In an effort to promote the local music scene, one area musician has put together a music festival featuring several local bands.
Wes DeBungie is a member of the local music scene and the organizer of Wes Fest, which will run from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday.
“I think we’ve got five [bands],” Debungie said. “There’s Nowhere Bound, Lynx Band, Kings of None, and then there’s Phoenix Project.”
Debungie says he put the event together to help support bands in the area.
“I like doing that kind of thing for the music,” Debungie said. “There’s going to be youth from Rainy River First Nation doing a penny table too.”
Ted DeBenetti is the bass player for Kings of None he says the band is happy to be out playing gigs again.He hopes seeing bands play at the Rainy Lake Square encourages young people to start playing their own music.
“It’s great to get out playing again,” DeBenetti said. “It’s great to see our music community coming out and coming together to support local entertainment. Trying to get youth involved too. Maybe some newer bands should pop up out of the woodwork. Inspire some of the youth to start playing. That’s really what it’s all about.”
This will be Kings of None’s second show at the Rainy Lake Square in the last while, they played a solo show a few weeks ago.
“It’s a beautiful venue, it’s fun to play and it’s a nice setup,” DeBenetti said. “We’ve been fortunate to play it three times in a row and get the weather to work with us. It’s a great place to play, and it’s a great place for the community to come down and get involved in local music.”
In addition to the music, Flint House will have food and beverages for sale and Rainy River First Nations Thunderbirds volleyball team will hold a penny table with prizes available in support of their trip to Ottawa.