Article by Melanie Macpherson and Andreea Moore
Photos: Tracy Creighton/Copperblue Photography and Design, Melanie Macpherson (Shifting Focus Photography), and Andreea Moore
Eliza Doyle playing with Heartstrings (Melanie Macpherson)
The summer festival season wrapped up perfectly with Doylefest. The festival’s 10th Anniversary was held from September 6-8 at Eagle Creek Regional Park, about 40 minutes west of Saskatoon. Unlike most festivals, Doylefest falls just after the back-to-school rush, which made it a bit more challenging to plan for. My family and I—my husband Nolan, daughter Rochelle, and our dog Bear (the bed-stealing Labrador-brontosaurus mix)—were all feeling a little rushed and frazzled when we arrived. Exhausted from the week, we somehow managed to get our campsite set up without disturbing the swarms of wasps hovering around.
Though we were late getting to the stage, we caught a portion of the first set. Julie Ella delivered heartfelt songs from her new album, and the performance felt like a warm welcome into the festival’s musical energy.
Friday Night Highlights
The Friday lineup really showcased Doylefest’s eclectic range of genres. Blackstrap Mountaineers brought the twang with their bluegrass sound, which had people tapping their feet right away. Then LJ Tyson performed a solo acoustic set—a departure from his usual full-band performances. His stripped-down approach was refreshing and gave his set a unique, cool vibe.
Friday: Julie Ella, Blackstrap Mountaineers, and LJ (Tracy Creighton)
Hip hop artist BTHEGHOST followed with an eclectic one-man performance, contrasting with the laid-back Americana blues of Oscar’s Hollow. It was a true mix of sounds, reflecting the festival’s diverse lineup. By now the temperature was dropping and the fire pit was getting popular.
Closing out the night on the Main Stage was Cupid’s Heart, a grungy indie rock trio whose raw energy on stage really electrified the crowd. By the time their set ended, everyone was buzzing with excitement for the evening cabaret.
Friday: B the Ghost, Oscar's Hollow, Cupid's Heart (Tracy Creighton)
Once we made our way indoors for the Cabaret stage, Kory Istace vs. the Time Pirates took over. Kory’s gravelly voice is the perfect match for his classic rock sound—it felt a little reminiscent of Springsteen. The Great Fuss closed out the night with their boppy, Beatles inspired tunes that got everyone up and moving.
Saturday's Scorching Heat and Cooling Vibes
Saturday dawned early, and I found myself both looking forward to the music and bracing for the intense heat that was forecast. Open Stage kicked things off, featuring some emerging talent, including Andreea the Narrative and Olive Forrest. It was nice to ease into the day with some cool tunes before the festival's full energy set in.
Open Stage performers (Melanie Macpherson)
Tubbman Junction followed with an impressive folk - bluegrass set, and it was heartwarming to watch the trio invite Joule’s daughter, Mercy up on stage to help sing a little. The band’s recycled denim and flannel merch added a personal touch that made them stand out even more. By this time the tie-dye station was in full swing and the colourful items hanging from the clothes line provide the backdrop for the days events.
Tubbman Junction and Tie-Dye everything! (Melanie Macpherson)
Midday heat or not, it was impossible to miss Christopher & The Saints, whose sound—classic rock meets singer-songwriter—was reminiscent of Dire Straits. It was the perfect warm-up for the festival’s mid-day Singers in the Round set (which included Raven Reid, Caledonia Donahue, and Artie Balkwill), though we opted to skip that one in favor of a refreshing dip in the creek. Bear and Rochelle loved playing in the cool water, though I quickly changed my mind when something decided to nibble on my toes! I enjoyed watching them play from the shade on the banks.
Christopher and the Saints entertained a hot, but happy crowd. (Melanie Macpherson)
As the day wore on, we returned to the stage just in time to catch the end of Bluestack's set. Glass Hand Family Band was next with a slightly psychedelic jam band feel and Mr. Dumptruck and Mr. Darryl followed. The Blue Mules, whose old-school blues style really stood out for me in a weekend full of banjos and bluegrass.
Glass Hand Family Band (Melanie Macpherson)
Mr. Dumptruck and Mr. Darryl, The Blue Mules (Melanie Macpherson)
During the hottest part of the day, we took a break back at the campsite for some allergy-friendly food. By the time we returned, the sun was setting, and the atmosphere had cooled, both literally and figuratively. The stage area was packed with people, all eager for the evening’s music.
The bluegrass-fueled energy continued with Heartstrings, a band that featured Doylefest’s namesake Eliza Doyle. It felt like the ultimate homecoming, hearing them play in this intimate, laid-back setting. The family hung on for Sharptail and Loula Bruce before finally succumbing to cold and sleepiness. The whole trip back to our tent we enjoyed the sounds of Zhe the Free and Big Tones. I meant to settle everyone then head to the cabaret, but a warm sleeping bag was just too tempting and I never made it over.
Heartstrings, Sharptail, Loula Bruce (Melanie Macpherson)
Sunday Morning Reflections
By Sunday, the festival felt more like a relaxed gathering of friends than an official event. The open stage led by Chris Vasseur featured a surprise appearance from April Moon, a duo originally from Prince Albert but now based in the UK. It felt like a special treat, especially as we enjoyed the fantastic pancake breakfast..
Sunday: April Moon, Open Stage with Chris Vasseur, Eliza Mary Doyle (Tracy Creighton)
Eliza Mary Doyle herself took the stage for a solo performance. The festival started with her birthday party and this year the party once again coincided with her birthday, making the 10th Anniversary all the more special. Sunday’s schedule also included country sets from Sammi and jazzy singer-songwriter Elise Kuterbach, who delivered laid-back yet soulful performances that were the perfect soundtrack for the final day.
As the festival drew to a close, Nolan went ahead and packed up the campsite while I stayed for the final acts. One of the highlights of the day was the jigging performance and workshop by Modeste and Ashla, who, despite the sweltering heat, donned full traditional regalia and taught the crowd how to jig on the sun-baked concrete pad. It was inspiring to witness their passion and skill despite the challenging conditions.
Finishing off the festival, Banastronaut’s high-energy pop punk/alt-rock set was the perfect end to a weekend of incredible performances. As the last notes played, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for another season of festivals, already looking forward to next year’s adventures.
Sunday: Sammi, Elise Kuterbach, jigging workshop with Ashla and Modeste, Raven Reid, Banastronaut (Tracy Creighton)
As I was soaking in the final moments of this year’s Doylefest, I couldn’t help but reflect on how each attendee experiences the festival a little differently. For some, it’s all about the music, for others, the community or simply escaping into nature for a few days. But for one of our contributors, Andreea Moore, Doylefest takes on a different perspective. With that in mind, I’ll leave you with her unique take. Enjoy!
A Vampires Guide to Doylefest by Andreea Moore
In this year, 2024, Doylefest turned 10 years old. For the uninformed vampires reading, this is your go-to guide on festival survival. Most importantly your main task is packing all the essentials which include and are not limited to a UV blocking sun tent to provide a safe area, a portable shelter equipped with a coffin for rest, and of course a black umbrella for use when walking about. As a vampire the sun leaves you weak.
When attending Doylefest, above all you must, as a vampire, resist your hunger at all costs. Make sure you have fed prior to attending, as a giant buffet that consists of human blood surrounds you. It’s not the time to have a feeding frenzy. If you must, pack some sustenance in forms that don’t require covering one’s tracks.
Trail from the Main Stage to the Campground decorated with festival posters of previous years (Andreea Moore)
Doylefest has become an important part of the music and art scene in Saskatchewan and as a constant supporter of the arts it’s your vampiric joy to attend. Over the millennia our kind has encouraged and inspired creative works, and in this post post modern era this is very important for the survival of our species. Creative communities have always accepted us and have even helped hide us for the past 400 years.
There are a large number of talented individuals that occupy the lineup. There are some established fan favourites as well as some newcomers. Overall the lineup as a whole is what one would call diverse and inclusive of 2slgbtq+ and Indigenous persons. As a vampire diversity and inclusivity are important. Not only does it make for richer experiences it provides opportunities for the humans. Keeping the humans happy makes it easier to blend into their society and carry on our species.
As for the site, in all the hundreds of years there has never been such a well maintained and equipped park and campground. There was no sign of human trash in sight. Having a large variety of trees finding shade around the campsite area was not too much of a challenge. The biggest challenge was finding refuge from the sun in the main stage area. This is where the trusty black umbrella was essential.
Eagle Creek bridge (Andreea Moore)
The festival line up for the 10th anniversary celebration was as previously stated very diverse. Along with that diverse lineup there were surprise performances via the open stage performances by some really special and unexpected artists. Dancing and taking in the high caliber of musicianship truly made a vampiric delight! To quench the cravings for blood a rather festive lemonade made a refreshingly delicious treat. There was a large cornucopia of human food available at the main stage canteen and at the after hours cabaret.
Old Joe and The Truth Hurts and Zhe the Free (Andreea Moore)
The insect population was surprisingly minimal. Flies and mosquitoes were basically non-existent. Wasps and bumble bees on the other hand were around in manageable numbers. Much like the werewolf population if you left them alone they kept to themselves.
As a Vampire, Doylefest makes a fun and fulfilling experience that is worthwhile. It’s more fun than the giant feeding frenzy that was the dark ages. A time in which our kind could feed and no one would bat an eye because the humans were too busy dealing with the Black Death to notice us. All and all Doylefest is a must do for both humans and vampires.
Main Stage at night (Andreea Moore)
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