Bengough music festival kicks off this weekend: July 26 – 28
Bengough is a small farming and ranching community just north of the historic Big Muddy Badlands. And for a brief flicker of time in the summer, it’s home to The Gateway Festival.
Now in its ninth year, the festival brings out an eclectic crowd who come to dance, stomp and party in the most typically prairies part of the province. Reason enough to go? Here are five more if you need ’em:
Courtesy of Limblifter.com
Limblifter are one of the best bands from Saskatchewan
Okay, Limblifter aren’t a de facto Saskatchewan band. But front man Ryan Dahle, along with his brother Kurt, formed the group in Vancouver as a side project from their band Age of Electric, who began in the small prairie town of Lanigan. But, more importantly, Limblifter were featured on the first Big Shiny Tunes compilation back in 1996, paving the way for future singalongs for the song “Tinfoil”.
Also, good luck seeing them again anytime in the near future. According to their website, Limblifter have approximately one show in Saskatchewan for the year 2013. Come now or cry later.
Photo from Flickr user “Ron Henry Photography” – Creative Commons
Steve Earle is a total country music legend
And he’s also a total badass. Earle has released over a dozen studio albums, has received three Grammy awards and has written more songs than most musicians ever will. He’s also been to jail and has been married seven times – twice to the same woman. Yowza!
Photo from Flickr user “ActiveSteve” – Creative Commons
Corb Lund is really handsome. He is also really good at music
To stare into Corb Lund’s limpid eyes and chiselled jawline is to feel your heart break and scatter across the Albertan landscape. He is also really good at music. Lund’s latest album, Cabin Fever, debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart and was longlisted for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.
Also, Corb Lund was in The Smalls, who are the Limblifter of prairies skid metal or something.
Shotgun Jimmie
It brings bands to a remote part of southern Saskatchewan
Bengough is located 150 km south of Regina and about 370 km away from Saskatoon. Needless to say it might be a bit off the beaten path, but that’s part of the adventure. The festival has also brought in some Canadian indie buzz bands to the area, like Yukon Blonde, The Wooden Sky and Shotgun Jimmie.
Rah Rah
The Festival celebrates local art
You’ll also get to see a bunch of Saskatchewan bands like Rah Rah, Zachary Lucky, Close Talker, Def 3 & Factor, Indigo Joseph, The Lazy MKs, The Karpinka Brothers, The Coldest Night Of The Year, The Lonesome Weekends and Jeans Boots. But the illustrations of Saskatoon artist Don Sparrow have helped create an immediately visible brand on the posters. Kudos.