FORT SMITH - Organizers of the annual South Slave Friendship Festival are looking for musicians who want to take to the stage in August in Fort Smith.

Aaron Kikoak played guitar in last year's festival with State of the Art. - NNSL file photo

The annual event, which draws about 100 musicians every year and brings out hundreds of spectators, is less than two months away but there is still plenty of room for musicians - and other artists - to get involved.

Jessica Hval, co-ordinator and volunteer for the festival, was once involved in the festival as a musician along with regular performers such as State of the Art and Big River Ramblers. She said no acts have been confirmed yet for this year's festival, and that on top of musical entertainment, other entertainers such as hoop dancers or children's entertainers are also welcome.

"It's mostly music, but we'd like to get some cultural things as well," she said. "We want to focus on them just to kind of add to the event."

Visual artists are also welcome to use the festival as an occasion to show and sell their art.

"We do allow the opportunity for people who want to come and display their work," said Hval.

In its 19th year, the festival has been bringing musicians together in the South Slave for nearly two decades. Hval said there is normally a variety of musical talent, which helps the festival cater to a larger audience. The more common genres of music, she said, are rock and country.

She also said about 35-40 per cent of the musicians involved are normally from Fort Smith, and that others come in from out of town. Often, charter buses will bring talent up from Edmonton.

"If people want to come up with it we'll have cheap seats," said Hval.

Hval spoke of the way the festival brings musicians together in what she calls a "musical town," and said it gives interested people an opportunity to get on stage.

"It opens the door for them - if they want to pursue that, they get some experience doing it," she said.

The festival is to take place Aug. 16-19 in various venues.