by Scott Roos
photos by Tracy Creighton/Copperblue Photography and Design
From Friday, August 23rd to Sunday, August 25th, the quaint town of Waskesiu, nestled within Prince Albert National Park on the shores of Waskesiu Lake, was filled with music and joy. The yearly Lakeside Music Festival had returned, seemingly larger and more impressive than before. On Friday evening, the "Sunset Stage" showcased performances by the Bandoliiers, Sammy Lee Folkersen, and The Great Fuss, with families enjoying the music on the main beach as the sun set over the lake.
On Sunday afternoon, a Street Fair took place in downtown Waskesiu proper. The event included a car show, sidewalk sale, and various family-friendly activities. Raven Reid, JJ Lavallee, and Lancelot Knight participated in an indigenous showcase. Fans of Western swing music were treated to performances by The Lost Highway Navigators, with a lakeside jam session featuring Sammy Lee Folkerson and Danny Cole closing out the weekend.
Arguably, the most thrilling part was the full-day and night event on Saturday, where the main stage at the nearby park was turned into a top-notch outdoor festival venue. Local bands and musicians from Saskatchewan performed, displaying their skills while the audience sang and danced. Regina’s Blu Beach Band, known for their distinctive blend of blues and rock, particularly impressed the crowd. This marked their debut at the festival, and they appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Lancelot Knight with his husky, soulful voice and clever lyrics was another great fit. Having performed at the event the previous year, Knight's chill singer-songwriter vibes were a perfect match. Zhe the Free impressed with her freestyle rhymes and original tunes, being the only hip hop artist at the festival. Her positive energy on stage was contagious. Brock Andrews, a well-known figure in the Saskatchewan country music scene, delivered a great performance as the second-to-last act of the evening. He played a mix of covers and medium tempo country songs that had the crowd dancing.
"This year still had the family friendly atmosphere and low key, relaxed lake life feel with many people in lawn chairs and sitting or laying on the grass. The most significant change for me was it felt like it had grown in size out in the crowd and park throughout the weekend," Brock Andrews' drummer Darcy Deschambault told NSMZ during a conversation over Facebook Messenger. "The laid back atmosphere was now nicely sprinkled with some energy that most artists look to feed off. For this reason crowd interaction felt stronger, bonding the audience and the performers. I'll definitely be back next year regardless but hopefully it's on the stage with one of my bands and if we're lucky the festival builds one more year stronger."
As the sun began to slowly set in Waskesiu, The Steadies, the main act of Saturday, entertained an enthusiastic crowd. Their distinctive mix of reggae, ska, pop, funk, and rock, which they personally refer to as "island rock", brought the evening to a fantastic close. Attendees recognized that they had experienced something special. The Steadies consistently provide a fun atmosphere, and this evening was no different.
The 2024 Lakeside Music Festival left a lasting impression, with amazing music, fun family activities, and a strong community spirit shining through each performance. As the town quieted down and attendees departed on Sunday afternoon, filled with joy and satisfaction, it was evident that many are already looking forward to next year's festival, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to relive it all.
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