Catch The Trout! Trout Forest Music Festival

Montreal's Juno award-winning folk group Chic Gamine

Music in the Woods! August 12-14, 2011

Meet up at the Ear Falls Waterfront Park for the 16th Annual Trout Forest Music Festival. The festival has become a favourite annual summer festival getaway for music fans. The bands are roots-based solo artists and groups. One of the festival's mandates is to try and have the most diverse collection of musicians, both geographical and genre speaking. The small size of the music festival appeals to many. It creates an interactive atmosphere between the audience and the musicians. Unlike other folk festivals across the country, attendees don't have to worry about dealing with large line-ups and overbearing crowds. While it is a smaller event, the talent is not small. Performers include Victoria, BC's alternative country singer-songwriter Carolyn Mark and Montreal's Juno award-winning folk group Chic Gamine.

This year's line-up consists of 30 must-see musicians from across Canada. In addition to Carolyn Mark and Chic Gamine the other musical acts are Don Amero, Vince Andrushko, Big Boogaloo, Allison Brown, Crooked Brother, Cris Derksen, Deep Dark Woods, Matt Epp, Jean-Paul De Roover, Lindsay Jane, Little Miss Higgins,  Marc Merilainen, Andrew Neville and The Poor Choices, NQ Arbuckle, Andrew Queen, Mark Reeves, Jess Reimer, Righteous Ike, Ben Sures, Sweet Alibi, Tannis Slimmon, The F-Holes, and Bob Wiseman. See more about the musicians and a confirmed list of the bands on Trout Forest Music Festival website.

Kenora's Big Boogaloo

The music festival is held in Ear Falls, Ontario which is located on Highway 105  approximately 110 km north of the Trans Canada Highway at Vermilion Bay.  Ear Falls is approximately 2 hours from Kenora, 1 1/2 hours from Dryden, 4 1/2 hours from Thunder Bay, and 4/1/2 hours from Winnipeg. Once in Ear Falls, on the right just past the Hydro Dam, you will see the Ear Falls Waterfront Park, the home of the Trout Forest Music Festival. Parking is on the west side of Highway 105, opposite the festival site.

If you are coming from out of town, you can camp in the area. There are Quiet Camping Only Sites available at the Baseball Fields. Tent Camping Spaces are limited and available on a First Come, First Served basis. RV Sites are limited and available on a First Come First Serve basis. RV Overflow Sites have no facilities or security crew. Camping opens at 12:00 noon on Thursday, August 11th. Each member in your group/family must possess a valid camping pass. Shower and restroom facilities onsite. Free firewood. Children under 12 are free.

There are off-site accommodations that offer camping or if you are lucky they may have a cabin or hotel room left open. Here are some of the the facilities offering off-site camping accommodations during the Trout Forest Music Festival: Lac Seul Evergreen Lodge, Pine Ridge Campground, Little Canada Camp, Lac Seul's, Golden Eagle, Rainbow Point Lodge,  Goose Bay Camp, Trillium Motel & Restaurant (807-222-3126), and Hotel 105 (807-222-3374).To find out about any other accommodations or about Ear Falls, please visit www.ontariotowns.net/EarFalls/

Tickets are available at Stems ‘n Such in the Ear Falls Plaza, at The Northern Sun News in Red Lake, the Q104 FM Office in Vermilion Bay, the Golden Nectar or CKDR 92.7 FM in Dryden, HoJoe’s Coffee & Books or Fragile Glass Studio with Charm in Kenora, and at the Winnipeg Folk Festival Store or Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club in Winnipeg, MB. You can also buy tickets online at Ticketbreak.com. A full list of ticket prices, which range from $22 day passes to $70 3-day weekend passes, are available on the festival's website www.troutfest.com. If you require further assistance, contact the office at: 807-222-2404 or toll-free @ 1-866-TROUT33.

For information on other musical events or festivals in Northwest Ontario, visit the Sunset Country Events Page or the Events Calendar on Facebook.