The inaugural Strings & Things International Music Festival on Saturday, July 13, marked a return of ticketed live music events to the area after many years. The event, held at the Point Roberts Marina and spanning six hours, featured a lineup of four diverse bands and drew nearly 600 attendees.
Supporting the festival’s operation were 20 firefighters on standby and a dedicated team of 20 volunteers who assisted with setup, ticketing, and post-event tasks. The musical lineup included 11 talented musicians across four bands, showcasing a blend of genres rarely seen at outdoor festivals in the region.
Mike Bell, a member of two featured bands and a key figure in organizing the event, said, “We aimed to showcase exceptional musicianship with unique musical acts and genres that wouldn’t normally be found at an outdoor music festival.” Bell’s extensive connections within Vancouver’s music scene facilitated the gathering of musicians, fostering unique collaborations and enhancing the event’s chemistry.
Breeda Desmond, co-organizer of the festival alongside her husband Mike Bell, emphasized their joint effort in bringing the event to fruition. “We have complementary skill sets. Mike handled the coordination of musicians, and I focused on marketing and ticket sales,” she said, adding, “We have gotten some amazing feedback.”
Looking ahead, Desmond expressed optimism about turning the festival into an annual event. “We treated this inaugural event as if we were hosting thousands. We would like to continue to build on this and make it an annual event and draw more visitors to the Point.”
For information on Strings and Things International Music Festival visit Strings & Things Music Festival | July 13, 2024 | Point Roberts (stringsandthingsmusicfestival.com).
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