Music festival attracts great talent, small crowd

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Even though the Indian Summer Music Festival at Telus Field wasn't successful Sept. 1, its producer wants to do it again.

Only 110 people bought tickets said producer Leon Anthony. Showoff Productions, which organized the festival, gave out 1,200 complimentary tickets; about 300 people came.

If the price was lower (tickets sold through TicketMaster for $48) people would be more eager to come, said James Piche, one of the few who spent his cash. He also said he didn't know about the show until the night before.

"If there were more promotion and a price drop, this place would have been packed," said Piche. He came for George Leach, but he said the price was too high to pay to see just one person. He also liked Eagle & Hawk because of their diverse repertoire.

The producer, however, said they were looking at the mainstream concert market and priced their tickets at $40. "We gave a huge variety of music for all to enjoy," he said.

Anthony said he has outstanding amounts to pay for the event and counts his loss at $36,000. He said it is very discouraging, but he plans to do the show again next year.

The low attendance was because of a lack of star power, said Anthony. He plans to invite a big-name non-Aboriginal performer, who has strong ties to Aboriginal communities and causes, to attract larger crowds next summer. He didn't give out his name.

Anthony also said more powerful advertising in concert listings, magazines and billboards will be done. He plans to involve major beer companies as sponsors. This year, the festival was advertised on the radio for only one week.

Anthony said his idea was to introduce Aboriginal musicians, as well as his company, to the mainstream. Video footage from the concert will appear on his show on the Aboriginal People's Television Network.

Because of a severe thunderstorm, two groups never performed. Comedian Howie Miller tried to make fun of being left without the audience, which went home or ran around looking for shelter.

The earlier performers had success among the small crowd.

Claude McKenzie is a former Kashtin group member from Montreal with a great voice. He sings in Inuu, a language spoken by fewer than 12,000 people in northeastern Quebec. Many of McKenzie's songs he wrote to his wife and son about hard times being on the road. He has written about 200 songs and said singing them is like dreaming - he doesn't see anything around him when he sings. He plans to promote his first solo album, Inuu Town. He has recorded songs in French, English and Inuu. "I just want to be a musician and share my rhythm and spirit with all the people," said McKenzie.

Julie Robertson and Dawn Ferguson have been singing in harmony for seven years. They come from Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement. CreeAtive Harmony's latest album, Tribute to Elders, has been nominated for the Outstanding Aboriginal Recording of the Year award.

WarParty was formed in 1995. Rex and Cynthia Smallboy, Karmen Omeosoo and Ryan Small are rappers from Hobbema. They sing about problems on reserves across Canada and promote Native pride. Cynthia said she is able to bring the feminine perspective into their music and she loves it.

"How many people have to commit suicide before we open our eyes and try to realize that things just don't gotta be like this . . . ." Her I'm feeling reserved was written after 10 suicides were committed in Hobbema within a few months.

WarParty will produce its first music video for Much Music in Toronto this fall. The clip is about wrong choices a guy makes in life and about how it could have been different.

Mishi Donovan has been professionally singing for seven years. She writes her own songs about people's struggles, problems, love, hope, dreams and fantasies. "I sing from the depth of my soul and hope it would touch them (audience) as it touched me," said Donovan. She will also focus on composing the music for her new album Walking on Fire to be released next year.