At least a dozen singers, musicians and dancers, including three world-class acts, will entertain audiences during the Wild at Art Festival Saturday, May 7.
The Squamish First Nations Dancers will perform on the newly opened Adventure Centre grounds early in the day and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., performances will alternate back and forth between two stages - one at the Adventure Centre, the second in Rose Park.
"It'll be six hours of continuous music," said Wild at Art performing arts chair Brian Marchant. "So we get the maximum bang for our buck."
The Adventure Centre stage will feature main headliners Aché Brasil, Gary Comeau and the Voodoo All-stars and Mojo Zydeco.
Aché Brasil specializes in the performance of Afro-Brazilian music, dance, costumes and rhythms. Aché Brasil's music is rooted in the more traditional forms of Brazilian music: Samba, Maractu, Coco de Roda and Capoeira. The group fuses music, dance, martial arts and acrobatics into a dynamic, high-energy performance inviting audiences to dance along with the infectious beats.
Another high-energy performer, Gary Comeau plays a wide range of instruments including guitar, mandolin, fiddle and piano. Although Comeau's roots are French-Acadian, his soul belongs to the Mississippi Delta. His New Orleans-style rockin' roots blues has been compared to '61 era Bob Dylan with a twist of Louisiana bayou blues.
Mojo Zydeco will fit right into the theme with their own New Orleans-style zydeco music. Zydeco is the dance music of Louisiana and originates in the traditions of French speaking Creoles.
The community stage in Rose Park, hosted by local music store Noisy Boyes, will feature performances by Farmhouse with Squamish's Cam Salay (formerly of the Paperboys) as well as local performers such as songwriter Leanne Lamour, flamenco guitarist Juan De Marias, folk artist Paul Coulter Brown, young fiddle phenom Jocelyn Pettit, and a performance by Mamquam Elementary students.
Audiences can continue dancing the night away by going to the Women's Centre grounds where some of the performers will continue playing in a jam session the likes of which are rarely seen. A bonfire and barbecued buffalo burgers are provided to keep audiences energized.
Live performances are just one of the artistic events happening during this year's Wild at Art festival May 6 and 7, which is expected to draw 4,000 people.
