Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 23/99) - The 11th annual South Slave Friendship Festival showcased talent from all over the North, but much of the big applause went to some stars who were shone in Fort Smith for the first time.

Mother Devine surprised the crowd and shook the ravens off the water tower on their first appearance at the festival. The heavy boys from Inuvik had it cranked to 11, rocking the town with AC/DC and Black Sabbath, from the open-air concert Saturday afternoon, Aug. 14, in Conibear Park.

The Lost Boys from Hay River packed the arena dance floor with a bouncy list of well-done top 40 covers sung by their energetic front-vocalist Sharon Gauthier. With a great voice and presence to match, Gauthier and the Boys delivered a polished and perky set.

Fort Smith's Electric Chair Skeletons featured first-timer Morgan, who had the timbers shaking in the arena with a killer baritone. Morgan and the Skellies had the crowd dancing like they'd just heard Mustang Sally for the first time and followed with a surprise cover of La Vida Loca.

Some of last years rookie performers came back more polished and confident this year, with performances from the angst-fuelled sound of Kelly Foye and Red Light District, hard-driving Last Call, featuring the huge percussion from Johnny Van Camp and the smoky-blue country vocals of Millie Hudson.

The festival veterans were also on hand to provide the festival the unique and spirited foundation it was built on. The true flavour of the festival is always liberally-seasoned with standards from the local favourites whom the crowd has enjoyed year after year. Pat Burke singing Joe Crocker, 2 Mil Poly grinding out BTO, George Krusewski and CCR, Tom Hudson doing his own thing and Jack Van Camp doing everybody.

They say the Friendship Festival is for the musicians, but more and more we are starting to see the crowds grow at the friendly town on the bank of the Slave River and with weather and talent like they had at this one, they can expect an even bigger crowd next year.