by Janet Smellie
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 25/97) - He may be no Tom Jones, but Fort Smith Mayor Dennis Bevington had no problem jumping on stage last weekend and taking part in the community's "Woodstock of the North's" final hour.

Who can blame him? After four days of being entertained by the North's finest musicians at dozens of community venues featuring everything from fiddle, country and alternative to downright punk, even the taxi drivers were singing along.

"It's always a great festival. This year's is definitely a blast," Bevington said backstage where, as the emcee, he waited for his cue to introduce the next act.

This year marked the ninth annual festival, where musicians from all corners of the north are invited to perform and jam.

"We try and make sure everyone's musical tastes are covered," noted organizer and one of the founders Pat Bourque.

On top of two full days of live outdoor entertainment at the community's picturesque Connibear Park, the musicians spent the evenings playing at the local clubs, the legion and the community hall. There was also a special performance at the Northern Lights Special Care Home so those unable to make it to the park could be entertained.

Bourque says organizers also offered a special teen dance on Saturday to give teenagers "their own party."

"It was great being able to get up there and see what they thought of us," said 16-year-old Jason Poitras, who was born in Fort Smith and now lives in Yellowknife.

Poitras and Jordan Murray, also of Yellowknife, performed with their band Boozy at dozens of venues throughout the four-day festival.

"I would starve to come to this festival," said Murray, who says that, unlike Yellowknife's Folk on the Rocks, the town allows teen performers into the bars.

"It helps us get exposure. The bars are packed here during the festival and it was great to be able to get up and perform for such an excited audience."

Another successful part of this year's festival was the South Slave Art Show, which Fort Smith carver Sonny MacDonald helped pull together to coincide with the music festival.

"I think this is a very encouraging move on the part of the festival organizers," says Hay River artist Sharon Ruttle, who made the three-hour drive to display her original acrylics and prints.

A teacher who has a penchant for preserving wildlife, Ruttle said the art festival helped her and the dozen other artists who attended get extra exposure.