Internationally acclaimed and raised in the lakecity, guitarist Don Alder, will be joining the band 54-40, Don Amero, The Fugitives, Howie Miller, Kobo Town and Rachelle Van Zanten in Bella Coola and more this weekend at the annual Bella Coola Music Festival.
The festival starts tonight at the Hagensborg legion hall at 8 p.m. with a performance by the pop quartet e.s.l. and runs through Saturday and Sunday at the Bella Coola fair grounds.
Saturday the festival opens with a jam session featuring Prairie Mountains, Rachelle Van Zanten and Don Amero. The jam session continues at soon with No Holds Banjos, Shred Kelly and e.s.l.
Gabriel Palatchi is on stage at 2 p.m. followed by Don Amero at 3 p.m. and Rachelle Van Zanten at 4 p.m.
The show continues at 5:30 with local talent Roland and Laina plus Don Amero and guests, followed by Don Alder at 6 p.m.; Kobo Town at 7 p.m.; Shred Kelly at 8 p.m.; Petunia and the Vipers at 9 p.m.; and 54-40 at 1 p.m.
Sunday is a day for the kids with fun activities planned from noon to 5 p.m.
Face painting, bounce house, button making, crafts, Mike Battie, a dress-up photo booth are just some of the activities listed on their poster.
The musical fun begins at 10:30 a.m. with a community fiddle concert.
A jam session follows at 11 a.m. with It’s a String Thing, Ivonne, Wesley, Petunia, Don Alder, and Wayne.
The jam session continues at noon with A Journey with the Jumbies, Kobo Town, and Gabriel Palatchi.
Al Simmons is on stage at 1 p.m., followed by Gabriel Palatchi at 3 p.m. and Shred Kelly at 4 p.m.
At 5 p.m. Don Alder returns to the stage followed by Petunia and the Vipers at 6 p.m.; Kobo Town at 7 p.m.; Rachelle Van Zanten at 8 p.m. and The Fugitives at 9 p.m.
The public is reminded that no drugs, alcohol or pets are permitted on site. For more information go to www.bellacoola.ca/portfolio/bella-coola-music-festival.