With an impressive lineup of entertainment packed into five days, Agrifair entertainment coordinator Brad Styba advises music fans to get the weekend pass.
Thursday will start with Agrifair’s favourite country hero Jack Jackson.
Valley Voices will see competing amateurs out to show the audience what they’ve got, and will continue all weekend long with the finals on Monday.
Thursday night will host local rock bands Exit 200, Fanaticus and Harma White. Fanaticus has been performing at Agrifair for the past three years.
Friday will bring the first of many performances of Ariel and Rochelle – have you ever seen a 5’10” lady squeeze into four-by-four-foot box and disappear? Well, you can! And all the while she has a smile on her face! They are back by popular demand.
Friday retro night features local legends Stonebolt, a Vancouver band that has been rocking since the 1970s.
AbbyFest Day at Agrifair starts Saturday at 10 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m. This show will feature multiculturalism at its best. 2011 saw the start of Agrifair hosting multicultural entertainment, showcasing much of the wonderful variety of talent in Abbotsford. Now, partnering with AbbyFest this can only get better.
Three acts – Robyn and Ryleigh, Emily Taylor Adams and A.J. Woodworth – will show their country roots Saturday night.
Robyn & Ryleigh, sisters from Langley, discovered at an early age that they had a passion for singing. Robyn was eight years old when she started playing the ukulele and performing with an ensemble. At age 13 she taught herself to play the guitar – it seemed a natural progression – and started writing songs as well.
Ryleigh quickly jumped on board to add beautiful harmonies with her own style and flavour to make for an irresistible sister act. For the past couple of years they have performed on many stages, in festivals, concerts, contests and open mics. The future sure seems bright for these young rising stars. More about them at www.myspace.com/robynandryleigh
Emily Taylor Adams has developed a special and personal relationship with her fans. Having experienced bullying in her school years, she understands the complexities within the current generation and uses her music to deliver messages that are positive and uplifting – empowering her listeners with a sense of comfort in knowing “there’s no such thing as normal.”
Preparing now for the release of her fourth single, “Keep Your Pants On,” her fans will be introduced to yet another side of Emily as it delivers a message of abstinence, encouraging young girls to stay true to themselves and remain strong against peer pressure. More at emilytayloradams.com/biography.html
A.J. Woodworth will wrap up Saturday playing the Wildcard on her debut 604 Records album: she is the “Wild Card.”
When you hear the explosive and passionate chorus of the 2011 British Columbia Country Music Awards’ Female Artist of the Year’s sparkling personal anthem “Wild Card,” you’re hearing the life story behind the ambitious turbo-powered voice:
“This song is my autobiography. I am the ‘Dark Horse!’ I have been the long shot – and I have worked really hard, overcome the odds and pushed through to where I am now.”
Sunday brings Joel Ashbee and Starfield.
Langley’s Ashbee won the Praise 106.5 local music contest, which gives him the honour of opening for Starfield. His passion is to help people engage in worship through music.
Starfield, closing Sunday night and brought to you by Columbia Cabinets-Countertops, is an acoustic pop/rock band composed of brothers Tim and Jon Neufeld, John Andrews, and Shaun Huberts.
Over the past four years they have recorded two independent albums which have sold more then 20,000 units in Canada alone.
Starfield has quickly gained the respect of their peers and the Canadian record industry. In addition, Starfield managed to rack up a Juno nomination and 5 Vibes (Canada’s Dove Awards), and the Prairie Music Award for best Christian album.
“The fact that we sold any CD’s to more people than just friends and family, or that we won any awards, still blows my mind,” Tim says. “We really just thought it would be fun to record some stuff for memory’s sake. What has happened is just an amazing testimony to God’s faithfulness!”
More at ind.starfieldonline.com/aboutus.htm.
Monday, the final day of the fair, is the finals for Valley Voices. A new winner will go on to compete at the PNE youth talent contest. This year marks the fourth season for the Valley Voices vocal competition, which takes place on the main stage at the Abbotsford Agrifair from Aug 2-6. The competition has produced finalists that have gone on to stake a claim in the music business. Alumni include: Emily Harder, Brook Harris, Cambree Lovesy and, of course, Victoria Duffield – to name a few.
Judges confirmed for this year’s event are Kenny Jones from the Sonic Nation Radio, Dave Faber of Faber Drive and Victoria Duffield.
For more information visit: www.valley-voices.ca.