North Country Faire by: James Miller

For those who have never have been to the North Country Faire in Northern Alberta, Canada it is a hard event to describe. It is a solstice celebration with short nights (dark for 4 hours) and some of the trippiest people you could ever meet. It is four days of camping, constant music, sleep deprivation, and a safe place to enjoy psychedelic bliss! There are five stages of music (two of which close down around the 5 a.m. sunrise)

The weather is usually a bit of a challenge but more so this year than most. The rains came blowing off of Lesser Slave Lake from a Pacific front and were constant from friday afternoon to late sunday evening. In spite of the weather those who were prepared had a splendid time. Artis The Spoonman was great, and so was Baby Gramps. Ember Swift from Toronto showed how interestingly creative she can be. Speaking of Torontonians, Morgan Davis made his annual sojourn and played some “killer” blues.

There was Valdy, the festival legend from Salt Spring Island, B.C., Painting Daisies from Edmonton who are a group of young women starting to make waves even south of the border.

Speaking of Edmonton, this festival showcases some of the great Alberta talent. The North Country School kids indicate that there is budding talent in the local alternative school. Keep your ears open for up and coming talent that played this year. Names like; The Cruzeros, The George Bushes, Wassabi Collective, and Big Red Truck. After all this is the festival that helped to launch the careers of k.d. lang and Colin James.