The Sunshine Music Festival is about highlighting musical artists from all across the country. This year’s festival is scheduled to take place over Saturday, August 31st and Sunday, September 1st along the Powell River waterfront, a beautiful beach forest setting that overlooks the Salish Sea. There is also a free evening concert scheduled for Friday, August 30th at Cranberry Community Hall out by Cranberry Lake.

Running for almost four decades now, the festival gets better and better every year. Though it has purposefully maintained a humble scope and scale, visitors to the Sunshine Music Festival can expect to see world-class performances from acclaimed songwriters and musicians. Organizers strive to create an intimate atmosphere, with the aim of bringing the community together to support Canadian music.

Though initially a folk music festival, today’s Sunshine Music festival prides itself on showcasing music from a wide range of genres, including jazz, blues, soul, R&B, and world music.

This year, the Sunshine Music Festival includes artists Dana Wiley, a recent nominee for Contemporary Singer of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, and Luke Wallace, a BC-born folk musician who places social justice and environmentalism at the centre of his art. Also in attendance will be the seven-piece indie rock band After August and gospel gutter folk group Nasti Weather.

Other talented artists and musical groups headlining this year’s festival include LIINKS, Karin Saada, Sister Speak, Aude Ray, Tom Richardson, Caleb Hart, Red Eyed Soul, Jim Brynes, Tonye Aganabe, and Daniel Champagne. This eclectic lineup of artists is sure to offer something for everyone to enjoy.

In addition to the music, the festival grounds host an array of food vendors where you can go to buy tasty treats to enjoy while watching the performances. There will also be a craft market where you can pick up some artisanal goods and souvenirs, as well as a kids zone with plenty of activities for the little ones.

Tickets to the Sunshine Music Festival are available as single-day or weekend passes. Adult tickets cost $35 for a day pass and $55 for a weekend pass, while students and seniors are offered a discounted rate of $30 for a day pass and $40 for a weekend pass. Children under 12 can enter the festival grounds for free, so don’t hesitate to bring them along!

Guests are encouraged to come and visit the Sunshine Music Festival with an appetite for good food and good music. As you can likely expect fantastic and warm weather this time of year, it’s also a good idea to bring a swimsuit so that you can go cool off with a dip in the ocean.

Come enjoy truly Canadian music in relaxing Powell River and take advantage of your last days of summer break in a beautiful setting. Though it has grown considerably in popularity, the Sunshine Music Festival has not abandoned its roots. One of the last events of Powell River’s summer festival season, it is also one of the best.