Here鈥檚 great news for music festival fans - Vancouver Island MusicFest is returning in 2022.
The popular Comox Valley festival has been limited to an online event over the past two years, due to the pandemic. But it returns to the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds July 8-10, 2022, and executive producer Doug Cox is busy preparing for the return of world-class music acts to his various outdoor stages.
鈥淚t really feels good, because we really have been laid off for the past few months,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he whole executive team is returning鈥� so I am thrilled about that. My concern was that you know, people鈥檚 lives carry on.鈥�
He said the response of the community to the suspension of the 2020, and subsequently, the 2021 concerts, was integral to the decision to bring the festival back in 2022.
鈥淲e have close to 2,000 people sitting on tickets that they have been holding since we cancelled,鈥� said Cox. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 partly what has kept the team together. That鈥檚 been our inspiration. That show of support is what kept us all going - not just financially. It kept us interested.
鈥淓ven the response on Facebook from when I just put out a note saying 鈥榳e鈥檙e coming back鈥� was very encouraging to say the least.鈥�
The festival will follow all public health order COVID protocols, i.e. proof of vaccination, and in an effort to make it as compliant as possible, there will be no barn stage in 2022 - traditionally the only indoor venue at the festival. Organizers have also decided to cap ticket sales at 75 per cent of the usual capacity.
鈥淲e feel, if things proceed as they are going right now, with COVID, we are comfortable (with that number),鈥� he said. 鈥淲e will revisit it in a few months, and if the world gets better, we will add to the capacity,鈥� said Cox. 鈥淏ut we are planning it at 75 per cent capacity, and we will not have the barn this year, because it is the one indoor stage. This will also help us save a little bit of money, without affecting the festival too bad.
鈥淥therwise, things should look pretty much the same.鈥�
Cox said while the booking process is just now getting underway, fans can expect another wide variety of acts.
鈥淚t鈥檚 too early to say who will be coming,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am working on a smaller budget.鈥�
We have lost a considerable amount of money over the last two years - particularly when we had to cancel 2020, but it鈥檚 not that bad of a budget. People will still recognize (the names). They (acts) are starting to reach out, but interestingly, it鈥檚 mostly the Americans reaching out, and we probably won鈥檛 be having as many Americans as we normally do, just because of budget, and it鈥檚 riskier for me to book Americans right now (due to border restrictions).鈥�
Due to the fact that there are already 2,000 tickets sold, and that there is only 75 per cent of the usual numbers available, it鈥檚 advisable to purchase tickets sooner, rather than later.
鈥淏y cutting the numbers, we know that the majority of our sales will be to people who trust and love the festival,鈥� said Cox. 鈥淭hey are the people that buy all their tickets in advance, before we even announce anybody. They know that we are going to give them the kind of quality festival they have grown accustomed to.鈥�
Ticket sales will start Dec. 1.
Cox said the festival is also looking for new sponsors, as the pandemic took its toll in that regard as well.
Check islandmusicfest.com/ for more details on ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities.
