Summerset Music and Arts Festival will go ahead August 28 to 30 amid the pandemic 鈥� converting from a revenue generating venture for its founders to a non-profit mission for affected B.C. musicians.
First held in Fort 91原创 on the orchard grounds in front of the National Historic Site, its festival in 2019 attracted thousands with a musical lineup that included Paul Brandt, April Wine, and Kim Mitchell.
Director Annette McArthur, of Red Door Events, said that as COVID-19 ravages 鈥渓ife as we once knew it鈥� in B.C. there鈥檚 a growing fear that arts and culture will be among the hardest hit.
This 鈥� due to a ban provincial health ban placed on gatherings as of March 12 to curb COVID spread.
鈥淢usicians have already sacrificed so much for their craft,鈥� McArthur explained.
鈥淎nd not every one qualifies for Canada鈥檚 Emergency Response Benefit. A lot of British Columbians in the live music and events industry depend on these summer concerts to live off of for the rest of the year.鈥�
READ MORE: Fort 91原创 gets set for Summerset
Tailgate concert experience
For its second festival, the seven-person team at Red Door Events is offering concertgoers three distinct ways to enjoy this year鈥檚 Summerset festival 鈥� by tailgating, through a virtual livestream, or at a two-metre distance from other groups.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like a drive-in movie,鈥� the director elaborated, 鈥淪ome people stay at home to watch the movie, some go to theatre, and some go in their pick up trucks and get the beat seat in the house.鈥�
鈥淎fter all, pick ups have a built-in dance floor on the back,鈥� McArthur said.
The concert 鈥� spaced out on 20-acres in the 91原创 Township at a so far undisclosed location 鈥� will allow festival-goers to roll down their windows and 鈥渢ake in the vibe,鈥� she added.
Each vehicle or concert group will have a distanced, designated plot to create what a drive-in concert.
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Food and beer gardens return
There will still be an option to grab a beer this year.
Aspects including food, artists, vendors, and beer gardens are expected to be included once again 鈥� with social distancing measures in place.
After all, Red Door started as the events planning branch of Trading Post Brewery. It became it鈥檚 own stand-alone company nearly two years ago.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just not going to be a jam-packed bar,鈥� McArthur explained.
Maintaining social distancing will be strictly enforced.
91原创 RCMP will have a presence on site, ensuring guidelines surrounding social distancing are followed by concertgoers, and 鈥渢o keep everyone safe,鈥� she said.
Additional hand washing stations, restrooms, and a sanitation team to maintain rigorous cleaning standards are planned.
As well, Summerset will be a cashless event with all transactions completed via credit and debit card鈥檚 tap options.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not taking this [pandemic] lightly,鈥� McArthur assured.
鈥楽till a lot of unknowns鈥�: Final decisions await B.C. government
The director admitted that there are still a lot of unknowns regarding the festival.
As more is revealed from the B.C. government about its four-phased plan to gradually reopen the province, more concert details will be finalized by Red Door鈥檚 team, McArthur said.
This includes the ultimate capacity of those at each live concert. Last year鈥檚 festival drew crowds near 10,000 over a span of three days.
鈥淚t will be whatever we are allowed to do within the set-out parameters. We鈥檙e not going to push the envelope,鈥� she said.
One thing that hasn鈥檛 changed: the musical lineup for the benefit concert.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had contracts in place, and so far, not one musician has backed out,鈥� McArthur added.
Ideally, 鈥渋t would be a beautiful thing to see a couple of thousands of cars and a big old stage.鈥�
Net proceeds from the event will build a fund for B.C. musicians suffering from lost work and income as a result of the pandemic.
Summerset Benefit Concert 2020 lineup is to be announced shortly, McArthur revealed.
More information and details can be found at .
