Panorama music festival is around the corner

By James Rose

Special to The Pioneer

Music lovers take note: Panorama Mountain Resorts High Notes Music Festival is just around the corner. The festivals organizing team has packed the lineup with some of Canadas best independent artists that will fill the resort with two days and nights of blues, folk, rock and pop.

Over the next few weeks, The Pioneer is going to shine a spotlight on some of the artists who are set to play March 17th and 18th. This week it is all about Edmonton-based folk duo 100 Mile House, and Vancouvers Lion Bear Fox.

100 Mile House are going to play twice through the course of the festival.

Were really excited to be playing the first High Notes Music Festival, said Peter Stone (who is one half of the husband-wife duo). The winters are so long in Canada; its great that there are more and more winter festivals popping up as they have a different feel to summer festivals and I think everyone is just excited to get out and do something in the colder months. Its also beautiful to get to play in the mountains, Denise (the other half) used to visit Panorama as a kid so it will be fun for her to go back.

The first live performance will companion a four-course dinner at Panoramas Monticola restaurant on Friday, March 17th.

The second performance will feature the duo playing the following afternoon during one of the free Apres Sessions. Festival goers should take note, though, that tickets for the Monticola performance and dining experience are almost sold out. At press time, there were just 10 seats left.

Prices are $100 per person and the dinner is a set four-course menu crafted by Head Chef Michael Payne, with wine pairing by Andrew Peller wines. We have interwoven the influence of England and Alberta into the menu to match with the themes in 100 Mile Houses music, said festival organizer Clarissa Amaro.

We normally like to create a conversation with the audience and move between quieter more reflective songs to more upbeat moments, said Mr. Stone. It sounds like it will be a really lovely evening with some great food and wine. Our Saturday show will be more concise, but it will be fun to play outside on the mountain!

The duos latest album, Hiraeth, went No. 1 on CKUA radio and has received stellar reviews across the globe including the front page of the Canadian folk magazine Penguin Eggs.

This will be the first festival we play with the new set of songs so were really looking forward to seeing how they are received, said Mr. Stone.

Lion Bear Fox (Christopher Arruda, Cory Woodward and Ryan McMahon), who derived their name from connection with each band members spirit animal, craft compelling, honest stories that they convey with passionate commitment. The band is set to play the Pepsi Mainstage the first night of the festival ($40 tickets and plenty still available).

Described by some music critics as a musical force of nature thats sure to be around for a lifetime, the three men, known initially for their own solo careers, joined forces in 2012 and were soon after selected as one of the top 20 unsigned bands in British Columbia.

In the fall of 2013, the band released their self-produced breakthrough EP Wed Be Good Men. The bands latest record, Lion Bear Fox (self-titled), was released today (Friday, February 17th) in fact, and the three musicians are looking forward to showcasing it to the High Notes festival goers.

One part folk, one part rock, with a pinch of gospel and a dash of growl, their self-titled LP is a testament to the trios strength as songwriters, said the bands manager Cathleen McMahon.

For more information on each artist playing and the festivals performance schedule, visit www.panoramaresort.com/High-Notes/.