Despite the rumours, Frostbite will leave its mark on Yukon’s music scene this year.
But with all the fanfare surrounding the Canada Winter Games, that mark will be a little smaller.
“It’s been great to see the community support come out because we know everybody has been stretched with the Games,” said Frostbite general manager David Prodan.
“There was a public outcry when people thought Frostbite wouldn’t happen,” he said.
Financially it was a challenge because the local sponsors were tapped, said Prodan.
And the fest’s regular stages at Yukon College were block-booked for the Games, so organizers decided to bring the party to four downtown venues.
It’ll open this year’s fest on Friday evening with a youth stage in a Shipyards Park tent that it’s sharing with a few Rendezvous events.
“Having the tent down there helps brand that park as a bit of Frostbite real estate,” said Prodan.
The stage features six performers starting at 7 p.m. with Take What You Can Get, Vancouver hip-hop artist Curtis Clearsky, Hammerhead, Friend Called Five, Nemo & Prhyme with Fredlocks Asher and DJ KJ finishing the show at 10:45 p.m.
Meanwhile, across town at the United Church Bluebird North makes its Whitehorse stop on a coast-to-coast tour with a handful of singer/songwriters.
Canadian rock music legend Barney Bentall, pop-rocker Melanie Doane, alt-country star Justin Rutledge and folk-rocker Shari Ulrich will take the church’s intimate stage with CBC sweetheart Jian Ghomeshi hosting the show.
Calgary’s Chad VanGaalen headlines Frostbite’s Saturday evening show at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall.
“He’s on sub-pop records so he has that grungy alt-rock sound,” says Prodan who describes him as a cross between Nirvana and Neil Young’s Crazy Horse.
VanGaalen takes the stage with Romi Mayes, Barney Bentall and locals Crash the Car and Gordie Tentrees Band.
If that weren’t enough, performers will rock the stage at the Capital Hotel Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
All the shows are in small venues this year, with 150 to 250 tickets available per show.
Get your tickets early, warns Prodan.
Tickets run between $20 and $25 and are available at the door. (LC)