Killarney Guide

UNDER THE BIG TOP – Above: Green was the ‘Art of Colour’ theme Thursday afternoon for the Summer Art Camp kids over at the Heritage Home for the Arts. Leaders were ‘cooling’ the energetic youngsters off under the newly erected big tent – which will feature some great live bands tonight at the Sights and Sounds Arts and Music Festival.

2nd Annual Sights & Sounds Festival runs all this weekend – with Friday night ticket fees credited towards a $100 weekend pass!

BY KIM LANGEN

Festival fever begins tonight, with three days of world-class music of all genres, free artisan market, Los Brothers food truck, beer garden – and loads more.

And an added last-minute bonus is that all festival attendees that make it out for tonight’s terrific opening show can also have their Friday ticket fee credited onto a $100 weekend pass. 

It’s a great way to start the ball rolling, and to encourage more people to enjoy a festival of this quality and size, say organizers. 

In addition, free access to the artisan market and kids’ activities means that everyone can enjoy the vibe and the pleasure of a music festival right here in Killarney, they said.

 “It’s going to be fantastic,” said the arts administrator of the Heritage Home for the Arts, Jane Ireland. “Our headliners include Sam Polley and the Old Tomorrows on Friday night – Sam is Jim Cuddy’s son (Blue Rodeo), and the opener is Red Moon Road. Saturday is country artist Jerry Sereda, who is part of the Indigenous tour, and his openers will include a number of emerging artists, and some workshops too. On Sunday it’s the Bromantics, an old style swing band, and they open with Banda Taverna, a Brazilian group that plays Irish Celtic music. It is going to be quite a mix!”

An alluring artisan market will also be arranged nearby, at the Agricultural Building area, where a number of creative vendors will be laying out a wide array of items for sale, which include handmade clothing, soaps, beeswax products, hand-woven towels, artwork, botanical ceramics, dyed fabrics, resin jewellery, an arts table featuring works of gallery artists, and much more. Entrance to this market is free. 

Near the festival site, Los Brothers food truck will be parking up with their tempting Mexican fare. New this year will also be a beer garden, said Ireland, with coolers on offer, and other relaxing items to imbibe…! Make sure to bring cash for the beer garden and food truck, and everything else too.

Access to the festival and the artisan market will be through the Agricultural Grounds’ main entrance on Water Avenue, just south of the art gallery. Access to the Heritage Home for the Arts itself will be closed off to all traffic, and patrons will be able to access the kids area and food truck either through the parking lot area, or through the barricades at the top of the driveway. 

The food truck, a canteen run by the grads, the artisan market (with 10+ vendors), and a children’s activity area near the food truck are all free access to the public, and do not require a festival pass.

In addition, transport to the festival site is being supplied to seniors for free, said Ireland.

“The handi-van is available, for free, to transport seniors, who can be picked up at their homes,” she said. “The service is being sponsored by a kind donor, and to book a ride, people can call me in advance at 1-431-734-0394.”

Festival passes (day and weekend options) are available in advance (best prices are the advance tickets!) from Lewis and Jones, 532 Broadway Ave., and the Heritage Home for the Arts, 44 Water Avenue, until 3 p.m. on Friday; and online through Eventbrite. 

You can also purchase passes for the day, or weekend, at the gate (cash only).

MARKET READY – Giselle Beaupre was busy on Thursday afternoon, boxing up beautiful artisan items inside the Heritage Home for the Arts’ gift store for the festival’s free Artisan Market.

ENTERTAINING AL SIMMONS TO MC AT SIGHTS AND SOUNDS – The comedic and talented Al Simmons is returning as MC for this year’s Sights and Sounds Arts and Music Festival, taking place July 29-31. Here he is at last year’s festival, cracking up the crowd at the Heritage Home for the Arts grounds. See this year’s lineup of artists below along with more information about the festival, including ticket pricing.

RED MOON ROAD – Powerful vocalist Sheena Rattai, along with musicians Daniel Jordan and Daniel Peloquin-Hopfner of Winnipeg’s Red Moon Road, will be smashing the concert door open with an outstanding performance during Friday night’s start of the Sights and Sounds Arts and Music Festival.

SAM POLLEY & THE OLD TOMORROWS – Headlining on Friday night at the Sights & Sounds Festival is the Toronto band, Sam Polley and the Old Tomorrows. Sam Polley (seated above) is the son of Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo fame. His band draws their sound from 50’s and 60’s rockabilly licks, old country twang, and even Motown swing.

JERRY SEREDA – Manitoba Parkland native and ‘man of the land’ Jerry Sereda is the high-powered closing act on Saturday night at the festival. With his grooving, chill, and high-test driving country style and lyrics he promises to bring the house down.

THE BROMANTICS – Plan on twisting the night away when Saskatchewan six-piece The Bromantics close out Sunday night’s fabulous festival lineup. These guys bring on a youthful revitalization of the 1950s, with brilliant brass tones, doo-wop harmonies, and those lyrics that you never forget to sing along to.