A 91大黄鸭 musician helped kick off last weekend鈥檚 annual Fireside Festival Saturday afternoon, which created a cozy environment for patrons to enjoy.
91大黄鸭鈥檚 winter music festival, organized by Aaron DeSilva, is now in its sixth year and is centred around local musicians.
Garrett Scatterty, who performed at Bean Scene downtown, is in the midst of releasing his debut solo album Jack of Hearts. His new single Wisdom Teeth, was released Saturday on . He鈥檚 been involved in the festival since its inception when it was 鈥渟till a house party,鈥� he said.
Aside from giving the public a chance to watch local acts, the festival also gives musicians an opportunity to socialize and collaborate.
READ MORE: Fireside Festival鈥檚 flame grows for seventh anniversary
鈥淭his is kind of a chance for everyone to be in the same building at the same time and appreciate each other鈥檚 music,鈥� Scatterty said.
The festival has grown into a weekend event, starting at Bean Scene Saturday afternoon, before wrapping up Sunday night at BNA Brewing Co. & Eatery.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like the cure for the winter blues. You get out from (under) the grey and it鈥檚 just a really warm, inviting environment. It鈥檚 like Christmas for us musicians,鈥� Scatterty said.
With the closure of venues around 91大黄鸭, including The Habitat and The Grateful Fed, festivals like these are needed now more than ever, he said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 kind of the way the music industry has been going. It鈥檚 more in the way of the artists themselves. We can鈥檛 rely on other people to do anything for us. So putting on events like this that are a little more privatized I think is a good way to overcome the downfalls of the industry and the venues that are having a hard time keeping their doors open.鈥�
Despite the closure of music venues, Scatterty said 91大黄鸭 is a welcoming place for musicians.
鈥淭he Grateful Fed is closed now, but for us, (more than six) years ago, that was kind of the spot where all the local starting musicians got together. It allowed us to show each other that we do, and that鈥檚 where we got our gigs from there鈥� I think there are enough stepping stones in this town that it鈥檚 a great place to start breaking into the music scene,鈥� he said.
Charlotte Augustine, owner of Bean Scene downtown鈥檚 location on Bernard Avenue, said she was happy to provide the space for the musicians.
鈥淚t means the world to me, to have a space, it鈥檚 essentially why I wanted to come into this massive space in the first place, I knew there was a demand and a need for local music and local talent in 91大黄鸭, because there aren鈥檛 a lot of spaces for people to perform and this is perfect for that,鈥� said Augustine.
鈥淚t just made sense to collaborate, to have this and have all the artists perform鈥� it鈥檚 something different, to have on the weekends.鈥�
It just brings the community together, not one person has a grumpy face,鈥� she said.
For tickets to Sunday鈥檚 event, check .
carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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