A Full Rundown Of The Virtual Rotaryfest Concert!!

As you likely know by now, this summer's annual Rotaryfest was cancelled as we knew it due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but organizers made due this past Saturday by hosting a delayed "Virtual Rotaryfest", a 2+ hour at-home concert that was posted onto SooToday's YouTube channel! While there are extra segments related to usual festival tropes and personnel, the music is the key focus, with involved artists performing two songs (save for the headliner, who gets a full half hour to close). I guess it's up to you if this officially counts as equal canon with actual Rotaryfest lineups at Clergue Park. but it is certainly better than nothing! Now, none of the performers selected for the Virtual Rotaryfest are hard rock-based, but a few SMS-friendly covers made the cut, and there are lots of familiar faces to be seen, so I want to give this a rundown! As tradition, the usual town criers open Rotaryfest, even in this virtual sense.

Co-hosted by Andrew Steutz and Rotary Club President Megan Wigmore, they introduce the festivities by discussing how everyone wanted to keep Rotaryfest going in a tough year, discussing the history of the festival since 1922, introducing a highlight reel of what the Rotary Club does in the community, and introducing this year's Take Your Pick draw. After Andrew runs through the lineup, he introduced the first act, local country singer Tyson Hanes, who allegedly would have reunited with Asylum Country had the normal Rotaryfest went forward in July. Recorded on location in Alberta, Tyson played two original songs, namely "Watch This" and "Other Than That". Next we get two originals from local folk/indie musician Jackson Reed and his band The Tweeds (ex-Pillory frontman Robert Sartini and Aldous/Vol. alum Shane Storozuk). Performing at Unsalted Audio, the guys played two originals, "Back To Me" & "Go".

After showing classic cars at Border Town Classics (in place of the Wheels on the Water car show), a plug for the Take Your Pick draw, and some remarks by stage managers Shaun Antler & Valerie Pluss, we get our first cover act of the evening, namely classic rock quintet Mustang Heart, who were annual mainstays of Stage 1 for over a decade before skipping 2019. Their at-home set sees them cover The Eagles' "Love Will Keep Us Alive" and, in a welcome bone for hard rock fans, Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O Mine"! This multi-camera video is well shot, and while the cover is slowed down, it's well handled by these local staples, especially with Marci's more than capable vocals! After discussing the annual ribs vendor competition and checking in with Billy Bones BBQ (a frequent prize winner at Rotaryfest), we get a performance from Algo Rhythms member & solo singer/guitarist Kelly McGillivray, who covers Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" ...
 
...and Miley Cyrus' "The Climb", followed by another Take Your Pick plug and a statement about the Rotary Club's goals. Next, we get a joint set from local/Pembroke musicians KT Antler & Kyle McKey, who you'll recognize from bands like Turner Up, Hat Trik, The Pocket, and various other acts separately. Their at-home set sees them cover Miranda Lambert's "Bluebird" and Halsey's "Without Me", preceding a check-in with Silver Bullet BBQ, a thank you message for supporting Rotary, another history moment on the first community parade, another video from Border Town Classics, and another draw reminder. The next set (filmed outdoors, even) is courtesy of prolific local folk musicians Jay Case & Frank Deresti, who play two songs from Jay's new solo album "Foundation", including "Beautiful You" & "Intend To Be". After outlining more of what the Rotary Club offers locally and plugging the draw again, we get the last opening act of the evening.

That band is country rock cover quartet Bone Yard, whose set was filmed on stage at Reggie's West with some semblance of a live audience, so this one truly has the full concert feel more than any other act! Their two songs are covers of The Tragically Hip's "Blow At High Dough" and "New Orleans Is Sinking", and while not representative of their country side, Hip fans will certainly approve! After one last plug for the Take Your Pick draw and an introduction from OLG Municipal & Community Relations Director Jake Pastore, we get our half-hour headline set from Juno Award winning local/Wiikwemkoong country/blues singer Crystal Shawanda, accompanied by her husband Dewayne Strobel on guitar, and their daughter amusingly pops up often as well. Crystal's at-home set features "Hey Love", "Church House Blues", Hank Williams Sr.'s "Your Cheatin' Heart", Patsy Cline's "Crazy" & "Walking After Midnight", "You Can Let Go", ...

...and finally, her own bluesy take on The Hip's "New Orleans Is Sinking". Of course, kudos to every musician and sponsor for stepping up and keeping Rotaryfest going in 2020, despite unprecedented challenges! Everyone did a solid job musically in their genres, and while I'd have liked to have seen some more heavy acts (or at least a "Stage 1" & "Stage 2" again), this was well put together! I will nitpick that Megan & Andrew did come across a little stiff in their hosting, especially reading off of notes when cue cards would have been ideal given the circumstances. Give the 2020 Virtual Rotaryfest a watch below, and stay tuned for more news soon! Thanks everyone!