The Waterwheel Park bandshell has been taken out of its winter wraps for another summer of Music In the Park. An updated banner marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society (CVCAS) has been hung above the stage, and a schedule of performances has been printed and distributed around town so toe-tappers and hand-clappers can mark their calendars.
The season begins July 1, Canada Day, at 11am with a performance by the Smutuq’sun Smune’ems Dance Group from Penelakut Island, the singing of O Canada by JoHannah Daisy, and music from Tropic Mayhem, followed by Brass, Wind and Rhythm.
Fans will want to get their seats early for the two-day Chemainus Valley Blues Festival on July 4 and 5. On July 7, don’t miss Caleb Hart’s evening of “Island Soul,” a fusion of Caribbean music with influences from around the world. Sweet Harmony’s gospel music is followed by the Country Festival on July 19, from noon to 4pm.
From the opening show through the last act on September 1, seventeen events are listed across the two-month calendar, spanning blues, reggae, marching bands, jazz, bluegrass, gospel, Celtic, country, rockabilly and folk.
Thanks go to the CVCAS Performance Committee, which curates the multicultural mix of music that enlivens the town for residents and visitors alike, along with sponsors including the British Columbia Arts Council, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Municipality of North Cowichan, the Chemainus Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, the Chemainus Business Improvement Association, and Mid-Island Co-op. Kudos also to the volunteer crew that sets up, breaks down, and keeps the music playing in Waterwheel Park all summer long.
Arts and cultural activities in the Chemainus Valley and region are posted to cvcas.ca/events. Find out more about the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society, and sign on as a volunteer, at cvcas.ca/become-a-member.
By Craig Spence, craigspencewriter.ca