Vets Fest – Sept 12 – Boundary Bay
Teo Crider from Candysound belts one during Vet’s Fest. Courtesy photo
This may seem like an odd entry into a show review section because it will be shockingly short on details but it will more than make up for it by being a testimony to the great local music scene here in Bellingham.
I recently attended the Vets Fest held all day Saturday, Sept. 12 at Boundary Bay Brewery. It was a benefit event to help raise money and awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the organization Hearts Toward Home which provides services for returning combat veterans. Because I had in/out privileges I didn’t get to take in all of the sets but the ones I did hear blew me away. It was like I was hearing local music for the awesome stuff that it is for the first time in years. I guess I should have expected no less as the stellar Boris Budd was the genius music master of the day.
The day began for me with a tasty and humorous set from Robert Sarazin Blake. In fact it was his infectious performance that convinced me that I was going to spend the whole day there. The next set I heard was from Jasmine & Kat, great vocals and guitar playing from Kat and the perfect complimentary accompaniment by Jasmine and her violin and voice.
As the day wore on the music became funkier, louder and energetic. With great sets from the likes of Mysterious Chocolate, The Holy Tailfeathers, Loyal Sinners, and Boris Budd and the Waterboarders, I found myself rediscovering the magic and swinging, swaying and singing along with as tasty and professional music as I have heard anywhere in a long time. By the time the evening was over I felt like I had been privileged to be at such a great musical event. Our local musicians are truly gifted, professionally competent and most important, accessible. It was the best bang for my musical dollar in a very long time.
