Prairie Wind Music Festival draws great turnout and epic lineup

Organizers of the Prairie Wind Music Festival should be taking a well-deserved deep breath – and a moment to congratulate themselves – after pulling off a fabulous weekend that drew approximately 600 attendees. While that number wasn’t a record for gate admissions, Jeff Noel, chair of the organizing committee, noted it was their biggest year yet for campsite rentals, with over 110 campers rolling in for the event.

The organizing committee has much to be proud of, especially with what many returning attendees called the best musical lineup throughout their 13 years. As in the past three years, The Honeysliders were a crowd favourite with their southern rock–infused rhythm and blues. A standout surprise came late Saturday afternoon when two-time Juno Award winners, Grammy songwriters, and performers at the first Prairie Wind Festival – Dave and Joe Landreth – took the stage. Their tight harmonies and skillful, distinctive guitar work completely captivated the crowd.

Earlier in the week, forecasts had predicted rain throughout the weekend, prompting the committee to develop contingency plans involving the local rink. But despite sporadic showers, chilly temperatures, and strong winds, the festival remained outdoors. “We were committed to keeping it outside, and all the festival attendees I talked to preferred it that way – even if it meant dealing with a bit of rain. The Cypress River Gardens board was amazing and worked hard to prepare the rink just in case,” explained Noel.

One of the most emotional and touching moments came during the Memorial Tribute in honour of Vera Bjornson. Just minutes before the program began, the sky was grey and rain was falling – but as the tribute started, the clouds parted and the sun broke through. “One of the highlights of the day was how the sun came out for Vera’s tribute,” shared Michaela Graham, one of the event organizers. “It was like she was here, shining – as she always did.”
Michaela was also new to the stage this year entertaining the crowd with some country folk songs. “It was great playing on he big stage. The crowd was so much fun!”

The festival opened Friday evening with a performance by Madeline Morin and Kody Webber of Gear. While it was the duos first year performing, Madeline was no stranger to Prairie Wind, having previously participated as a Tweener and volunteer. Her strong vocals and popular covers were the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Reverend Rambler and Neighbour Randy got the crowd up and dancing on Saturday with their energetic takes on classic country covers.

New to the venue this year was Squid Squad, who closed out Saturday night with high energy, big riffs, and a memorable tribute to Rage Against the Machine that had the crowd roaring.

On a quieter note, the popular morning yoga session with Shayla offered a peaceful start to the day, gently easing participants through a series of relaxing and restorative poses.

While many attendees were familiar faces who return year after year, the festival also welcomed a wave of newcomers and returning fans who hadn’t been back in a while. “They were really blown away by what the festival has become and were saying how they’re definitely coming back,” Noel said with a smile.

The positive feedback didn’t stop there. Some vendors who hadn’t participated in recent years commented on how much the programming and atmosphere had grown. “They said next year, they won’t just be back as vendors – they’re bringing their campers and families to stay the whole weekend,” Noel added.

“We’ve been overwhelmed with positive feedback,” he said in closing. “The board is very excited, and we’re incredibly grateful for all the sponsors and volunteers who make this event possible year after year.”

With its blend of diverse music, local talent, artisan market, morning yoga, children’s activities, face painting, an air guitar competition and delicious food vendors, it’s no wonder this popular festival continues to be a highlight of the season – and one that keeps campers and concert-goers coming back for more.

PHOTO CAPTION: Two-time Juno award winners, and repeat performers The Bros. Landreth, took to the stage Saturday afternoon at the Prairie Wind Music Fest held in Cypress River last weekend. PHOTO SUBMITTED