Coming this weekend! Fort McMurray’s newest festival – Big Spirit

Events Wood Buffalo invites everyone to Fort McMurray’s newest festival – Big Spirit – featuring the world’s greenest carnival and FREE live music from multiple Juno Award winners Digging Roots and Kiran Ahluwalia with support from local talent including DJs In the Sticks.

Friday, Aug. 31 – Monday, Sept. 3 the carnival is coming to town! Sustainival, the world’s first green carnival, is setting up along the Snye. Each of their 25 amazing rides is powered by recycled vegetable oil including thrill-seeker favourites like the Zipper, the Scrambler, and a Ferris wheel. Sustainival also has a full Midway with games, cotton candy, and more. www.sustainival.com

Performing on Saturday, Sept. 1 and Sunday, Sept. 2 Juno Award winners for Aboriginal Album of the Year, Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award and Native American Music Award winners Digging Roots. They describe their sound as “somewhere blurred between the lines of roots, rock, hip hop, and blues.”  www.diggingrootsmusic.com

Also headlining Saturday and Sunday is Kiran Ahluwalia, winner of the Juno Award for Best World Music Album of the Year 2012. Ahluwalia’s sound is truly a mixture of world vibes featuring ghazal, Portuguese fado guitarra, sub Saharan percussion, Celtic fiddle, Pakistani qawwali vocals, Afghanistan rhubab, and African blues. “A powerful woman who has a depth of character in her wonderfully pliable, expressive voice.” – The Observer UK www.kiranmusic.com

Both artists are offering free workshops. Workshops require registration, as spaces are limited. For more information and to register call 780-791-1600 or email Nadia Power at npower@eventswoodbuffalo.com.

Visit www.bigspiritfestival.com for more information. Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/eventswoodbuffalo

The GrammyAward winners for Best Regional Roots Album of 2012 are coming to Fort McMurray for Canada Day weekend celebrations.

Formed in 1983, the Rebirth Brass Band is a New Orleans musical institution. Foot stomping and boisterous, their unique brand of music combines traditional brass band with other genres such as jazz and funk creating a particular style they refer to as “junk.”

At the heart of the Rebirth Brass Band are the Frazier brothers, who started out playing the streets of the French Quarter. Now, the band plays the festivalcircuit all over the world and will be making their debut appearance in Fort McMurray on July 1.

The Rebirth Brass Band will take the stage as part of the Canada Day activities at MacDonald Island Park that will begin immediately following the parade and continue until 2:30 pm.

We need volunteers for this years Transalta interPLAY festival. Commitments range from 5 hours to 8 hours (a meal will be provided during 8 hour shifts) and volunteer positions range from entrance attendants to merchandise sellers, site rovers to stage hands.

All volunteers will be provided with an Events Wood Buffalo volunteer shirt and water bottle

Don’t just see the concert this summer… be part of the concert!!

For more information, or to sign up please contact Jennie at:

Show your Canada Day pride, support your community, promote your business, raise awareness for your organization, and have some fun! This year’s parade is taking place Sunday, July 1st.

Awards will be given for:

• Best Commercial Float
• Best Service/Organization Float
• Best Youth Group
• Honourable Mention

Deadline for submissions is Friday, June 22, 2012 – 5:00 pm.