The 39 Days of July kicked off Friday, June 25 and carried on throughout the weekend because even the sweltering heat can’t stop the beat.
Singer/songwriter Bill Hamilton kicked off the music in front of a modest audience at the Duncan Showroom on Friday afternoon with a cover of ‘Heart of Gold’.
“Opening weekend was a huge success,” according to the festival’s artistic director Longevity John Falkner. “Our small air conditioner and fans, strategically placed, made the Showroom quite comfortable.”
Falkner said attendance was good and a lot of folks made use of the live YouTube stream to take in the tunes.
“Physical and online donations were very encouraging,” Falkner added.
It appears the YouTube stream has opened the festival up to locals and music lovers from further afield as well.
“Online viewers in the UK stumbled upon the streaming and have been watching ever since,” Falkner said, noting viewers also tuned in from Chile, Mexico, and across Canada.
“The outdoor heat kept peeps away from downtown but the speaker out front did attract some,” Falkner noted. “The thank you’s from passers by was rewarding.”
Organizers are still waiting for new provincial COVID-19 guidelines to be announced on July 1 and are hopeful the event can take its rightful position in Charles Hoey Park.
For a complete list of performers and schedules and to keep up with the daily updates visit https://www.facebook.com/39daysofjuly and http://www.39daysofjuly.ca/
sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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