Help comes in the most amazing forms
Music on the Mountain (MoM) is a festival held near the end of August at the Murray Ridge Ski Area in Fort St. James, BC. Now heading into its fourth year, MoM has had a strong heart since the beginning. That first year, with the possible exception of Saturday night, there were more musicians than audience members all weekend long. And what a weekend it was, with performers from nearby and as far away as Australia in attendance. Everyone who was there was pretty sure they had witnessed the start of something great not because of wild financial success but rather because of the way they felt, the way we all connected in a moment in time in the woods of northern BC. A monumental job was handled by a really dedicated team of volunteers and organizers and a festival was born.
The winter and spring following the first year of MoM some of the performers held a fundraising night for MoM in Toronto. Although no money was raised the event was an illustration of how everyone really loves MoM, even from half-way across the country.
Today, almost three years later, the legend of MoM continues to spread. With three years of growth and a list of past performers to rival even the mightiest festival MoM’s heart beats strong and true. She calls friends from far and wide to come home for one magical weekend at the end of a long summer road. MoM also continues to build relationships in Fort St. James, the beautiful community she calls home. With each passing year more and more sponsors have come forward and offered their support. Successful events throughout the year nave helped to nurture the culture of live music in “The Fort”.
In spite of all the good will and good work MoM continues to have great challenges obtaining enough of the funding that is so essential for the staging of a large music festival. This is where the story really gets crazy . . . hang on tight.
On February 20, 2013 Singer/Songwriter Dave Soroka posted on MoM’s Facebook page. The statement started with: “I'm thinking, fundraiser for MoM. What if we could get . . . “ Then went on to list a dozen or more past Mom performers then finished with: “. . . to come to Penticton all on the same weekend sometime in May to do a benefit? . . . All proceeds to MoM. Anyone got any ideas how to make something like this happen?”
People started to respond . . . with each positive response Dave would throw another bit of fuel onto the emerging blaze. Names started to fly around and there was a lot of “Wouldn’t it be great if . . . “. As the back and forth continued it became pretty apparent that something was going to come out of the discourse. A venue emerged; first The Elite then talk of adding Voodoos and doing a two venue night. There were talks of an internet link-up to allow performers from across the land to lend their support. A date was set and a Facebook page put together. People were inviting their friends and before you know it there was a full-fledged show emerging.
There are now performers from all over as well as organizers from no less than three major music festivals involved, sharing their insight and working toward a common goal, to help MoM.
The venue was recently changed to the Shatford Centre - Okanagan School of the Arts. What’s exciting about that is that the fine folks at the Shatford have been looking for a way to start a festival. The timing is perfect, early to mid May in Penticton is beautiful and a new festival in BC at that time will extend the summer festival season by almost a full month.
The show is in a state of flux, growing and spreading as people chime in to lend their support. Workshops were recently added to the event. Nobody knows where it’s going to go next.
MoM is giving birth to a brand-new baby festival.
With internet/video appearances by:
Linda McRae
Karyn Ellis
Yael Wand
Joey Onley
Corwin Fox
Darrel DelaRonde
Music on the Mountain (MoM) is a festival held near the end of August at the Murray Ridge Ski Area in Fort St. James, BC. Now heading into its fourth year, MoM has had a strong heart since the beginning. That first year, with the possible exception of Saturday night, there were more musicians than audience members all weekend long. And what a weekend it was, with performers from nearby and as far away as Australia in attendance. Everyone who was there was pretty sure they had witnessed the start of something great not because of wild financial success but rather because of the way they felt, the way we all connected in a moment in time in the woods of northern BC. A monumental job was handled by a really dedicated team of volunteers and organizers and a festival was born.
The winter and spring following the first year of MoM some of the performers held a fundraising night for MoM in Toronto. Although no money was raised the event was an illustration of how everyone really loves MoM, even from half-way across the country.
Today, almost three years later, the legend of MoM continues to spread. With three years of growth and a list of past performers to rival even the mightiest festival MoM’s heart beats strong and true. She calls friends from far and wide to come home for one magical weekend at the end of a long summer road. MoM also continues to build relationships in Fort St. James, the beautiful community she calls home. With each passing year more and more sponsors have come forward and offered their support. Successful events throughout the year nave helped to nurture the culture of live music in “The Fort”.
In spite of all the good will and good work MoM continues to have great challenges obtaining enough of the funding that is so essential for the staging of a large music festival. This is where the story really gets crazy . . . hang on tight.
On February 20, 2013 Singer/Songwriter Dave Soroka posted on MoM’s Facebook page. The statement started with: “I'm thinking, fundraiser for MoM. What if we could get . . . “ Then went on to list a dozen or more past Mom performers then finished with: “. . . to come to Penticton all on the same weekend sometime in May to do a benefit? . . . All proceeds to MoM. Anyone got any ideas how to make something like this happen?”
People started to respond . . . with each positive response Dave would throw another bit of fuel onto the emerging blaze. Names started to fly around and there was a lot of “Wouldn’t it be great if . . . “. As the back and forth continued it became pretty apparent that something was going to come out of the discourse. A venue emerged; first The Elite then talk of adding Voodoos and doing a two venue night. There were talks of an internet link-up to allow performers from across the land to lend their support. A date was set and a Facebook page put together. People were inviting their friends and before you know it there was a full-fledged show emerging.
There are now performers from all over as well as organizers from no less than three major music festivals involved, sharing their insight and working toward a common goal, to help MoM.
The venue was recently changed to the Shatford Centre - Okanagan School of the Arts. What’s exciting about that is that the fine folks at the Shatford have been looking for a way to start a festival. The timing is perfect, early to mid May in Penticton is beautiful and a new festival in BC at that time will extend the summer festival season by almost a full month.
The show is in a state of flux, growing and spreading as people chime in to lend their support. Workshops were recently added to the event. Nobody knows where it’s going to go next.
MoM is giving birth to a brand-new baby festival.
With internet/video appearances by:
Linda McRae
Karyn Ellis
Yael Wand
Joey Onley
Corwin Fox
Darrel DelaRonde
Province-Wide Community of Musicians Come Together in Penticton for a Common Cause
Nearly three-dozen musical acts from across the province and from as far away as Edmonton will converge on the City of Penticton May 11 and 12 in support of something great. The motivating factor for the influx of music-makers is a little-known but quickly growing music festival in Fort St. James, the Music on the Mountain (MOM) Festival. Folkanagan is the name chosen for the fundraiser in support of MOM, and all the musicians travelling combined 1000’s of kilometers will be donating their services and much of their travel expenses to bring attention to the MOM Festival and to help raise funds for its upcoming 4th year of operations.
Appropriate in support of the MOM Festival, Folkanagan is taking place during Mother’s Day Weekend and the event is being promoted as an affordable weekend of entertainment for families. Ticket prices range from $10 - $20 for the weekend, with children under the age of 12 free. Folkanagan will be held at the Shatford Centre, 760 Main Street in Pentiction. Performances will be held on Saturday May 11, from 1p.m. to 11p.m., with workshops and musical acts taking place Sunday May 12 from 9a.m. to 5p.m.
Performers for the event include David Roy Parsons (Vancouver), Angela Roy (Vernon), Samantha Scott (Dawson Creek), Doug Koyama (Quesnel), Sober Becky (Nelson), Hazen Sage (Vancouver Island), Mike Freesoul Band (Prince George), Ari Neufeld (Okanagan), Dave Soroka (Grand Forks) and many other wandering minstrels joining with Penticton local Maiya Robbie. Some musicians will even be connecting to the weekend event through remote technology in order to provide their musical contribution to the mix.
The Music on the Mountain Festival which Folkanagan is being organized to support, is a much-loved home grown festival. MOM takes place at the base of Murray Ridge Ski Area in Fort St. James, 90 minutes north of Prince George. Over the last 3 years MOM has become recognized as being the last in a summer of awesome music festivals across BC. It is here that final experiences are made, miles are logged, and music lovers kiss the summer goodbye. As with most festivals, MOM relies on support from a combination of fundraising, ticket sales, granting programs and corporate support. MOM is being recognized as great fledgeling event in Northern BC, and Folkanagan will give artists and audiences the opportunity to make connections with this festival prior to August 24, 25, 26 and to support it in its development.
Information about Folkanagan and Music on the Mountain is available through their websites, folkanagan.weebly.com/, http://www.shatfordcentre.com/ and www.momfestival.com. Both festivals can also be found through facebook. Contact organizer Dave Soroka, 250-442-6546 to inquire about Folkanagan or find out how to get involved, and Lionel Conant at 250-996-1897 regarding Music on the Mountain.
Nearly three-dozen musical acts from across the province and from as far away as Edmonton will converge on the City of Penticton May 11 and 12 in support of something great. The motivating factor for the influx of music-makers is a little-known but quickly growing music festival in Fort St. James, the Music on the Mountain (MOM) Festival. Folkanagan is the name chosen for the fundraiser in support of MOM, and all the musicians travelling combined 1000’s of kilometers will be donating their services and much of their travel expenses to bring attention to the MOM Festival and to help raise funds for its upcoming 4th year of operations.
Appropriate in support of the MOM Festival, Folkanagan is taking place during Mother’s Day Weekend and the event is being promoted as an affordable weekend of entertainment for families. Ticket prices range from $10 - $20 for the weekend, with children under the age of 12 free. Folkanagan will be held at the Shatford Centre, 760 Main Street in Pentiction. Performances will be held on Saturday May 11, from 1p.m. to 11p.m., with workshops and musical acts taking place Sunday May 12 from 9a.m. to 5p.m.
Performers for the event include David Roy Parsons (Vancouver), Angela Roy (Vernon), Samantha Scott (Dawson Creek), Doug Koyama (Quesnel), Sober Becky (Nelson), Hazen Sage (Vancouver Island), Mike Freesoul Band (Prince George), Ari Neufeld (Okanagan), Dave Soroka (Grand Forks) and many other wandering minstrels joining with Penticton local Maiya Robbie. Some musicians will even be connecting to the weekend event through remote technology in order to provide their musical contribution to the mix.
The Music on the Mountain Festival which Folkanagan is being organized to support, is a much-loved home grown festival. MOM takes place at the base of Murray Ridge Ski Area in Fort St. James, 90 minutes north of Prince George. Over the last 3 years MOM has become recognized as being the last in a summer of awesome music festivals across BC. It is here that final experiences are made, miles are logged, and music lovers kiss the summer goodbye. As with most festivals, MOM relies on support from a combination of fundraising, ticket sales, granting programs and corporate support. MOM is being recognized as great fledgeling event in Northern BC, and Folkanagan will give artists and audiences the opportunity to make connections with this festival prior to August 24, 25, 26 and to support it in its development.
Information about Folkanagan and Music on the Mountain is available through their websites, folkanagan.weebly.com/, http://www.shatfordcentre.com/ and www.momfestival.com. Both festivals can also be found through facebook. Contact organizer Dave Soroka, 250-442-6546 to inquire about Folkanagan or find out how to get involved, and Lionel Conant at 250-996-1897 regarding Music on the Mountain.