It’s a little west of Edmonton and you can be forgiven if you didn’t know about the Alberta Beach Music Fest. It is part of the Polynesian Days festival out at Alberta Beach. If you, like me, didn’t know about Polynesian Days, you owe it to yourself to head out in 2018. The 2017 edition of Polynesian Days was it’s 44 th annual!! That’s right, 44 years old!
Called Poly Days locally, it is an annual family event that has continually drawn over 6,000 people every August long weekend to the community. Poly Days is organized by the Alberta Beach and District Agricultural Society and is truly a community effort with over 20 events occurring throughout the weekend sponsored by local businesses and community organizations. One of the mainattractions at Poly Days is the Alberta Beach Music Festival, which is located in Gazebo Park and runs all afternoon and evening on the Saturday after the parade. There is also a Kids Area which is in the new Boat Launch Park and will have face painters, balloon artists, and inflatable bounce houses and slides.
On this day, we are only taking in the Music Festival as many local Edmonton area artists are playing. The lineup this year included; Andrea Nixon, Riley Sibert, Alyssa Strand, Olivia Rose, TracyLynn, Thistle and Steve Newsome. We admit to arriving late and only catching the end of Andrea Nixon’s set. For more on her, check out the article on her CD release that was held at the Needle Vinyl Tavern on September 2. Playing with guitarist Cody Mack, Nixon presented
a great blend of covers and originals from that CD. We are truly sorry we missed it.
Riley Sibert followed Nixon under the gazebo rather than on the stage due to the threat of rain (which was almost non- existent this day). Sibert’s classic country style and smooth tone blended well with what were obvious legendary influences. Starting of with a Waylon Jennings cover and running through the Hall of Fame, Sibert added Haggard, Jones and Cash, even sticking in Have You Ever Seen The Rain by CCR. Not to leave himself out of the mix, Sibert tossed in a couple of originals, I’ll Cry Tonight and It Won’t Be So Bad, that had the other artists in the crowd take notice. Sibert was followed by Alyssa Strand. Strand has been taking some time away from music but the appearance of two new originals shows that she is still in the game. The self penned, Downward Spiral and He Said It’s Magic, were vintage Strand, if you can call such a young artist vintage. Listening to her perform, you could tell right away it’s her music, especially if you are a fan of the previously released EP, Found. Her latest release, Momma’s Little Boy can be found at all your favorite download sites.
Along with Nixon, Olivia Rose's career is very hot right now. Rose recently won her second Edmonton Music Award as well as a Storyhive Video Grant that allowed her to make her first official video for her latest tune, Hometown Sundowns. Be sure to check it out online. Her set today was full of her original music, Make Up to Mud and Please Maybe, as well as her very strong version of Dolly Parton’s Jolene. Playing along side of Rose, was guitarist/manager Jen Perry.
A last-minute fill in, TracyLynn did an admirable job for someone that had to borrow a band that she had never worked together before, or even rehearsed with. Local band, Studio Five stepped up to the plate and gave her the backing she needed. As you can imagine, doing original music would have been tough. TracyLynn stayed the line with classic cover tunes from CCR and Bette Midler. The compliments were many and we recommend checking her out with her own band if you get the chance. Stony Plain Canadiana rock band, Thistle was up next. Thistle has been busy writing new music and playing locally. Lead vocals are split between front man Kevin Frey and Tania Ribeiro. Thistle is strong on cover tunes, but personally were hugely partial to the originals, Field of Heroes and Big Sky Alberta among our favorites.
Country Artist Steve Newsome closed out the afternoon. Newsome did a signature set that included his two current radio releases, Tried, Tested and True and Enjoy The Ride, as well as his next single, due out September 11, Red Wine.
Always the showman, Newsome took advantage of having other artists in the crowd. The previously mentioned, Tania Ribeiro and Olivia Rose both joined him during his set.
All in all, a great afternoon at Alberta Beach. If I had one complaint, maybe it ended too early for a Saturday night music festival, with Newsome signing off by 8pm.
Alberta Beach Music Fest 2017
-Jazz Matthews-
www.edmontonmuse.ca