Last year Canadian classic rocker Henry Small of Prism fame and his partner Heidi Kulzer formed the non-profit group Youbou Community Music Fest as a way to give back to the community with more live music. The ongoing concert series kicked off on Sept. 30 with Vancouver Island’s own The West Coast Slacker and was followed up with a successful tribute to the music of Tom Petty with the Van City band Maryjane’s Last Dance on Nov. 11.
READ MORE: Creating community in Youbou through music — Tom Petty tribute hits the hall on Nov. 11
“What a turnout, it was amazing,” said Kulzer. “The evening was exactly how I imagined it could be and more; people were all dancing their hearts out. Maryjane’s Last Dance had everyone engaged with that community feeling. Henry sang and played his electric violin to ‘House of the Rising Sun’ during the second set and the entire crowd sang along, which was extremely moving. It was one of those moments that you feel yourself choking back tears because you felt the crowd as one. It was truly magical.”
The Youbou Community Music Fest is hoping to recreate that magic in the Youbou Hall again with their first concert of the new year on Feb. 17 as they present Bad Moon Riders, a tribute to the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival. The Stage Pilots will open the evening with classic rock covers. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
“Music Fest group is excited to get going with our first series of musicians we are bringing in for 2024,” said Kulzer. “Honestly our inspiration for bringing in Bad Moon Riders is for a very special longtime local resident in Youbou who gives so much to the community and everyone with no expectations. CCR is that person’s favourite band, so it’s our way of acknowledging them with a big heartfelt thank you. We have several concerts planned for the year, and as soon as the current one is over, we keep the flow going as we prep for the next one.”
Tickets are $35, and can be purchased from Daly’s Auto Centre, Youbou General Store, Tiptons Gas Bar, Lake Cowichan Chiro, Remax, and Honeymoon Bay Food and General Store.
Youbou Community Festival used a portion of their proceeds from their last tribute show to present a cheque for $71o to the Lake Cowichan Legion. Music lovers will have a chance to win a ticket to the tribute concert through Sun FM and the Youbou Community Music Fest Facebook page, and there will even be draws to win band t-shirts and tickets to the next concert at the event. Five dollars from every ticket sold will go to the Lake Cowichan Food Bank.
Youbou Community Music Fest also has a shuttle bus sponsored by Lake Cowichan Remax Generation, to help facilitate travel for those who need it.
“Being a part of a community gives you a greater sense of self and well being,” said Kulzer. “Waking up every day with goals and a focus in which you know in the end, you gave all you got in making the event successful for all to enjoy. The residuals of the event continue to give through the donations we make.”
Kulzer says that the short hiatus since November gave Youbou Community Music Fest volunteers the opportunity to enjoy the New Year’s Eve dance that the long running Youbou Community Association has been hosting for years.
“The YCA is another hard working community group in Youbou that offers a variety of other events outside of music,” said Kulzer. “We all got to fully enjoy their event and let loose. The excitement is building again, and all our volunteers are full on getting things organized up to the day of the event. We project it will be a busier season than the last.”
Small has also been keeping busy and has big things on the horizon. He is currently working on recording and producing a new album with Tim Gorman, who lives in the U.S. Small met Gorman in England while working on a project with John Entwhistle. Gorman’s impressive credits include working with the likes of rock and roll all-stars such as the Rolling Stones, The Who, and Jefferson Starship. With that being said he may still find time to grace the stage with a guest appearance again at the YCMF’s Feb. 17 tribute concert.
“Henry is working on a new style of music which very much reflects his personality and soul,” said Kulzer. “One never knows when Henry will appear on stage. He likes to be mysterious, and certainly knows how to keep things exciting and unpredictable.
“On behalf of all of us volunteers at the Youbou Community Music Fest, what we most enjoy is seeing people come together and having a wonderful time,” said Kulzer. “One can feel the energy in the hall, where for one evening all is forgotten and the present is bliss. By the end of the evening as we wind down, greet people a good night and safe travels, we hope that the community energy stays with them and the experience of great classic music played by these talented tribute bands, this one being CCR, brings back magical memories that are truly heartfelt.”