Over the Edge + October 6, 2010 13 We <3 Our Rivers Hundreds gathered on September 26th to salute B.C’s local waterways we ss : , ae L i DARCIE SMITH ‘The fesival was filled with things to do from perusing the tents, to taking in some tunes, Even the Students for a Green Uni- versity were in attendance, Rae Spoon Returns to Prince George Local artist Nathan Kelly opens for Canadian Electro-folk Sensation DARICE SMITH ARTS EDITOR On Thursday September 23", hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Canadian singer-songwriter Rae Spoon graced the presence of Prince George’s live music lovers at the Art Space. Initially the number of attendees was lower than it should have been, but by the end of Spoon’s set, the seating had beefed up. This was Spoon’s second time visiting Prince George, and several of the attendees were long-time fans who had also been to his previous performance in town a year or two back. To start the evening off local musician Nathan _ ' Kelly serenaded the make it impossible to not feel like you want to crowd with a_ brief acoustic set. He played mostly original songs, but included a delightful rendition of Ween’s “What Deaner Was Talkin’ About,” which Kelly has the perfect vocal range for. To his dismay, near the end of his performance a string on his guitar broke. Fortunately Spoon was nearby and ran to the rescue, retrieving his guitar for Kelly to use for the remainder of his set. Kelly is also the lead guitarist for local band The Concerns of Royalty, who will be playing an upcoming show with B.A. Johnston on October 5th at Third. His modesty and self-deprecating humour sit down and get to know him Rae Spoon took to the stage shortly after Kelly, armed with a guitar and a computer for backing tracks. His sound is a bit like an electro-folk infusion with simple acoustic rhythms accompanied by a electronic drum beats. Not only can Spoon craft an amazing song, but he is incredibly endearing. His modesty and self- deprecating humour make it impossible to not feel like you want to sit down and get to know him. The favourite song of the night seemed to be “Come On Forest Fire, Burn the Disco Down,” as many from the crowd joined in on the singing. He is _ currently completing a cross- Canada tour, and is heading east for his next destinations. A documentary on Spoon is in the process of being filmed, and cameras could be spotted on him through the performance. Spoon just released the album Love Is a Hunter, and several songs from that album were performed at the show. Previous releases from him include Superioryouareinferior (2008), White Hearse Comes Rolling (2006), Your Trailer Door (2005), and Throw Some Dirt On Me (2003). Spoon (top) and Kelly (bottom) serenade the crowd during a show in Art Space on September 23, 2010. DARCIE SMITH ARTS EDITOR On the last Sunday of every September for the past 10 years, Prince Georgians and other British Columbians are privileged to a little treat called the B.C. Rivers Day Music Festival. Though there are always lovely performers from all walks of life providing constant entertainment for the day, that’s just the icing on the cake. The real joy is spending a day in the beautiful Fort George Park with hundreds of other people who are out to show how much they love this province and the nature that loves us back. As the Rivers Day website states, “The Prince George BC Rivers Day Music Festival is a free community event that celebrates our rivers through watershed stewardship, environmental education and community involvement.” Not only is the Rivers Day festival a large part of life in Prince George, but for the rest of the province, there is a celebration, too. There are approximately 100 events held across the province each year with over 75,000 people who attend. The purpose of these events are to show tribute to cultural, ecological, historical, aesthetic, and recreational river values. At this years event, vendors from around the community had information display booths and educational activities to show that they support and want to promote a healthy relationship with B.C. Rivers. Various contributors included Canfor, The Prince George Public Library, PGPIRG, Fraser Basin Council, Northern Bear Aware, TD Canada Trust, Spruce City Wildlife, Northwest Invasive Plant Council, BCHydro, MyPG, Recycling and Environmental Action Planning Society, BK2WayRadio, and of course, the mini donut booth maintained a strong presence throughout the day. Golden Palace Restaurant and LA Promotions also provided some hunger-relief options for the attendees. The musical performances for the afternoon were as diverse and spectacular as the province itself. With a very appropriate name and hailing from P.G.’s very own Symphony Orchestra were the Two Rivers Brass Quintet to kick off the day with their water-themed set. Ken McCoy, Prince George’s very own Daniel Lapp, and the Nadleh Whut’en Dancers also provided entertainment for the festival goers. To ascertain that even the kids who attended were kept active, a fishing pond and a children’s area were also set up. Even if you don’t possess a wide knowledge of B.C.’s river-life and the importance of keeping it continually thriving and healthy, the B.C. Rivers Day Music Festival is an excellent opportunity to get informed and become involved. For more information, check out the Rivers Day website at www.riversdaymusic.org , and be sure to mark your calendars for next year’s event. DARCIE SMITH