Unfortunately summer is coming to an end soon, but we still have at least one fantastic music festival left before the summer chapter is closed.

This weekend, Aug. 13th and 14th will mark the Fifth Annual Harvest Sun Music Festival in Kelwood.
Now for those of you who haven’t heard of the festival I am sure you are wondering “now where exactly is Kelwood”?

I’m not surprised you haven’t heard of it before but you will be disappointed if you don’t try and explore it now. It is a tiny hamlet near Riding Mountain National Park and a paradise for music and nature lovers alike. It also happens to be the hometown of Manitoba singer Alana Levandoski, who has two accomplished albums under her belt with a steady rotation on CBC and BBB radio.

Now it may be Alana whose name is most associated with Kelwood, but it is her sister, Nadia, who has put the Hamlet on the map with the music festival she and her husband, began five years ago.

Nadia Kuhl opened a restaurant in her hometown of Kelwood and named it Harvest Sun. Throughout the first year of business they welcomed many musicians to the stage with a promise of good food and great people. As a celebration of their first year of business the Kuhl’s decided to bring back the musicians they had featured throughout the year and host a festival of sorts. The first time around it was just a one day concert; it has now grown to a full out two-day festival with camping, food, and the some of the best in folk and roots music!

Along with the sisterly love that Alana brings every year, Harvest Sun is thrilled to announce folk legend Sylvia Tyson to the bill. Tyson was half of the popular folk duo Ian & Sylvia from 1959-1974. She also was on that magical train ride, The Festival Express alongside Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, Rick Danko of the Band, Delaney & Bonnie, Buddy Guy, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and of course Ian with whom was referred to as the founding family of Canadian folk music. I actually had the opportunity to see the live interview taping of Sylvia in Toronto when the film about that journey was released. There were some interesting (to say the very least) stories that came out of that tour but that is a different article.

Also in the line up are 2010 Juno Award winners Digging Roots. I’m sure we can expect a few of the fantastic tunes from their award winning album “We Are” as they close the stage on Friday night. Opening for them are Jacob and Lily a wonderful group from Southern Manitoba who have graced the stage of both the Brandon and Winnipeg Folk Festivals. Right in the middle are Brandon’s own NuPhunk Orchestra featuring FLO on lead vocals.

Saturday closes with Sylvia, features Alana but also welcomes one of Manitoba’s best loved children’s entertainers, Al Simmons. Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award and Canadian Folk Music Award winner Don Amero will also take the stage. Dan Frecheet and the Dylanaires are also happy to be making their way back to Kelwood. Still Standing and Back 40 are the kick off entertainers. Rick Neufeld and Woody Holler & his Orchestra are also heading out to Kelwood for Saturday night.

All of this entertainment and it is only going to cost you $5 for adult advance tickets (or $50 if you wait to get them at the gate). Kids 12 and under are free, while tickets for kids aged 13-17 are just $25 – making the festival extremely affordable family entertainment! As an extra bonus, family pass of four is $120, while camping is only $10 per site. For those who don’t like to camp, the Riding Mountain area has numerous cabins and hotels to stay at.

For more information, visit www.theharvestsun.com.