Wide Skies Music Festival returning to downtown

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on July 24, 2024.

Audience members dance to the sounds of Alberta rockabilly band Peter and the Wolves on the top level of the downtown transit terminal during last year's Wide Skies Music and Arts Festival. Herald file photo by Ian Martens

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Wide Skies Music Festival is coming back for its seventh year with a two-night event that promises not only great music but also magnificent views of the city from the roof top of the Park n’ Ride building.

Mike Spencer, artistic director of the Geomatic Attic and organizer of the event, says this year they decided to go with a two-night event compared to the three-night affair they offered last year.

“This year is a two evenings, July 30 and 31 with the first night having four performers and the second three performers,” said Spencer.

He said the headliner for July 30 will be Celeigh Cardinal while MonkeyJunk will be the headliner for July 31 with an opener and a performer prior to their shows.

“On our first night Skinny Dyck with special guest The Secret Beach will be opening followed by JJ Shiplett before our headliner Celeigh Cardinal takes over,” said Spencer.

He said all those performers are from Alberta except for The Secret Beach who are from Manitoba.

“And on our second night Moranz & Fremlin will be opening, followed by Terra Lightfoot and then the headliners MonkeyJunk will perform,” said Spencer.

He said local artist Ryland Moranz from Moranz & Fremlin will also be the Master of Ceremony for the event.

When talking about the location for the event Spencer said the rooftop of the Park n’ Ride building offers those in attendance a great view of the city and previous artists that have performed at the festival have only good things to say about it.

“The views are quite spectacular. It showcases the downtown very well and also from there you can see the mountains to the West on a clear day, the sunsets are fantastic and from some areas you can even see the high level bridge,” said Spencer.

He added that at night time those in attendance can see the various city lights while being above them and it is a great view. And to help many enjoy the festival and those views, Spencer said they have provided complimentary tickets to various local organizations.

“We like to consider that Wide Skies is a really strong community supporter so we provided complimentary tickets to organizations like Lethbridge Family Services, YWCA Harbour House, the food banks as well as Youth One,” said Spencer.

He said they provided them with complimentary tickets because they want to make sure that people who otherwise would be unable to attend have an opportunity to do so and that is very important to them.

Spencer said the event can host up to 450 people per night and those in attendance are encouraged to bring their own chair, reusable water bottles and to take transit or ride their bikes to the event.

“We are always trying to be a sustainable event so that is why we encourage people to bring their own water bottles and chairs. Also the city is providing special space for people to park their bikes at the event,” said Spencer.

He added that people are welcome to bring their own snacks and drinks as long as they are not alcoholic beverages.

“There is going to be a beer garden run by Prime Catering and Two Guys Pizza. Also Naturistas will be selling healthy beverages and snacks,” said Spencer.

He added that there is something different happening at the event as they will have a display of electric vehicles.

“This is going to highlight the fact that the Park n’ ride has charging stations for electric cars,” said Spencer.

For more information please visit http://www.wideskiesmusicfest.org