KEPPOCH MOUNTAIN — Organizers of Nova Scotia Summer Fest 2020 announced a jam-packed lineup of headliners for the second annual event Monday morning.
Ray Mattie, founder and executive director of the event, made the announcement on CTV Morning Live with host Ana Almeida.
Mattie and Almeida, as they did for the inaugural celebration, will serve as co-hosts in 2020.
The two-day showcase will be staged Aug. 28 and 29, once again, at Keppoch Mountain in Antigonish County.
“I am pumped – there is a lot of work to do – but we have a lot to be excited about,” Mattie told the Casket a couple hours after releasing the list of performers.
East Coast Credit Union, once again, will be the presenting sponsor for the festival.
“Their support has been tremendous,” Mattie said.
Like the 2019 event, he noted, the festival has focused on “maintaining a multi-genre approach” with two distinct theme nights.
“We are going to have some familiar names, along with some who people might not normally see,” Mattie said.
For the opener – ‘rock and pop night’ – The Trews, with deep Antigonish roots, will take center stage.
“It is great to have them coming home; they are excited,” Mattie added.
That Friday night, Aug. 28, lineup will also feature, as he described them, "up and comers" Neon Dreams, who are making noise with their chart-topping hit High School Dropout.
Saturday, Aug. 29, East Coast and country music will be the focus, including B.C.’s Washboard Union, a group that garnered the 2019 Canadian Country Music Award (CCMA) as group of the year.
Cape Breton’s Jimmy Rankin and Yarmouth’s Ryan Cook will also perform.
Antigonish County native Anna Ludlow, who wowed the crowd last summer, is coming back to the Keppoch.
“She was a big hit,” Mattie said of the fiddler and singer who is performing with the Toronto production of the internationally-acclaimed stage show Come From Away.
He added Ludlow is not only a tremendous traditional fiddler, but also an incredible singer.
“Everyone loved her,” Mattie said, noting her merchandise was the top-seller during the festival in 2019.
The Saturday evening songwriters' showcase, hosted by Heather Rankin last summer, will return in 2020 with Myles Goodwyn of April Wine fame taking the lead.
Goodwyn, who penned rock classics, such as Roller and Enough is Enough for the iconic Canadian group, will perform a couple tunes before bringing promising songwriters to the stage to sing a couple of their tunes with a stellar house band.
“He is very excited to take part,” Mattie said of Goodwyn.
As for the participating songwriters, he noted “we are still in talks,” although Maura Whitman has been pencilled in for a return to the festival.
“People loved it, and we think they will again this year,” Mattie added of the songwriters' showcase.
'Buy Nova Scotia'
The second Nova Scotia Summer Fest will, once again, feature a 'Buy Nova Scotia' theme; one that will show case seafood, oyster shots, craft brews, wines and more.
“We want to market other foods,” Mattie said, noting another seafood product will be on the menu.
He added the popular Cabot Oyster Bar, an initiative of the Havre Boucher, Antigonish County producer, will return.
Antigonish area vendors, such as Back East Seafood, The Waffle Bus and Little Asia, will also be back at the Keppoch.
“We are going to have a lot to offer,” Mattie said.
Beautiful back drop
Whether someone is listening to the stellar music, or enjoying some delicious fare, the back drop – once again – will be the picturesque Keppoch Mountain, an increasingly popular multi-season recreation site.
“It is an incredible place,” Mattie said, noting so many festival visitors hadn't been on the property since it closed as a downhill ski venue.
During the summer festival, like in 2019, there will be morning downhill bike challenges and combines.
“They did some amazing stuff,” Mattie said, in reflecting on last season’s activities.
He added last season’s festival also provided great exposure for Keppoch and its activities, noting memberships for the multi-season location increased 40 per cent during the week after the inaugural event.
Growing reputation
Mattie agreed the success of the inaugural showcase, one that featured headliners such as Classified and Alan Doyle, has helped propel interest in the 2020 event, with prospective performers expressing their interest to organizers.
“I didn’t have to put out many feelers at all,” he said, when it came to bringing artists on board.
Mattie noted one “big act” wanted to come to Keppoch but “we could not accommodate their stage show.”
“As we continue to grow, that will come,” he added of the ability to feature such performers.
More information regarding summer music camps for youth in 2020, which will be funded by the festival, will be released in coming weeks.
The remaining acts for this year's festival will be announced in the coming months.
For more information about Nova Scotia Summer Fest, including how to purchase tickets, along with securing camping and RV spaces, visit www.nssummerfest.ca
