It was an idea that many thought was impossible to achieve. Yet in 2019, the Gate House Theatre thought it was possible, needed, and it was the right time.
The idea was indeed crazy, in a crazy location where you can’t get much further north on the island, or further away from major population centres and potential markets. But these “dare to dream” people and their crazy idea were unknowingly starting something more vibrant and exciting than anyone could have imagined back then.
It’s called, The North Island Music Festival, and it features Vancouver Island bands and now attracts 1,000 fans to Port McNeill every August for a full day of live music. And over those five years, the North Island Music Festival has garnered the sponsorship and support of over 200 businesses, three levels of government, and countless enthusiastic volunteers.
Which may help explain why the festival now requires three stages to be able to showcase a dozen bands, to a sold out crowd. Despite the size and popularity of the festival though, it hasn’t lost its small town roots. It is still a community gathering with prices that’ll take you back to better and more affordable times, with an adult day pass available for just $35.
Even the food trucks and vendors are reasonable, and the overall vibe is more about having fun than about taking advantage of a captive market and making tons of money.
This year the festival is set for Aug. 24. It starts up at 11:30 a.m. and runs well into Saturday evening. As in previous years, everything is happening at the town’s baseball field (beside the community hall).
Gord Oppen, chair of the volunteer board of the Gate House Theatre, the organization that hosts and makes the music festival happen, has capped ticket sales at the 1,000 mark and starts explaining the decision by saying that it’s “all about the music…” but then pauses for a moment before continuing. “Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true because it is also a place where you may be standing beside your neighbour sharing a beer and the music with someone from down Island or perhaps a visitor from Europe. There is a sense of community gathering and sharing that you don’t often feel at the larger events, and I don’t want us to ever let that go by getting too big or too full of ourselves.”
Perhaps that is why the festival does so well. It has a unique and refreshing personality that echoes the character of the town, and those who make it all happen.
For a complete list of bands playing the North Island Music Festival, visit the festival site at https://northislandmusicfest.com
To snag a ticket for Aug. 24, visit the EventBrite site at https://tinyurl.com/3jctjt5d
