Having been on the Canadian music scene for some four decades, contemporary folk guitarist David Essig knows plenty about crafting songs and captivating audiences.
He’s one of many artists to be featured at the 2011 Central Music Festival, set to run Aug. 12-14 just north of the City on Twp. Rd. 392.
Essig, who performs on the Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., is highly respected as a ‘thoughtful and intelligent’ songwriter who consistently pays homage to his country blues and bluegrass roots.
His gift for songwriting is the theme of A Stone in My Pocket, the acclaimed project released in 2004. Essig recorded new renditions of some 30 tunes from his many years of writing. In 2007, a collective of alt-country Winnipeg musicians recorded the Beverly Street which also featured some of Essig’s originals.
The following year, he joined forces with fellow roots performer Rick Scott to record Double Vision. The guys went on to perform at festivals nation-wide, adding bassist Shelley Brown to the mix.
Meanwhile, excitement is building for the Central Music Festival which is described as a family-friendly event showcasing a top-notch array of musical artistry.
Genres run the gamut from rock to blues to country to inspirational, with acts including the Steve Arsenault Band and The Boom Chuck Boys and Charlie Jacobson on Friday evening; Don Swift, The Odds, the Amy Bishop Trio and Jonas & the Massive Attraction on Saturday and an inspirational workshop with The Larsgaard Family Bluegrass Band and Friends on Sunday. Other Sunday performers include Micah Turchet and Back Porch Swing. Wrapping things up on Sunday afternoon is a songwriters’ circle/acoustic jam at 3:15 p.m.
Several other artists are set to perform as well throughout the event, which also includes a shuttle service running back and forth from the Red Deer Lodge through the weekend.
Meanwhile, there are opportunities for sponsorship involvement and for plenty of volunteer help as well. Anyone interested can check out www.centralmusicfest.com for more details.
Weekend passes, including the newly introduced family passes, are available for purchase at the web site as well.
editor@reddeerexpress.com
