Port Renfrew's Song and Surf festival continues sold-out streak

SONG AND SURF

Featuring: Shred Kelly, Smalltown DJs, Murge, R.O. Shapiro, Kimmortal, and more

Where: Port Renfrew

When: Friday through Sunday, Feb. 17-19

Tickets: Sold out

Information: songandsurf.com

Another year for the Song and Surf music festival, another sold-out instalment. For those who were hoping to make last-minute plans and attend the wide-ranging event, which mixes electronic and acoustic acts in three Port Renfrew venues, that’s the unfortunate news.

The good news for organizers, however, is that the boutique event has lost none of its appeal, despite two years of upheaval. Song and Surf was last staged in February 2020, shortly before COVID-19 arrived. “We were the last festival that happened before the whole shutdown,” said festival director Mike Hann. “A month later — boom.”

Organizers made the decision to skip subsequent editions, before announcing its return in 2023. “The whole thing with Song and Surf is the experience, and the connection with other people,” Hann said. “It wouldn’t have served what we do at all, so we didn’t go there.”

In addition to Song and Surf, Hann runs two high-profile festivals in Lake Cowichan, the Sunfest country music festival and Laketown Shakedown. Both events were staged over the summer, but he could feel “a bit of hesitation” from attendees. “It’s a different feeling going into this one.”

To say fans have missed Song and Surf would be under-selling its cultural impact. When tickets for this year’s instalment went on sale Oct. 18, the entire inventory was gone within 30 seconds, Hann said.

“It was pretty crazy. There’s definitely a heightened vigour. Everybody is really excited, and we’re hearing that from Song and Surf veterans, who come year after year. It was something that was missing in all of our lives.”

Three days of musical activity is on tap, starting Friday night with performances by Def 3 and DJ Allgood, among others. The majority of acts slated to perform are from Western Canada, in addition to a pair of performers from California (R.O. Shapiro, Nick Kennerley). Shred Kelly, Smalltown DJs, Murge and Kimmortal are among the headliners.

Two young Port Renfrew acts, Benty Boys and Bass Collective, which Hann came into contact through a youth music program the festival instigated years ago, are making their debut this year. To have two artists from a pool of only several hundred year-round Port Renfrew residents, along with several others who are working in other areas at the festival, is a proud Song and Surf moment, according to Hann.

“The ripple effect of us doing this is not about the event specifically, it’s about how we can contribute to the community as well.”

Having time off gave Hann some perspective on the event, and he heads into the 13th edition of Song and Surf feeling renewed curatorially.

“We wanted to come back with a bang. The artists who know about Song and Surf want to be involved with it, and that has translated well to the guests. It’s not just about the line-up. We care a lot about the experience, and hope to get people into some different moods at different times.”

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