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Shred all day. Dance all night. Fernie Stoke Fest is back for another weekend of stoke folk in Fernie!
Stokefest is a feast of music and Fernie's favourite little winter one-night festival. An early family-friendly show is followed by a showcase of some of the region's best musicians and DJs with a party late into the night.
TICKETS NOW ON SALE - PURCHASE ONLINE!
FRIDAY, March 22nd
Pre-show at Knox on 2nd - 201 2nd Ave
7:30 - 11 PM
with Mariel Buckley and Charles Benjamin
Tickets $20, or included in weekend pass
SATURDAY, March 23rd
at Fernie Community Centre - Hwy #3
5:00 PM:
All Ages Early Show with Shred Kelly, Thomas Thomas Band, Topo
Tickets: 2 & U - Free, 3-12 $5, 13-18 $10, 19+ $15 (Not included in weekend pass)
8:00 PM - 2:00 AM:
Late Show with Shred Kelly, Miesha and the Spanks, Electrick Blanket, Thomas Thomas Band, Max Thomson, Birdhaus, DJ Cona, Topo
Tickets: Earlybird $40, Regular $50, or included in weekend pass
TICKETS - PURCHASE ONLINE
WEEKEND PASS $55
Cash bar, merch tent, and coat check on site.
See official event website and social media (fb, ig) for updates as the are announced.
Shred Kelly is a five-piece, alternative folk-rock band that emerged from the heart of the Canadian Rockies in 2009. Over the past decade, the band have taken their highly energetic live show from humble beginnings on the Canadian ski-town circuit to the international stage.
The band’s striking and energy-packed sound has evolved from their eclectic musical influences and their unique experiences as individuals. Their progressive pairing of acoustic instrumentation with electric counterparts, harmonies, and driving rhythm, continues to develop and reach new heights. Pushing the boundaries of the genre, they have incorporated a wide range of influences to create a sound that is uniquely called ‘Stoke Folk.’ The band is best known for their dynamic, high-energy and engaging live show that leaves no dance floor vacant.
MEMBERS
Shred Kelly has garnered themselves sold-out shows across Canada, performed at some of the Nation’s premier festivals, and received a growing list of awards and recognition. They recently won ‘Album of the Year’ and ‘Best Live Act’ at 2015 Kootenay Music Awards and won the 2015 Western Canadian Music Award for ‘Best Music Video’ for their latest single ‘Sing to the Night. In 2017 they performed in Australia as part of the Break Out West's 3-act representation at Australian Music Week.
On Shred Kelly’s fifth album, Like a Rising Sun, one can sense a change of direction for the group as if life has taken a sharp turn for the alternative-folk rockers. From the first strum of “Rising Sun” to the dissonant fadeout of “Disconnect”, a fast paced and emotional album is laid out through 11 tracks that tell of major life upheaval in rapidly changing times. Written mostly in 2019 when lead singers/songwriters Tim Newton and Sage McBride welcomed their first child into the world only to lose Tim’s father to an illness one month later. The joy, sadness and uncertainty of that time allowed for a new lease on their highly energetic music and the stories they tell. The album is woven together in the immediate aftermath with themes of love, life, death, fear for the future, and new beginnings.
Since the album’s release, Shred Kelly has received positive reviews in Canada and internationally, Spotify Editorial Playlisting, a video feature by Grant Lawerence on CBC, International radio play, regular rotation on Sirus XM and Radio Eins in Berlin, and featured on Canadian alternative radio stations. They self-produced their own Tiny Concert Tour through BC & Alberta in the summer of 2021 through a partnership with On The Road Productions to bring live music back, and went on to open for ‘The Dead South’ on 12 European dates in November of that year. They were nominated for Rock Artist of the Year at The 2021 Western Canadian Music Awards.
Sing to the Night named “Top 15 Most Anticipated Albums of 2015″ – CBC Music
Sing to the Night is a huge step forward for this young group. – Exclaim Magazine
Shred Kelly’s ‘Sing to the Night’ breaks from the pack and demonstrates a fresh, distinct sound. With great consistency, compelling tone, and overall fantastic music - Aesthetic Magazine
Free Press Folk Fest Faves – Favorite Big Blue @ Night Shows – Shred Kelly – Winnipeg Free Press
MIESHA AND THE SPANKS
Where have all the riot grrrls gone? You ask – Miesha & The Spanks answer. If you’ve got a yearning for flashy yet classic hard rock, look no further – this Calgary-based duo has the guitar hero-worshiping, face melting, whisky belting sound that you’ve been seeking.
A modern singer/guitarist and beloved fixture on the local scene, frontwoman Miesha Louie is the integral driving force behind Miesha & The Spanks. A mixed-Secwépemc artist living in Treaty 7 Territory, she’s devoted her entire career to inventing and playing instrumentally brilliant melodies that unleash her passions and her full-throated vocal tones.
As a result, Miesha & The Spanks have become a tighter and more muscular version of themselves with each new release. Miesha’s solos are as quintessentially rock as they come. Her anarchic, femme-powered vibes causing audiences to erupt in devil-horn-raising celebration of razor-sharp hooks delivered with fire and flare.
Percussionist Sean Hamilton (an accomplished singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist in his own right) is her psychic counterpart, intuitively punctuating her soulful choruses with a pounding intensity simultaneously that elevates heart rates and ceiling rafters.
THOMAS THOMAS
Calgary indie ensemble Thomas Thomas is the result of the creative collision of the sincere singer-songwriter Shannon Thomas and the curious indie-rocker Thomas Englund (Bell Tower, Betaboys). Thomas Thomas has landed a YYC Music Award nomination and a first-place win at the Ship & Anchor songwriting contest. Their tunes have seen chart positions on CJSW, CKUA, spins on X92.9, and a dedicated local following. The band has performed with Japanese Breakfast, Shannon & The Clams, and Vundabar, and has graced the stages of Breakout West, Canadian Music Week, Sled Island, and BIG Winter Classic. Their dreamy indie idiosyncrasy on their debut self-titled EP (2019) has drawn comparisons to Born Ruffians, Wallows, and Camera Obscura.
Working with producer Chris Dadge (ALVVAYS, Lab Coast, Chad VanGaalen) the band is returning with a sparkly new set of singles, the pining ‘Right Place, Wrong Time’ about a series of “missed connections” - currently featured on a 2023 Starbucks summer social ad campaign - and the anxious ‘Interesting Times’ about isolation and missing loved ones.
ELECTRIC BLANKET
Electric Blanket Club Band is a Pop Punk Sad Band hailing from Fernie, BC. After just over 3 years together, Electric Blanket has successfully played a total of one time outside their home town of Fernie, and now, with multiple hundreds of streams on Spotify, the boys have pre-emptively all quit their jobs to prepare for their ascent to stardom with their hit tracks like “Brad Pitty Party” and “Planet of the Vapes” (*these songs are not yet available for streaming).
Known for their energetic shows and confusing on-stage banter, EB is excited to bring their nervous energy to the big leagues! i.e., anywhere other than The Northern Bar and Grill.
BIRDHAUS
Just a couple of birds playing house! Kootenay-based female DJ duo Birdhaus are known for their flawless blending of different styles of house music and breaks, captivating crowds with their seamless transitions and infectious energy. With an undeniable passion for music that cuts across genres, Birdhaus is always on the hunt for the freshest tracks, ensuring their live sets and mixes are a sonic delight.
From intimate gatherings in the woods to gracing the stages like the Living Room at Shambhala Music Festival or playing a vital role in keeping the electronic music scene alive in their home town in Fernie, BC, these gals are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the underground music scene.
MAX THOMSON
Max Thomson is a UK hip-hop artist living in Fernie who pours his heart and soul into his productions! Writing and producing most of his own stuff, this talented fella is constantly releasing new music.
MARIEL BUCKLEY
Unapologetically genuine, wry, and soft-hearted - Mariel Buckley has planted her flag firmly as a songwriter who’s in it for the long haul. She aims to find herself squarely on the fringes and exactly where she belongs: singing and writing songs for the underdog.
Her candor and magnetic live show have been charming listeners across North America since her debut LP, Driving In The Dark [2018]. Now, with thousands of miles under her belt, Buckley looks to turn country/folk music on its head with her follow-up album, Everywhere I Used To Be [2022]. Anchored by the haunting whine of the pedal steel, rounded out by heavy synth pads and produced by Marcus Paquin (The Weather Station, The Barr Brothers, Arcade Fire, The National), the resulting collection is a driving, swooning, toe-tapping catharsis; sealed and delivered by Buckley’s signature crooning brand of angst-ridden alt-folk.
Buckley and Paquin made an intentional move towards decidedly pop/contemporary production and quickly found themselves in a daily rhythm of deconstructing and rebuilding each song to find its full potential. Backed by some of Canada’s finest session musicians, their collective efforts are showcased with abundant heart, and skillful flourishes while respecting the space necessary for the songs to speak.
Perhaps her mysterious ambiguity around genre, traditional storytelling, and identity is what gives these new songs such an honest shine. Buckley continues to be a trailblazer in her own right, with a firm grip on the steering wheel and a destination in mind - we’re just happy to be along for the ride.
CHARLES BENJAMIN
Growing up in the small beach town of Port Elgin, ON, Charles Benjamin combines authentic songwriting with his laid-back indie-folk persona. Pulling inspiration from travelling, relationships, and the many ups and downs that life entails, this young artist connects with listeners through his relatability and story telling.
TOPO
If you live in Fernie, you know Topo. Whether performing live, doing sound, selling mushrooms (Black Lodge Mushrooms - check them out!), running karaoke nights, or hosting the Griz competitions, he spreads cheer in any endeavor. He has performed at every Fernie Stoke Fest since it began and the band are so happy to have him back!
