Summer came to its official close this last weekend, and Classic 107's Sara Krahn paid tribute by heading out to the Harvest Moon Festival in Clearwater, Manitoba with 600 other folkies.

Nothing screams friendly Manitoba hipster like the Harvest Moon Festival, which celebrates the locavore lifestyle every September in the Pembina hills. Aside from a couple of minor downsides such as 1) Clearwater is a two and a half hour drive from the city (carpooling is always a great option) and 2) You will be surrounded by glamorous hippies all weekend reminding you of all the vintage layers you don't yet own (hemp pants, cat sweatshirts, acid wash jean jackets, large overalls), Harvest Moon might be the best folk festival in Manitoba.

In its 14th year running, the festival is an opportunity for urbanites to get out of the sprawl for a weekend and get inspired about sustainable living. There are workshops, local and organic food stands including a farmers' market and fair trade fair, and a mix of well-known and lesser known musicians from all over Manitoba. You don't have to be a vegan to attend, but you'll get more out of the experience if you're willing to think more honestly and creatively about how to reduce your carbon footprint. The workshops this year were interactive and practical, covering a wide range of topics from proper budgeting to rabbit farming to bum-washing (yes, a wide range). Although I will probably still continue to use toilet paper, I appreciated the helpful reminder to practice things like car co-ops, supporting local business, and getting crafty with foods and threads.

One of the bigger draws of Harvest Moon is the line-up of local bands and singer-songwriters (one of which happened to be my former high school guidance counselor, Warren Friesen). Many of the artists in this year's line-up were not familiar to me, but that is one of the virtues of the festival. It gives local talent the opportunity to reach a wider audience, and reminds Manitoba music-lovers that our province happens to be fantastic music hub.
Here are some of the musical talents that stood out for me at the festival:

Attica Riots: this Winnipeg alt-rock group knows how to work a stage, and had everyone cramming towards the front for their entire set. The group contrasts upbeat and catchy melodies with brooding lyrics, forcing you to listen past the dance-like beat.

Mise En Scene: Stefanie Blondal Johnson (guitar/vocals) and Jodi Dunlop (drums) are fem fantastic. The indie-rock/pop pair from small-town Manitoba gives you some chic beats to get excited about on the dance floor. What began as a mutual love for visual arts evolved into an passion for creating music. The songwriting is gutsy, striving to make deep, personal experiences seem universal - a theme which is explored in their latest album Desire's Despair.

Greg McPherson: West Broadway's executive director is as intense in his music as he is in his work ethic. The independent roots rocker incorporates his passion for the city and community development into his songwriting, exhibiting an infectious intensity in both his music and onstage presence.

The Bros Landreth: Good luck looking past the facial hair and denim of these talented studs. The band's roots-rock style oozes American South (lead singer/dreamboat Joey Landreth has mastered bluesy cool) but the four bandmates all hail from Winnipeg. Their debut album Let it Lie won the Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year.

 

Aside from the local artists, the festival also promotes the Harvest Moon Learning Centre, and the local farmers in the Pembina Valley. Harvest Moon typically brings over 2000 patrons to the town of Clearwater every year, generating an important source of revenue for the towns organizations and businesses. For more information about Harvest Moon, visit http://www.harvestmoonfestival.ca/index.html

 

Sara Krahn is a freelance contributer for Classic 107. She is a recent graduate from the Canadian Mennonite University School of Music, and a newlywed! Sara spends her time out and about exploring Winnipeg's vibrant arts and culture scene.