The Bandfest is the largest gathering of adult musicians in Western Canada, with 600-700 musicians performing in 20 adult community bands over the two days, Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12.  The event is free, and open to the public.

LADNER BANDFEST 2011

Saturday-Sunday, June 11-12, 2011, AT MEMORIAL PARK, LADNER

CONTACT #1:  Curt Jantzen, director@ladnerbandfest.org

  CONTACT #2:  Pat Hull, registrar@ladnerbandfest.org

The Seventh Annual Ladner Bandfest takes place June 11-12, 2011, at Ladner’s Memorial Park, rain or shine.  We hope all community bands and music groups are ready to return for another joyous weekend of outstanding music!

Family Weekend!     Be sure to encourage all your members to bring their families, lawn chairs and picnic baskets, and prepare to spend the entire day in Ladner!  Burgers, snacks, and drinks are available at Memorial Park, thanks to the service club TOOB, who will also bring their famous curly fries!  Ladner village is just two blocks away, with its unique shops and cafes (the Ladner Village Market takes place on Sunday only – www.ladnervillagemarket.com).

Site and Equipment The Ladner Bandfest will provide two covered stages. 

• Each stage contains:

• 40-50 music stands, 40-50 chairs,
• A drumset provided by Long and McQuade,
• A Long and McQuade keyboard amp which also can be used for bass guitar or electronic drum,
• A PA system with one microphone,
• Possible timpani (please help the committee by indicating on the Registration Form if your band requires timpani).

• A warm-up/dressing building and supervised storage area are available in the Kinsmen House.  Bands should bring all other items needed.  Feel free to contact other bands to share add’l equipment.

• Note: the ticketed storage area will be guarded throughout the hours of the Ladner Bandfest.  All reasonable care will be taken to ensure the safety of checked items, but the host group, the Delta Music Makers, can accept no legal responsibility should an item go missing.  All items must be removed by 5:30pm on Sunday. 

• A list of Lost and Found items will be shown on the website, www.ladnerbandfest.org.

Volunteers     Volunteers are needed!  The jobs are not onerous and can be learned quickly.  The shifts are approximately two hours.  If you have musicians or family members interested in helping us out for two hours during the course of the day, please contact coordinator Lucy Williams: volunteer@ladnerbandfest.org

Schedule       

• Bands will alternate on the two stages, the Gazebo and the Show Stage.

• Groups may use the Kinsmen House for preparation and storage.
• There is a designated time-slot, 2:20 to 2:40pm on both days, for presentations by the sponsors, and a welcome by a Special Guest.  All sponsors and bands should have a representative available at this time.
• Please time your program to 40 minutes, including announcements! A festival that runs on time is pleasing to participants and audience alike, and encourages return visits by all.

Suggested Preparation Schedule For Each Band:

1. Arrive early to enjoy the other bands.  There is ample parking south and west of the site.  Kinsmen House lot is only for loading/unloading and handicapped parking.
2. 60 minutes prior to performance: musicians meet and prepare in Kinsmen House.
3. 40 minutes prior to performance: speak to our volunteer stage-hands regarding number of chairs and stands in each row, percussion movement, etc.
4. 30 minutes prior to performance: enter stage, begin setup.
5. Start time: MC will read the three sentences of introduction and turn the microphone over to the group’s conductor/announcer.
6. The group’s program must end in 40 minutes as per schedule.  The MC will endeavour to give a 5-minute warning, but do not rely on this – time your program!
7. Musicians return to the Kinsmen House to pack up, then rejoin the audience outdoors.

Watch for a package of handouts that will be mailed via Canada Post in April/May, containing maps, instructions, schedule, and advertising poster – you are strongly requested to hand these out to all your members as soon as received.

The members of the Ladner Bandfest Committee look forward to seeing and hearing all our fellow band enthusiasts at Ladner Bandfest #7!

Curt Jantzen,  director@ladnerbandfest.org

For Ladner Bandfest Committee, www.ladnerbandfest.org