A Kelowna musician helped kick off last weekendsa国际传媒檚 annual Fireside Festival Saturday afternoon, which created a cozy environment for patrons to enjoy.
Kelownasa国际传媒檚 winter music festival, organized by Aaron DeSilva, is now in its sixth year and is centred around local musicians.
Garrett Scatterty, who performed at Bean Scene downtown, is in the midst of releasing his debut solo album Jack of Hearts. His new single Wisdom Teeth, was released Saturday on . Hesa国际传媒檚 been involved in the festival since its inception when it was sa国际传媒渟till a house party,sa国际传媒� he said.
Aside from giving the public a chance to watch local acts, the festival also gives musicians an opportunity to socialize and collaborate.
READ MORE: Fireside Festivalsa国际传媒檚 flame grows for seventh anniversary
sa国际传媒淭his is kind of a chance for everyone to be in the same building at the same time and appreciate each othersa国际传媒檚 music,sa国际传媒� Scatterty said.
The festival has grown into a weekend event, starting at Bean Scene Saturday afternoon, before wrapping up Sunday night at BNA Brewing Co. & Eatery.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 like the cure for the winter blues. You get out from (under) the grey and itsa国际传媒檚 just a really warm, inviting environment. Itsa国际传媒檚 like Christmas for us musicians,sa国际传媒� Scatterty said.
With the closure of venues around Kelowna, including The Habitat and The Grateful Fed, festivals like these are needed now more than ever, he said.
sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 kind of the way the music industry has been going. Itsa国际传媒檚 more in the way of the artists themselves. We cansa国际传媒檛 rely on other people to do anything for us. So putting on events like this that are a little more privatized I think is a good way to overcome the downfalls of the industry and the venues that are having a hard time keeping their doors open.sa国际传媒�
Despite the closure of music venues, Scatterty said Kelowna is a welcoming place for musicians.
sa国际传媒淭he Grateful Fed is closed now, but for us, (more than six) years ago, that was kind of the spot where all the local starting musicians got together. It allowed us to show each other that we do, and thatsa国际传媒檚 where we got our gigs from theresa国际传媒� I think there are enough stepping stones in this town that itsa国际传媒檚 a great place to start breaking into the music scene,sa国际传媒� he said.
Charlotte Augustine, owner of Bean Scene downtownsa国际传媒檚 location on Bernard Avenue, said she was happy to provide the space for the musicians.
sa国际传媒淚t means the world to me, to have a space, itsa国际传媒檚 essentially why I wanted to come into this massive space in the first place, I knew there was a demand and a need for local music and local talent in Kelowna, because there arensa国际传媒檛 a lot of spaces for people to perform and this is perfect for that,sa国际传媒� said Augustine.
sa国际传媒淚t just made sense to collaborate, to have this and have all the artists performsa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 something different, to have on the weekends.sa国际传媒�
It just brings the community together, not one person has a grumpy face,sa国际传媒� she said.
For tickets to Sundaysa国际传媒檚 event, check .
carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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