When Tim Jones moved to Dawson City last February, to become the Dawson City Music Festival’s producer, he wasn’t prepared for the enthusiasm.
“There is unbelievable support for this festival,” he says. “It has the most per capita [volunteerism] than anything I dreamt of in Toronto.”
Comparing the 300 volunteers to the population of Dawson City and he says that works out to 20-per-cent participation. These days, he can’t walk downtown without seeing four or five festival T-shirts.
Then there is the fact that, as it so often does, the weekend passes were sold out way in advance. Marketing is not as much of an issue then, of course, but Jones says there is an added benefit:
“The fact that our audience is so loyal, we can take risks.”
Risks include trying out new, young bands such as Whitehorse’s Plaid. Jones says the members of Plaid are not unknown to DCMF as they have been attending the festival most of their lives and their parents are long-time volunteers. But, this year, DCMF will give them a spotlight.
Then there is The Magic, the one band that excites Jones the most because most people in the Yukon haven’t heard of it yet. In its hometown of Guelph, Ontario — “a really great scene there” — it has built a loyal following.
“The Magic has the stage presence and pure catchiness in songwriting that will really win over people.”
He says they are the sons of James Gordon, former front man of Tamarack, who played here in 1993.
Then there are the guaranteed hits such as Nicole Edwards. Jones says she is “such a highlight of music festivals” and she has just released a “terrific” jazz CD, Sparkin’.
Threat From Outer Space, too, will be popular and has been chosen to play the festival out Saturday night, er, actually, Sunday morning at 1 o’clock.
“We like to leave people exhausted from dancing,” says Jones. “That’s the plan.”
And yet the band returns Sunday, early in the evening when folk music is predominate.
“They are not an aggressive band at all,” Jones explains. “They are really funky and a feel-good band.”
Although Jones has been in Dawson City for less than five months, he knows about the game that some Yukoners play: driving to the Klondike without a ticket.
“We want to remind people that we are a tight community here; there is no overflow camping, it is tightly capped.
“We are happy to see you enjoy the celebration, but just respect the town and the people.
“If you are just here to party, just stay at home.”
Jones has been working in music for five years – plus his years working through university – and has seen festivals destroy one field and move to another the next year.
“We have a lot of respect for the place,” he says. “With a population of 2,000, and that many people again, that can overwhelm.”
So, DCMF will be kept small.
But that is for the next person as Jones leaves his position after the festival to attend graduate school.
The Dawson City Music Festival kicks off Friday, July 18, at 4 p.m. with a free concert at the Gazebo.
Information is available at www.dcmf.com.
