BIENFAIT - The inaugural Coal Creek Music Festival in Bienfait on Sunday attracted large crowds, thanks to the diversity of the music and the talent of the performers.
Hundreds of people filled the area between the Bienfait Memorial Arena and the Bienfait Curling Rink. A project of the Southeast Saskatchewan Economic Partnership, the festival featured nearly nine hours of music, with each act playing numerous songs.
It kicked off with music courtesy of Aaron Karpinka and then Kara Golemba. A couple of local favourites then took to the stage. The first was North Portal-based folk duo Last Birds, comprised of husband-and-wife tandem Mike Davis and Lindsay Arnold. They recently won the award for Alternative Country Album of the Year at the Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards.
Up next was Regina-based pop group Library Voices. Four of their six performers are from Estevan.
Music fans were then treated to sets by Mariel Buckley, Brayden King, and Munro & Patrick. Each performer had a band with them.
The festival concluded with a performance by headliners Brad Johner and the Johner Boys. Brad Johner's brother Ken was supposed to be part of the show, but he was in Victoria, B.C., for a wedding the day before the festival, and his flight back to Saskatchewan was cancelled.
Food booths were set up throughout the event, and bouncy castles at a nearby area kept children active.
SaskToday.ca and the next edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
