The five things you need to know about MoSo 2014

Saskatoon festival and conference runs from June 11 to 14

It’s happening one week from today.

MoSo, the Saskatoon multi-genre festival that sits alongside a tech and speaker conference, starts on June 11 and runs until the 14.

Maybe you’ve heard of it?

Aside from bringing in over 80 acts to perform at seven venues across the Broadway area, MoSo has added a few new features this year. And Ominocity, a proud sponsor of the festival since 2012, will be there to catch as much of everything as we can.

NO TWO YEARS ARE EVER THE SAME

“The best part of MoSo is that the event is never the same,” says festival promoter Rich Taylor.

Now in its fourth year, MoSo began in 2011 as a much smaller incarnation of what it is today. The festival component featured only seven bands. However, the next year saw both the conference and the festival component grow in size dramatically. Day parties sprung up around the city, with DJs taking over rooftop BBQs and bands playing midday on patios.

And every year since the promoters have added new venues and brought aboard new sponsors in addition to different bands – check out the line-up HERE.

MOSO ADDS ALL AGES STAGES TO 2014 PROGRAMMING

This year MoSo has added several all ages stages to their venue listings. Why? Because everyone should have a chance to see their favourite bands.

“I know how important it is to have that outlet,” says Taylor, who used to run Jale, a now-defunct all ages venue. While Saskatoon has always had a vibrant all ages community, securing a stage for these shows has never been consistent – remember when The Bassment used to be the hub for punk and hardcore shows?

Among the acts you can catch at the all ages shows are We Are The City, Friends of Foes, Library Voices, Pandacorn and Twin Voices. And don’t forget to check out MoSo’s Youth Fest Priority Pass option.

Oh yeah, these shows are also licensed for us old kids. Whew.

WRISTBANDS WILL GET YOU A LOT OF MUSIC

Want to see a lot of music? Wristbands are the way to go.

It’s really a simple matter of doing the math.

Currently your best bet is the Regular Fest Priority Pass, which gets you into basically everything (subject to capacity) for $81.29. Individual shows run anywhere from $12 to $25 each. So if you are planning on attending more than three shows – and there are plenty of shows – then you would likely be saving a good amount of cash by getting the wristband. And really, half the fun of MoSo is running between the venues and checking out as much as possible.

There are also Conference Tickets, which includes entrance to MoSoFest, as well as Youth Fest Priority Passes, which are for the all ages shows.

NEVER BEEN TO THE CONFERENCE? HERE’S MORE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD COME THIS YEAR

This year’s MoSo has added a solid music portion to the conference. Teaming up with SaskMusic, the conference will be presenting a panel on digital distribution: downloads, streaming subscriptions, changes in the industry, and how digital will be part of that change. The panel will feature Lane Dunlop (currently of Sonic Unyon, previously of iTunes Canada, and Nettwerk), Rob Calder (Boompa Records), and Greg Van Bastelaar (Deezer).

The conference has also expanded their camps as well, says promoter Desaree Larsen.

“We are doing a design camp this year. We’ve done a coding camp before but we wanted to do something more hands-on. You don’t have to be a designer – it’s all about user experience, which can be applied to so many other jobs and roles.”

For more information on MoSoConf click HERE.

FOOD TRUCKS, FILM FESTIVAL AND MORE

As Ominocity previous reported, MoSo has also expanded their programming to include a free outdoor, all ages stage located behind the Broadway Theatre, along with a food truck festival.

“This is everyone’s chance to see festival acts with MoSo in a way that they wouldn’t before plus they have a chance to experience Saskatoon’s food truck culture,” says Taylor.

The festival has also added a component called MoSoFilm. New this year, MoSo will be screening two feature films, Kung Fu Elliot and The Internet’s Own Boy, with director talks to follow at the Refinery Arts and Spirit Centre.

MoSo has launched their online schedule for their 2014 festival – click HERE for the schedule.

MORE SURPRISES EXPECTED

Ominocity will have some of our own surprises to announce soon – keep your eyes peeled!