Laura Power
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 11, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Every year during Folk on the Rocks, bands compete for a chance to play on a bigger stage for a bigger audience.

It is our young musicians, according to Meaghan Fisher, who can use this exposure the most.

"There's not a lot of venues in Yellowknife for any band, but if you're underage there's even less," said Fisher, organizer of Rock the Folks, an annual battle of the bands preceding Folk on the Rocks.

Rock the Folks began about 10 years ago as an unofficial youth concert, and eventually became affiliated with the larger festival.

Taking place on Thursday, the night before Folk on the Rocks begins, it gives the organizers a chance to choose a winner to play during the weekend festival.

Fisher said the members of the bands involved are between the ages of 13 and 22, though the age limit is "fairly loose."

She said bands they don't want are those that are old enough to get into the regular lineup at Folk on the Rocks, as the event is about giving opportunity to young bands.

"Giving them some exposure and giving them some experience playing for an audience is really important," said Fisher.

Typically, between six and eight bands perform in the show. Auditions were held in June, and Fisher said they chose only six this year.

"We can have a better concert because we can have longer sets," she said.

The artists performing, she said, vary greatly in style.

Included in the show will be this year's Music in the Park winner Shea Alain, along with Floppy Dick Drive, Cabeo, Lucaste, An Acoustic Tragedy and Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte.

"I'd say that there's definitely an eclectic mix - we've got everything from screamo to emo," Fisher said. "We've got a couple of people who are playing acoustic guitars... we've got a few rock bands, and all of them are bands that I would definitely pay to see."

The show starts Thursday at 7 p.m. and will take place on the main stage at the Folk on the Rocks site.