The Festival
THE BIG TIME OUT
The Big Time Out lands Sarah Harmer, Corb Lund, Michael Franti and Sly & Robbie this summer!
On August 17, 18 & 19, Cumberland hosts The Big Time Out. Based on the 1 day event that delighted 2000 fans on Labour Day in 2005, this 3 day show promises to be the entertainment highlight of the year. The Big Time Out is 3 days on 1 stage and will take place in the Cumberland Village Park, featuring international talent commonly performing in large urban venues like the Commodore Ballroom & Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park.
Check out live video from the festival courtesy courtesy of Rupert Howe.
Friday, August 17th
Friday night's headliner will be Corb Lund. Cumberland has watched Corb's career sky rocket. Not too many years ago he played the Waverley and then returned to the Abbey. Now he headlines the biggest festivals in Canada and is regularly playlisted on CMT and radio stations worldwide. Sharing the bill with Corb are 3 other bands including Big John Bates and the Voodoo Dolls and The Jimmy Bowskill Band. Jimmy is truly the boy wonder. At 16 he is filling the biggest blues clubs in Canada and last month at the Waverley was no exception. The Friday evening concert runs from 5-11pm.
Saturday, August 18th
Saturday runs from 1pm until 1am. Michael Franti & Spearhead return to headline this day. This band is the top indie hip hop / reggae act currently touring the planet and Michael is an ambassador for compassion and sanity in the very disturbing political maelstrom that destroys more of the globe every day. He toured Iraq and played for villagers and soldiers alike. This experience yielded material for Yell Fire! (Spearhead's latest disc) and I Know I'm Not Alone (a film chronicling his time in the Middle East). A highlight of the 2005 performance was certainly the moment when Michael invited Catherine Arnold (then 12 year old Cumberland student) to sing Never Too Late. Catherine had rehearsed this Spearhead song for a school music program and vig schulman (having heard her perform it at a community function months earlier) arranged the duet. Sharing the bill with Spearhead is Sly & Robbie with a 15 piece reggae act coming out of Jamaica for a whirlwind North American tour. Headlining Reggae on the River in California this group features Horace Andy (the voice of Massive Attack) & Taxi. Included is Cherine Anderson (one of Jamaica's prominent contemporary female singers). Also on the Saturday lineup are performances by Mihirangi, Five Alarm Funk, Greenlaw Ave and Beats Without Borders.
Sunday, August 19th
Sunday runs from noon until 11pm and features another full day of stellar entertainment. Sarah Harmer and her band will take the stage in the evening. Sarah has thrilled audiences world wide and is considered to be one of Canada's finest contemporary singer/songwriters. Her Juno awards, media accolades and extensive album sales are only surpassed by her very compelling live performances. The support list includes Hey Ocean, Mother Mother, Toby, Beats Without Borders and most recently confirmed Los De Abajo. Los De Abajo are a 12 piece contemporary punk, hip hop, dancehall group from Mexico who are also touring North America this summer. avigdor schulman (artistic director of Cumberland Village Works) is excited about this project which represents a very special collaboration of different artistic mediums and socially progressive ideas. He will be announcing another headliner for Sunday night in the coming weeks. Performance art pieces, visuals, poi, circus, tribal and gypsy dance are to be included in the mix.
Tickets
Earlybird tickets are on sale now and can be purchased for any of the individual days or as a 3 day pass. Prices are $35 for friday, $55 for saturday, and $45 for sunday. A 3 day pass is $100. After July 15 the day passes go up $10 and the 3 day pass rises to $120. Tickets are available by phone @ 250 334 4885 or online
In store tickets are currently on sale in Victoria at Lyle's, in Duncan at Gallowglass Books, in Nanaimo at Lucid, in Tofino at the Tofitian, in the Comox Valley at Tarbells, Bop City, Orbitz Cafe & Sound Advice or by phone at 250 334 4885. Tickets are also available online at High Tide Entertainment
In store tickets will be available in Vancouver, Powell River, Denman and Salts Spring Islands by the 15th of June.
Volunteers Wanted
The Big Time Out is looking for reliable, energetic, mature and gentle spirited folks who like to ‘work hard and play hard’ to join the volunteer family for this great event!
More Info To Come
Watch this page for exact program times for each day and additions to the lineup. Volunteer and vendor forms will be available here also by the 15th of June. Low impact tent camping is available on the site. Limited tickets will be made available for this event to maintain an intimate feeling and respect the fact that this all happens in a beautiful park in the heart of the Village of Cumberland.
See you there!
