by Katie Tower
An estimated crowd of about 1,000 flocked to Sackville over the weekend to take in the 11th annual indie music festival, which featured a diverse line-up of about 60 bands and artists that took to the stage and the street throughout the three-day event.
“It was just amazing,” said Lucas Hicks, executive director of the festival. “Everything went so great, probably the smoothest Sappyfest we’ve ever had. It was truly wonderful.”
Hicks said although the final numbers aren’t in, he expects attendance was down slightly from what was anticipated but the organizers were still pleased with the overall crowds at the various venues over the weekend.
He said the mainstage tent on Bridge Street was full every night, and the performances at the Vogue, the Legion and Thunder and Lightning were near sell-outs as well.
Hicks said the event’s success is a credit to “a lot of hard work from our team” but also acknowledged the support from the town of Sackville crews, who help with the set-up and clean-up as well as some of the logistical issues that come up over the weekend.
“Now that we’re back on Bridge Street, it seemed like everything just kind of fell into place,” he said. “So that kind of made it stress free . . .and it was a really nice vibe for everyone.”
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The weather also cooperated throughout the weekend, said Hicks, contributing to what he describes as a “flawless” event.
Sappyfest has become widely known as one of the must-attend music festivals of the summer and it livens up Sackville’s downtown with music of all genres for the long weekend.
This year’s schedule was jam packed, with highlights including TUNS, Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars, Little Scream, Cakes Da Killa, She-Devils, Nap Eyes, Ought, By Divine Right, and Partner.
TUNS, said to be Halifax’s latest “supergroup,” includes Sloan's Chris Murphy on drums, Super Friendz/Flashing Lights' Matt Murphy on guitar and the Inbreds' Mike O'Neill on bass. They hit the stage on Friday night, performing a number of songs they had saved just for their triumphant East Coast return.
“They delivered and had a great time,” said Hicks.
American rapper Cakes Da Killa also blew the crowd away with his performance, but Hicks said it was actually the hip hop artist who was really bowled over by the welcoming atmosphere he experienced here.
Originally thinking he was traveling to New Brunswick, New Jersey for the weekend, the musician was surprised to learn he was headed to New Brunswick, Canada and even more surprised when organizers quickly arranged for him to be picked up at the Moncton airport and was offered such down-home hospitality.
--taken from: Sackville Tribune-Post
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