Sooke Music Festival back for the ninth year

The Sooke Music Festival (SMF) is back this weekend for the ninth year in a row and the event boasts a lineup of artists both musical and visual for the community to check out. 

Going from Aug. 9 to 11, the event is a free and family-friendly festival that has been running since 2016. This year, most events will be taking place at Fred Milne Park. SMF has grown in both attendance and features over the years, and has become a staple in the Sooke community to support local artists. 

Looking to bring the community together, the website describes the festival as “a unique combination of visual arts and artisans, with the traditional grassy field festival experience, SMF welcomes music lovers to Sooke BC for performances by top provincial acts alongside new and emerging artists.” Not only does the festival boost local artists but it also allows for Sooke-based businesses to showcase their skills and promote their own products. 

“We became a nonprofit organization and we get funding from three different levels of government with the intent of promoting local music,” said one of the founders and band member of Crow, Peter Jonassen. “We want to promote Island talent because there's so much talent here that we don't need to go off the Island to get it; we believe in community and we want to continue paying that back by helping promote the artists in our community.”

This year, the festival will showcase more than 20 acts, with almost all local performers. Attendees can check out activities ranging from a kids play area, art in the park, a vendor village, food and drinks, and more throughout the event. For those looking for information on the artist lineup, we have provided a full list of performers and times below. 

Opening Party 

On Aug. 9, festivities will kick off at the Sooke Legion. Going from 8 to 11pm, guests will hear three different performances throughout the evening. This is the only event at the Sooke Legion throughout the weekend, so make sure to book off the evening if you don’t want to miss out. 

8pm: Tal Voda 

9pm: X Flies

10pm: That Band Carmine

Day 2

Festival goers will find themselves at Fred Milne Park for the Aug. 10 events, with activities going from 1 to 10pm. There are two different stages for the day, the Butler and the Padgett, and performances will alternate between each, so make sure to clarify which stage you are going to. 

2pm: Ed Fury at ​​the Padgett Stage 

2:30pm: The Hot Noise at the Butler Stage 

3:10pm: Base Collective at the Padgett Stage 

3:50pm: Opening of Festival  

4pm: Gord Phillips & Friends at the Butler Stage

4:45pm: Beau Nectar at the Padgett Stage

5:30pm: Apex Breaks at the Butler Stage 

6:30pm: Woodland Ritual at the Padgett Stage

7:15pm: Leroy Stagger at the Butler Stage 

8:30pm: Faultline at the Padgett Stage

9:15pm: Typoh 

Day 3 

Another day at Fred Milne Park, SMF main events will go from 1 to 9pm for an earlier evening. The stages for the day will be the Butler and the Mann stages and will alternate between the two. There will be events starting before 1pm, so you can head down to the grounds earlier. 

12:30pm: Hantai 

1:25pm: Mr. Mojo Performance for kids at the Butler Stage

2pm: Electric Druids at the Mann Stage 

2:30pm: Kat at the Butler Stage 

2:50pm: Allen Dobbs at the Butler Stage

3:30pm: Crow at the Mann Stage

4pm: Sail Cassady at the Butler Stage

4:45pm: Zenon at the Mann Stage

5:30pm: Roots Roundup at the Butler Stage 

6:45pm: Hillsboro at the Mann Stage

7pm: Sirreal at the Butler Stage 

8pm: Hillsboro at the Mann Stage