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B.C. music festival season is upon us

With so many summer music festivals to choose from, we offer up our top five and top-five alternative events with something for all.

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Summertime is the season for music festivals everywhere. Some fans may be looking at heading off across the planet to put a check next to such events as Glastonbury (U.K.), Wacken (Germany), Tomorrowland (Belgium) or Secret Solstice (Iceland). Others will be happy to keep closer to home and attend one of the many and varied festival choices in B.C.

But what criteria should be considered in choosing an event?

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A great lineup can’t fix a bad site situation. Nor can the best setting around counteract dull tunes. And at some point, most will want a good campsite, regularly swabbed out toilet, and good food and beverage options. Getting the mix right is what elevates one multiday music experience from OK to awesome.

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Looking over the many, many festivals taking place this summer, we considered all of the above and also such things as the likelihood of getting tickets. Many of the top-rated festivals such as the EDM-oriented Bass Coast are already sold out. So you might have to consider options in your preferred genre. That’s why this list includes an alternate choice:

Armstrong MetalFest

When: July 12-13

Where: 3315 Pleasant Valley Rd., Armstrong

Tickets and info:armstrongmetalfest.ca

Featuring: Nekrogoblikon (pictured), Origin, Wake, Gross Misconduct and more

In Europe, particularly in the north, if it’s a music fest then it’s likely metal heavy. Taking this as inspiration, a group of dedicated headbangers started this event a decade ago as a backyard party. Now it has become a go-to pick for heavy- and hard-rock fans across Western Canada and beyond. And, dude, they feature Thrash Wrestling.

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Alternative choice: Metalocalypstickfest, June 29-30, Lone Butte; tickets and info: metalocalypstickfest.rocks

A metal fest featuring bands with “female power,” this one is four years old and keeps growing.

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Vancouver Island MusicFest

When: July 12-14

Where: Comox Valley Fairgrounds

Tickets and info:islandmusicfest.com

Featuring: Amjad Ali Khan (pictured), Colin James, Asleep at the Wheel, DJ Kookum and more

This festival has long been considered one of the best roots, folk and blues events in Western Canada. Starting in 1997, the Comox Valley location has resonated with sounds of the global village. It’s particularly strong on showcasing masters of the guitar in all of its many forms and styles, and other picked/strummed stringed instruments. The workshops are acclaimed for the jam sessions. And the presenters bring music to the Island all year long.

Alternative choice: Vancouver Folk Music Festival, July 19-21, Jericho Beach; tickets and info: thefestival.bc.ca

Always worth going to hang out in the park and discover incredible new talents. Go just to hear Sarah Shook and the Disarmers.

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Rockin’ River Country Music Festival

When: Aug. 1-4

Where: Merritt

Tickets and info:rockinriverfest.com

Featuring: Brent Kissel, Brothers Osbourne, Jason Aldean (pictured), and founder Kenny Hess, among others.

The festival site by the river certainly does get rocking every year as country music fans come to party and play. Almost always scorching hot, so those big hats aren’t only fashionable but also practical as you move from the water to the mechanical bull and then the main stage. The atmosphere is one of party times with a good soundtrack.

Alternative choice: Sunfest Country Music Festival, Aug. 1-4, Chemainus; tickets and info: sunfestconcerts.com

With almost the same lineup as Rockin’ River, this really becomes a question of which event is more local for you. Another great site.

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Kaslo Jazz Etc Summer Music Festival

When: Aug. 2-4

Where: Kaslo Bay Park

Tickets and info:kaslojazzfest.com

Featuring: Khruangbin (pictured), Galactic, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Pugs and Crows, and more.

The Kaslo Jazz Festival has been going since 1992. With its floating stage and green amphitheatre, it certainly has one of the most unique settings of any festival and has been recognized by everyone from USA Today to Reuters for that. It has also been able to draw top-tier talent with a decidedly hip, cool and groovy bent right from the start. In many cases, this is the only place you will see some of these world-class artists play in B.C. all year.

Alternative choice(s): Squamish Constellation Festival, July 26-28, Hendrickson Field, Squamish; tickets and info: constellationfest.ca, and ‘Q’EMCIN 2 Rivers Remix, July 6-7, Lytton; tickets and info: 2riversremix.ca

With the demise of both the Pemberton and Squamish festivals, and Bass Coast moving to Merritt, it was pretty clear that the Sea to Sky zone was ripe for a new event. It got two and both look great. ‘Q’EMCIN 2 Rivers Remix is a FREE “two-day feast of contemporary Indigenous music and culture in Lytton,” which showcases artists such as former A Tribe Called Red member DJ Shub, host Ostwelve and others. The Squamish Constellation Festival is focused on big-name, young Canadian talent such as Jessie Reyez, the Bahamas, Serena Ryder and — Fredheads unite! — Fred Penner. Expect a chill, family friendly experience at both of these festivals. Oh, there is also the EDM-heavy Fever Music Festival in Pemberton from June 7-9. Tickets and info: facebook.com

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2019 Shambhala Music Festival

When: Aug. 9-12

Where: Salmo River Ranch, West Kootenay Mountains

Tickets and info:shambhalamusicfestival.com

Featuring: Bonobo (pictured), Silk City (Diplo + Mark Ronson), Liquid Stranger, Zeds Dead, and more

They call it the Shambhala experience for a reason. The combination of world-class DJs, creative stage sets and an all-around creative release has seen this annual event grow into a giant over its 20-year existence. It’s a growth that hasn’t gone unnoticed either. As of this writing, DJ Mag tagged it as the best music festival in North America over Coachella, Bonnaroo, Movement and Lightning in a Bottle. Note: 80 per cent of the tickets are sold, so don’t dilly-dally if you want to dance here.

Alternative choice: Block Rockin Beats, July 27, Waldorf Hotel; tickets and info: electriclovemusicfestival.com

The Electric Love Music Festival took place July 27-29 in the Cheam Fishing Village, Agassiz, last year. By all accounts it was a really great EDM/hip-hop event. After four years running, the producers are dialing it back and bringing a one-day-long event to town at the Waldorf, with an outdoor-turf dance floor, LED stage and more.

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sderdeyn@postmedia.com

twitter.com/stuartderdyn

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