When you start a new music festival, believing in the concept is only half the battle. Getting other people on board is the other half.
The made-in-Guelph Holy Smokes Music festival, open to all audiences but featuring women and non-binary artists and tech crews, is back for its second year in October. Tickets, including a new weekend pass, went on sale Thursday.
The festival was started last year by Moore and her friend/fellow musician Alanna Gurr as a response to a void in the music scene dominated by male bands.
"I would say it exceeded our expectations by a long shot," moore said of last year's inaugral event. "It was really successful and we had a lot of support from the community, which is great. We felt pretty confident going into this year."
This year's event goes Oct. 3, 4 and 5 and features three days of performances at various locations, most of them in the downtown area.
Headliner Terra Lighfoot anchors the weekend with a Saturday night concert a Royal EMC Church, with opening act Nicolette & the Nobodies.
Last year's two-day festival brought lots of artist interest and that only grew this year.
"We were getting applications right up until (Wednesday). We've been telling people 'try again next year.' So many people want to be a part of it and want to support it, so we've been able to get some really, really amazing performers this year," Moore said.
This year's lineup includes Terra Lightfoot, Bonjay, Pearle Harbour, Bonnie Trash, L CON, Ellis, NOUVOSOLIS, Moscow Apartment, Abigail Lapell, Sparklesaurus, Nicolette & the Nobodies, Sages, Tara Kannangara, Estyr, seawater + rose & DJ Sally.
"We've kept it quite small again, but we added one more night, on the Thursday."
Moore said it's been great to see people respond to the women and non-binary theme of the festival.
"I think it's definitely been very validating and we've had such great feedback from people that wanted to see this, not only in our community but in the industry as a whole. That's been validating, that it's getting noticed by people who say they've wanted to see this for a long time.
"It's all been positive. We haven't had any negative feedback."
The festival kicks off Oct. 3 with an opening party at Two Faces on Wilson Street stdarting at 7 p.m. Later that night The EBAR will host Bonnie Trash, alongside Ellis and Sages
Thanks to a partnership with the Downtown Guelph Business Association, Saturday Oct. 5th will see two free/pay what you can shows: Planet Bean Coffee hosts Tara Kannangara and Moscow Apartment starting at 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m. at Kennedy Park Abigail Lapell and Estyr & Brandon Davis will perform.
For more information and a full list of preformers go to www.holysmokesmusicfest.com or Facebook at : @holysmokesmusicfest.
