The seventh edition of The Big Time Out is just around the corner, scheduled for Aug. 18 and 19.
TBTO is back in Cumberland's Village Park for 2012 and organizers are also adding some exciting new elements to the BTO format that will see multiple venues and street level action as part of the weekend pass offering.
For the past seven years, thousands have descended on the village each August to hear cutting-edge music and feast on amazing visuals provided by a vibrant local art, dance and circus arts scene. Big Time Out is one of those events that transcends the more familiar definitions of 'concert' or 'festival.' Dancers hang from aerial silks, while fire-spinning belly dancers and massive inflatables go hand in hand with stunning new music from national and international artists.
All of this takes place in tree lined park nestled against a historic Village, filled with quaint turn of the century homes, funky little shops and cafes and residents who seem reasonably happy to see their little village double in size each summer.
The audience is young at heart, with little interest in nostalgia (although few complained about the show from veteran reggae rhythm section Sly and Robbie in 2007). They return year after year to witness the innovation and unbeatable music programming that the event has become known for.
Past performers at BTO have ranged from the Sam Roberts Band, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Broken Social Scene, Mother Mother and Metric to K'Naan, Xavier Rudd and Corb Lund. Some of the hottest electronica on the West Coast ties it all together and keeps the vibe going between the bigger acts.
Performers for this Aug. 18 and 19 include Vancouver-based alt rockers Black Mountain, alt-country trio Elliott Brood, Australia's Aurora Jane, former Feist sideman Bahamas, Luciterra, the Funk Hunters, Humans, Longwalkshortdock, Morlove, Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers, and Kermal Evans.
Local artists inlcude Luke Blu Guthrie, Des Larsen, Pamela Tessmann and Brodie Dawson.
The Big Time Out is reaching its arms even more deeply into the Village-proper this summer with venues being programmed throughout the downtown. The BTO team is also creating some unique street level activities to bring the downtown of this small but mighty Village into the forefront of the event.
The consistent BTO thread is high-quality production, excitin