This weekend, organizers of Squamish's largest music festival are expecting more concert-goers than ever before.
"We have already sold more than last year," said Allan Regan, the creative director of Live at Squamish.
Regan anticipates the three-day festival will draw 11,000 people on Saturday alone, 1,000 more music lovers than last year's big day. The Al McIntosh Loggers Sports Ground and Hendrickson Field, which is playing host to the festival from Friday to Sunday (Aug. 24 to 26), has the capacity for 13,000 people.
Ticket sales to locals have also picked up, Regan noted. That's exactly what organizers were hoping for, as over the past two years only a "disappointing" 538 online tickets sold to people with Squamish postal codes, the concert's executive producer Paul Runnals told The Chief last month.
"As with everyone in Vancouver and B.C., [Squamish residents] seemed to have waited until the last minute," Regan said, noting the Squamish Adventure Centre was just sent a new batch of tickets after selling out.
This year, Live at Squamish organizers are dealing with reduced parking space. The lot once devoted to vehicles is part of the District of Squamish's artificial turf field development that's ongoing.
Festival organizers have sold some of the limited stalls for the weekend, Regan said.
"We couldn't sell the whole lot," he said, adding that organizers left portions of the space for a first-come, first served basis.
A shuttle bus will run from the Klahanie Campground to the festival site. There are also shuttle buses from downtown to the music festival, Regan said.
This year's lineup is "very, very Canadian," he said. He's looking forward to seeing Victoria-based band Current Swell. Last year, the roots rock group won $100,500 in the Peak Performance Project to help develop its sound.
Other names to look out for are Wintersleep, The Sheepdogs and American pop/rock artist L.P. Then of course there is the behemoth of Canadian music, The Tragically Hip, Regan said.
"It is a chance to see different Canadian artists at different stages of their careers," Regan said.
For more information visit www.liveatsquamish.com.
