A Mess of a Fest!
“Is this for real?” I think to myself reading about
Messitval for the first time.
Visions of You Can’t Do That On Television (remember
that 80s show…“I don’t know”…cue slime) combined with storybook settings hidden
away throughout a forest (like Alice’s Wonderland or even that theme park, Magic
Valley in Nova Scotia—does it still exist?) run through my mind.
I’ve yet to go to Messtival, but I’m tempted to hop in my
car tomorrow and drive up to Anagance (not too far from Moncton) for the weekend.
There I’ll be able to take in a wild spectacle of music, art and … it seems
accurate in this case to say the possibilities are endless.
Before heading out on the highway, I’ll share with you the
inside scoop that one of Messtival’s organizers, Dan Anderson, divulged earlier
this week.
“Every year
we try to bring in the most eclectic mix of musical acts and artists that we
can,”says Anderson. “We don't ever want to be pegged as focusing on a specific
music or art genre since a lot of our acts and artists are locally based and
there's a very diverse mix of local talent. Of course, we try to bring in
talent from outside of the region as well since it tends to have a ‘special’
feeling to see these acts perform at a festival.”
Anderson
says musicians from all across Canada and some from the U.S. (i.e. The Hornitz
from Boston) will be hitting this year’s Messtival stage. Favourite East Coast-based
bands include Grand Theft Bus, Les Païens, Scientists of Sound, The
Motorleague and The Divorcees.
Live art
creations and Messtival’s trademark visual projections and lighting effects continue
to be a major component of the itinerary. On that note, Anderson goads, “I
don't want to give too much away, but we have something planned that's going to
blow people away!”
Even the
details Anderson is willing to reveal will surely exceed assumptions. “For
anyone who hasn't attended, it's kind of difficult to tell them exactly what to
expect,” he says. “We're unique. We offer something a lot of people aren't
quite sure how to interpret a lot of times…A lot of the quirky or weird
personality that Messtival characterizes are reflected in the art installations
we build on site. Things you can expect this year are Grandmother's living room
(an area that is furnished to resemble the look of someone's grandmother's
living room)… and a solar powered phone charging station that doubles as a
moustache maintenance station as well. That's a big thing actually, the
moustaches. If there's something that has really stuck with the festival over
the years, it's the use and promotion of moustaches. People really dig it.”Anderson
also mentions a new feature for Messtival 6 – a late night stage surrounded by
forest where people can dance into the wee hours.
“There's a
very welcoming community of good hearted people that come out to the festival
and you're bound to make some friends over the weekend, even if you weren't
planning to,” says Anderson who recommends bringing weather-appropriate
clothing, water, snacks (although food vendors will be on site), sunblock and a
tent if you’re staying overnight. “Other than that, grow a moustache. And if
you can't, try harder!”
The car’s
all packed with my mini trampoline, fire juggling sticks and inflatable iguana
and I’ve resisted the urge to wax my upper lip for weeks…I’d say I’m all set to
hit the road. Hope to see you there! ~ Michelle
Brunet
