Photo courtesy of the Sakamoto Agency
Alberta's Garrett Gregory, an emerging artist on the Canadian country music scene, will headline the Hay Days Festival.
Gregory, who is working on his first solo album in Nashville, is excited about the opportunity to perform in Hay River, according to written comments provided to The Hub earlier this year.
It will be his first trip to the NWT.
"I'm super excited to be playing for you all," he said of performing north of 60. "It's honestly an honour being asked to do this show for you."
Plus, it will be his first beach concert – the festival's Shaker, a licensed evening of music for adults only, will be held on the Hay River Beach on July 6.
"We've never played on a beach, but I've seen probably 50 shows on beaches and they're by far my favourite, because who doesn't like live music or beaches?" Gregory said. "I cannot wait to see people kicking up sand and dancing to our music."
Gregory, who will be accompanied by four members of his band, is looking forward to performing for a small crowd of about 500 for the Shaker.
"Honestly, the smaller a show, the more intimate and personal it is," he said. "I love these shows because I can develop a connection with the crowd through the music and our ridiculous comedy in between songs. It loses emotion and the raw feeling the bigger a show gets."
April Glaicar, the co-ordinator of the festival, noted the Shaker will also feature performances by Priscilla's Revenge from Yellowknife, The Sociables of Hay River, Welder's Daughter from Yellowknife and 5/3 Mad of Hay River.
Along with performing at the Shaker, Gregory will be part of the festival's Music Hop on July 5. That involves musicians moving between three venues during the evening – the Royal Canadian Legion, The Back Eddy and the Doghouse Sports Bar.
Glaicar noted that 18 individuals or groups – over 60 performers in all – will be appearing at the festival.
"We're really trying to give a broad selection of music to the community," she said.
Other scheduled performers include Mandy Morris, Nathan Knox Band, Brother in Law Band, The Housemen, Bell Rock Blues Band, The Mood Swings, Norman Danais Sr., Taylor Soloy, Lyca Bergen & Josh Ramirez, fiddlers from the Kole Crook Fiddle Association, Avaia Ashton, Brooke Delorey, Halli Delorey and The Smith Sisters.