With the theme of renewal and growth the East Coulee Spring Festival, has been resurrected in the spirit of community and cooperation in which it began 14 years ago. After a one-year hiatus, what brought the festival back were some hard work, and a lot of cooperation. The Spring Festival is officially back, and is stronger than ever with a roster of performers that range from the traditional to the quirky, from familiar to the daring, from the local to the cosmic. Organizer Terry Cashion says this year marks a new chapter in the history of the festival. He says there is a mix of new blood, as well as some of the original organizers on the committee. There is also a number from the East Coulee Booster Club, a group that organized a musical event last year in support of the museum.
This year venues include the East Coulee School Museum, the Community Centre and the East Coulee Hotel. The Festival is a major revenue generator for the East Coulee School Museum, a fixture of the community. Since 1994 the festival has been supporting the heritage of the community, while a the same time building the reputation of being a progressive day of music and entertainment. The festival attracts an audience from all over the province . This year organizers promise to carry on the tradition. More than 30 acts will be sharing five venues right in the core of East Coulee. The festival kicks off at noon on April 12. Some recognizable names include Jenn Beaupre and the TIPPLERs. Carol Gogol, along with Lorrie Kasuba and Paul Rosgen will take the stage as Starland Sadie. Some Festival mainstays include Rob Smith, Bill Werthmann and the Sadlier-Brown Band. Other established acts include Tim Hus and Steve Pineo. Making it a truly family event, Cashion says the science lab in the East Coulee School Museum will have a younger audience in mind as Lothar the Magician takes to the stage as well as Heather Blush and Allison Demeter. The One World Drum Company will be hosting a family Drum Circle in the science lab and the Medicine River Wildlife Centre will also be hosting an event. Interestingly enough the science lab come evening will be a place for musicians to create in jam sessions. Music will play into the night, and after the schedule is played through, the Hotel will be the place to be as musicians continue on into the night in an open mike session. Since 1994 the festival was the first sure sign of spring and the tradition continues in 2008, and beyond.
