farmer's Market and the Downtown Business Association to co-ordinate events and create an 'all-ages festival experience' in downtown Cranbrook.
In addition to live music "SummerSounds 2013" will also offer a number of fun activities for the young and old, including a Limbo contest, Paper Plane Challenge, Water Balloon Toss and a Geocache search. Each week the Downtown Business Association will be offering a $50 gift certificate to the winner(s). The museum will also be providing free, guided tours of heritage sites in the downtown area.
Conley hopes that "SummerSounds 2013" will become an annual event. "Free music in the park on Saturday afternoons is something we'd like to see in the years to come," says Conley. "There's a lot of talent in the Cranbrook music scene and we believe the community will keep coming downtown to see it."
An open-mic competition is set for 6 p.m. at the Aug. 14 Farmer's Market with cash prizes and studio time awarded to the winner. The festival will conclude on Aug. 24 with an all day celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Cranbrook & District Arts Council.
The schedule:
June 22 - The Hoodies & The Little Jazz Orchestra
June 29 - Daze of Grace & Jim Conley
July 6 - 60 Hertz
July 13 - Good Ol Goats
July 17 - The Rosie Brown Band
July 20 - Redgirl
July 27 - Sheila and Van Redekopp
Aug 3 - The Heather Gemmell Band & Jamie Neve
Aug 10 - The Bison Brothers & Pine Slacks
Aug 17 - Dave Prinn & Friends