19th Annual Ness Creek Music Festival

The Ness Creek Music Festival is held annually on the third weekend of July, and the 19th annual festival will take place will take place in Big River, Saskatchewan, Canada from July 16-19, 2009. Programming includes a main stage, a main workshop stage and 3 other workshop stages (up close and personal performances from main stage artists). There are food vendors on-site, Craft Village (all crafts hand made by vendor), Eco-Village, Drum and Dance Circle, Community Kitchen, Children's Area (entertainment and activities) and Sharing Circle. Approximately 35 artists will be performing at this year's festival and over 3,000 people attended last year's events. It has been remembered as magical for touring musicians and repeat offenders (festival-goers) of all ages.



In 2005, entertainment expanded to include a new venue at the festival- The Chill Tent. It begins after the Main Stage ends and is all about bringing closure to the day’s events with supple sounds provided by DJ’s and live performances. Additionally, the All The World’s a Stage I and II provide an inviting forum for music, dance, storytelling, poetry slams and spoken word and theatre. The Festival also features a craft market and the Eco-Village, where you can celebrate GreeNESS with earth-conscious folks as they provide demonstrations and information on things relating to the environment.



Over half of the Main Stage performers are selected from Saskatchewan. The rest of the Main Stage line-up are artists from Canada or beyond, presented with the aim of introducing a new sound to festival-goers, as well as providing a glimpse of the possibilities available for the artists in Saskatchewan.



The Ness Creek Music Festival tries to strike a balance between the cutting edge of new music and the bedrock of its traditional roots. It strives to program an eclectic variety of activities and original music for all ages and mould an event that speaks to a diverse audience.



Multicultural, cross-cultural and fusion programming has been a mainstay of the festival, from blues to bluegrass, folk to funk, flamenco to Japanese Taiko drumming, Tibetan banjo players, Jamaican Mento Masters, and almost everything in between.



When programming the workshops, the festival makes a point of putting local artists with national artists for the interaction and networking. Their mandate is to promote and encourage Canadian artists.



Selected artists will be compensated for their performance. Out of province performers will be provided accommodations and meals. Please note that travel costs are not covered.



Some past performers include: David Ross MacDonald, Mr. Something Something, Elliott Brood, Reverend Horton Heat, Bill Bourne & Lester Quitzau, New Meanies, Fred Eaglesmith, Njacko Backo & Kalimba Kalimba, Bocephus King, Kiran Ahluwalia, Barley Wik, The Perpetrators, The Sadies, Cracker Cats, Serena Ryder, Wayne Lavalee, and the Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir.