The organizers behind Carstairs' annual grassroots music bash have released its roster of artists for this year's show.The 2011 edition of the Mountain View Music Fest is set for Aug. 5-7.ìIn true Mountain View Music Fest form, we managed to get a lineup that not only we're all happy with and that's going to be a nice cross market of listeners, but some friends and some people who gave us a good deal on their art,î said Jason Valleau, MVMF artistic director.This year's festival headliner is Canadian country music veteran Charlie Major.ìHe's kind of like Canada's answer to Bruce Springsteen,î Valleau said of Major's rock-country flavour.Major said he's excited about hitting the stage in Carstairs, adding that there's a lot about the fest that he found appealing.ìIt's an acoustic show, which is something I love doing,î Major said.ìIt sounds like a nice place and that it will be a nice evening of music.îWhile Major will be delivering songs off his latest album, ìon the evening sideî the man who took Canadian country music charts by storm with nine No. 1 singles from 1993-95, will also be playing his classics.ìYou've got to dance with the one who brought you,î he said.ìPeople who have gone out and bought some of those CDs expect to hear those songs.îMajor's a seasoned outdoor musical festival performer, who said there's something special about playing music for an audience in the fresh air.ìThe whole ambiance with being out in the open, I think it has to do with the outdoor mentality, being outside under the stars and moon. People are a little bit more relaxed.îMajor will be hitting the stage with Valleau's band the Polyjesters ñ something he said is one example of the festival's promotion of artistic collaborations.Speaking of collaborations, another major act on the fest's slate is Lunch at Allen's. The high-powered foursome features Marc Jordan, Murray McLauchlan, Cindy Church and Ian Thomas, all prolific Canadian songwriters.ìThey ping-pong around to each other during the concert and play two or three of each other's hits,î Valleau said.ìIt's a bit different than a songwriter circle, it's more like a band,î said Jordan, who has written hit songs for Bette Midler, Rod Stewart, Cher, Diana Ross and Josh Groban, among others.ìWe play all our hits that we've had individually.îAccording to Valleau, the group's music is well suited for his annual music showcase.ìThey fit the demographic, they fit the crowd,î he said.ìIt's a very Mountain View friendly genre of music.îLike Major, Jordan feels there's something special about taking the stage at a festival.ìNormally, we play theatres,î Jordan said.ìThere's something fundamentally different playing at a festival where people are a lot looser. I think people come for the spectacle and the experience as much as they do for the music.ìThe audiences seem different. They seem more responsive, they seem like they're having a great time ñ we love it up there.îValleau said Fest coordinators along with Carstairs 20/20, will be making good use of Lunch at Allen's' visit to town. With the group staying in Carstairs for five days, Valleau said they'll be launching the festival's first-ever artist in residency program, including private rehearsals and open workshops. Locations and times for the workshops have yet to be determined. However, the group will be spending part of its time in Carstairs writing for a planned Lunch at Allen's Christmas album.Other confirmed acts for the festival include Tim Hus, Lynn Miles, Rob Szabo, Souljah Fyah, Frank Schaap, Kinjo Brothers, Matt Masters, Cam Penner, Cara Luft, Keister Family Fiddlers, T. Buckley, Brent Tyler, 100 Mile House, The Ruminants, Magnolia Buckskin, Ben Sures, David Mark Sadlier-Brown, and Wheat & Water.
