Skip to content

Dancing up a storm at Blue Mountain Music Festival

Tri-City residents got to experience a music festival without leaving home this past weekend during the 7th annual Blue Mountain Music Festival.

Tri-City residents got to experience a music festival without leaving home this past weekend during the 7th annual Blue Mountain Music Festival.

Despite rainy conditions, die-hard music fans flocked to evening performances of the Big City Soul Band and Mike Henry who got the mostly babyboomer crowd jumping to tunes by James Brown and Ray Charles.

"The evening crowds, under the tents, people had a good time and danced up a storm," said Don Layfield, Tri-City News advertising manager and festival organizer.

Tots enjoyed face painting, balloon artistry, air brush tattoos, roving entertainers while their parents experienced the festival vibe with a range or artists covering Top 40, country and country rock, as well as traditional rock and roll and the blues with Midlife band headed by the Tri-Cities' own Tony Prophet.

Although the weather kept some folks away, others, like Darrell Robertson enjoyed having a festival in town that appealed to all ages.

"There were activities for kids and we were drawn to come. It's close to home, a few blocks."

Although fewer people attended the event compared to past years, Layfield said smaller numbers won't affect next year's festival.

He said the City of Coquitlam, which sponsors the event, is committed to the annual music festival and the Festival Coquitlam Society which organizes it doesn't rely on the gate donations. However, the admission donations are used to offset some of the costs, Layfield said.

Other sponsors were Thrifty Foods, and the Kinsmen Club.