After 16 successful festivals in Sooke, the Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival is moving to a new venue at Laketown Ranch Music Park.
Organizers say the site at Laketown, near Lake Cowichan, will provide a new experience to fans familiar with the former site in Sooke, which the organization says it had outgrown.
The new site boasts unlimited camping and 5,800 square feet of covered performance area, additional tents for instrument workshops and acoustic jam sessions and will continue to feature our signature Saturday Night Square Dance under a "big top" tent.
Laketown also has better day parking and improved accessibility for those with mobility challenges.
This year's inaugural festival, June 14-16th, features three-time Grammy nominee Claire Lynch and two familiar bands from previous festivals, the Slocan Ramblers and The Lonely Heartstring Band. Three local favourites include The Sweet Lowdown, Clover Point Drifters and Country Squall.
More of the best in local and regional bluegrass and old-time music will be announced in the coming months.