The Big Time Out, Cumberland's wildly eclectic summer music festival will be transformed into a one-day extravaganza Aug. 12-13 in Cumberland Village Park.
This year's roster features Montreal rocker Sam Roberts, fresh from winning Juno awards for Artist of the Year and Rock Album of the Year.
Also performing are indie darlings Mother Mother, Portland's one-of-a-kind March Fourth Marching Band, and the Celtic-Punjabi fusion of Delhi2Dublin, among others.
Though each artist has his or her own fan base, this year's festival is about creating an atmosphere that's greater than the sum of its parts.
"When you put together an event like this," says Vig Schulman, one of the festival's founders, "it's all about the vibe. The right mix of music brings the right mix of people, and the results are pretty magical."
In past years, attendees have been a cross-generational mix, all drawn to the upbeat, inclusive feel of the festival. The result is a microcosm of Vancouver Island, brought together by a love of good music.
The Big Time Out takes place Aug. 12-13 from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and includes dancers, acrobatics, vendors and non-stop music.
Advance tickets are available for $55.
Tickets and complete festival details can be found at www.thebigtimeout.com/festival.