Music-filled weekend
Published Tuesday June 9th, 2009
This year Maritime Countryfest is all about the talents of local performers.
Last year Emerson Drive was the headlining act. But organizer Tom Hoyt says many people told him they liked local act Mike Bezanson as much as the popular contemporary country band.
It cost $30,000 to bring Emerson Drive to Fredericton and Hoyt admits the festival lost money last year due to cooler weather and lower-than-expected ticket sales.
"The festival has struggled, to be honest with you, but every year we have learned from it and we are losing less money."
All 10 of the acts scheduled to appear between June 11-14 are from New Brunswick. That's not to say the festival hadn't tried to secure a headlining act. Organizers had been in negotiations with other big names that would guarantee a sell-out crowd but for various reasons, Hoyt says, those talks fell through and they weren't able to make a deal.
"We were talking to Merle Haggard. The reason we started negotiations with him was that that agency originally offered him to the festival for a $30,000 fee. Negotiations went on for months, back and forth. Not with Merle's people but with this agent.
Finally he came back and said 'Merle wants $60,000 US' and that was just way out of our budget and I wasn't prepared to take that kind of a risk.
"That's not to say next year we won't try to ink a deal with some major headliner if we can afford it."
Not having a main headlining act at this year's festival is also a bit of a risk.
But Hoyt tells people that he believes all of the 10 acts can carry this four-day festival because there is a huge amount of talent here.
Appearing at this year's festival will be Rik Reese & Neon Highway; The Divorcees; 1755; Mandy Silk and Overdrive; musical comedian Jimmy Flynn; Mike Bezanson; Casey LeBlanc (of Canadian Idol fame) and Razberry Skye; Clay Harrison; The Hardcore Troubadours; and The New Brunswick Country Showcase.
It's a blend of new and old country, comedy, country rock and Acadian tunes. The band 1755 is one of the top-selling French-Canadian acts of all time, and it has built an international reputation.
They play a mix of lively Acadian pieces and traditional French ballads. Hoyt describes them as The Beatles of the Francophone music scene. The band has been putting out albums since the 1970s and it's always a major event for their fans when they announce a live show.
This summer there are many major outdoor musical events happening in Moncton and Halifax. Hoyt knows people don't have unlimited money to spend on entertainment.
He says shows such as Bon Jovi, AC/DC, Paul McCartney, KISS and Brad Paisley may be out of the financial reach of many people who could afford this event.
The cost of this year's festival is $25 per night, or $60 for an all-access pass four-day pass, which he believes is affordable for most people. This is possible thanks to sponsorship of the province, the city and various businesses and organizations.
With a couple of days left before the festival opens - Thursday at 7 p.m. - tickets are still available.
Hoyt knows many people wait until the last minute to buy tickets for any event in this city. He's confident ticket sales will go well.
Last year's festival happened in late May and the weather was cool. Hoyt says he expects the warmer weather and the lineup of acts will draw more people to the outdoor festival, being held in the Historic Garrison District.
Unlike the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, which operates in many venues throughout the city, Hoyt says he thinks the Maritime Countryfest is best served as a sell-out event in one venue.
"We'd like to keep it here in Fredericton. Some people have suggested we go elsewhere. They said if we did this in Moncton, it would sell out immediately. But this is my town and I want to continue to see it happen here."
Over the past four years, Hoyt says, people are starting to take ownership of this festival and it's his hope things will continue to improve each year they learn from the past.
For more information go to www.countryfest.com.
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