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Killers, Florence and the Machine headline Skookum festival in Stanley Park

Music, art, food and craft beer on tap for September celebration
SKOOKUM
A launch party for SKOOKUM was held this week announcing the new festival. Photo Jonathan Evans

The musical lineup for a new festival taking place in Stanley Park this summer includes Florence and the Machine and The Killers.

In total more than 50 performances will take place across four stages during the Sept. 7 to 9 weekend, which means the end of summer will no longer be marked by Labour Day, but instead by Skookum.

But the organizers say the festival is about much more than music. Festival goers at Skookum will also enjoy live and multimedia art installations, gourmet culinary experiences from some of Vancouver’s best restaurants, pop-up and roaming entertainment throughout the weekend, and tasting areas showcasing some of the best B.C. wines, locally brewed craft beer and select offerings from local area craft distilleries.

SKOOKUM
The Skookum festival scheduled for September in Stanley Park, will bring together music, art and food. Photo Jonathan Evans

When it comes to Skookum's food offerings, a picnic basket program means visitors to the festival can choose from a variety of lunch options to-go created by Vancouver restaurants and chefs, an eclectic mix of food trucks will be onsite all weekend, and a long-table series will offer a quintessential Vancouver dining experience al fresco under the trees. The festival has also partnered with Ocean Wise, a program that promotes the use of sustainable fish and sea food.

Skookum is being produced by Vancouver-based Brandlive in collaboration with Virgin Mobile. Because the festival will take place on the shared territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations, Brandlive is providing numerous opportunities for Indigenous musicians, chefs and visual artists to take part and educate attendees on aspects of the their historical connections to the land.
“This is the result of a conversation that began five years ago to create a more accessible, inclusive and sustainable festival,” says festival director Paul Runnals. “We feel this first year lineup reflects the spirit of what are trying to achieve in a way that also acknowledges the significant history of the location.

SKOOKUM
The Skookum festival in Stanley Park will be just as much about art as music. Photo Jonathan Evans

Among the many environmental initiatives the festival is embracing is the elimination of plastic straws, bags and single-use water bottles and a comprehensive shuttle bus program will be in place for the weekend as a way to encourage festival-goers to leave their vehicles at home.
As well, food vendors will use 100 per cent compostable packaging, and recycling and composting programs will be in place across the festival grounds. Skookum has also partnered with Music Heals, a local charity which supports a wide range of music therapy services to communities in B.C. and across Canada, and the Stanley Park Ecology Society, which has a leading role in the stewardship of Stanley Park through collaborative efforts in education, conservation and research. For more information visit skookumfestival.com.

Other artists confirmed for Skookum include:

Metric

Arkells

The War on Drugs

St. Vincent

Father John Misty

Blue Rodeo
Mother Mother

Chromeo

Bahamas

Stereophonics

Rodrigo y Gabriela, 
Cold War Kids

Greta Van Fleet

Dear Rouge

Buffy Sainte Marie

Matt Mays

Current Swell

Black Pistol Fire

Whitehorse

Matt Andersen

Said the Whale

Yukon Blonde

The Zolas

Hey Ocean!

Midnight Shine

Delhi 2 Dublin

Barney Bentall

The Julian Taylor Band

Crystal Shawanda

The Matinée

Belle Game
Little Destroyer

The Boom Booms featuring Ta’Kaiya Blaney

William Prince

Shred Kelly

Snotty Nose Rez Kids 
Kelly Derrickson

Murray Porter

Mob Bounce

Daysormay

Bitterly Divine

The Carnival Band

 Zynth & Co.

 sthomas@vancourier.com

@sthomas10