SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Grande Prairie music festival East Coast Garden Party is making the trek here in June with music and lobster in tow.

The East Coast Garden Party festival is hitting Yellowknife in June and bringing with it musical acts including rock and country singer-songwriter Dallas Smith, East Coast recording artist and producer Classified, the rock band Trooper, a tribute band to AC/DC called Who Made Who, Celtic music band St. James' Gate, and Alberta-based five-piece Celtic rock band Derina Harvey Band. - photo courtesy of the East Coast Garden Party Association

The festivals are held in each year in Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray, run by the non-profit East Coast Garden Party Association. The association has recently begun exporting the festivals to other cities in Canada.

In an interview with Yellowknifer, festival organizer Justin Elliott said the line-up of performers will include rock and country singer-songwriter Dallas Smith, East Coast recording artist and producer Classified, the rock band Trooper, a tribute band to AC/DC called Who Made Who, Celtic music band St. James' Gate and Alberta-based five-piece Celtic rock band Derina Harvey Band. It will also feature local musicians Aaron "Godson" Hernandez and Sir John Franklin's Taylor Soloy.

Elliott said Yellowknifers have been travelling to Grande Prairie for the show over the years, and with some suggestions from local friends he was inspired to bring the festival North.

"The response has just been tremendous," he said. "We've had a really good response up there since tickets went on sale. This show is going to sell out, no doubt about it."

Aside from live music, the family-friendly festival will feature other attractions including a bouncy castle for children, laser tag, carnival rides, local food vendors and East Coast lobster. There will also be designated drinking and non-drinking areas.

"It's going to be the biggest festival Yellowknife is going to have - that's for sure. This is a big, big event," he said, adding he believes it will provide a boost to the local economy.

The East Coast Garden Party is scheduled for the weekend of June 16 at the Multiplex Arena grounds. Tickets with early bird prices are currently available on the association's website.