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Island 22 is where the songs are

Where the Forest Songs Are, returns to Island 22 Regional Park on Saturday, Sept 8, starting at 1 p.m.
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Teen Daze is one of the bands performing this Saturday at 'Where the Forest Songs Are' at Island 22.

There won't be any long lineups or high priced tickets at this made-in-Chilliwack music festival.

Where the Forest Songs Are, returns to Island 22 Regional Park on Saturday, Sept 8.

Featuring a bunch of live bands in a unique park setting for $20, it's the second year of the fledgling all-ages event.

"Chilliwack is a music hungry town," says festival founder Robert Dunning. "This is going to be a relaxed day outdoors focused on good music and good people. It offers a good vibe, and it's fresh and different."

Last year at the inaugural Where the Forest Songs Are, they had about 130 people checking out the half dozen bands from various parts of the Lower Mainland.

Organizers are crossing their fingers for an even bigger turnout this year.

"This year we've added some family friendly aspects like face painting and someone doing henna," says Dunning.

Some music blogs and writers have been buzzing about the festival this year.

They've been working on nailing down the details since January, and that opened up the range of options they could offer festival attendees, like a couple of food trucks.

"We also have two performance stages," he says. "One of them is the side stage to the main stage."

On the lineup for WTFSA 2012 include the return of electronica masters Teen Daze, along with Young Liars, The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer, Jordan Klassen, Ma Petite, Old Mare, The Parish of Little Clifton, Ian Schram, Adam Klassen.

Dunning, 20, is not a musician, but several of his friends play in bands.

Originally from Chilliwack, Dunning says it was his girlfriend who first came up with the slightly hippie-dippie sounding name for the event.

"It just seemed to fit the beautiful forested setting at the Island 22," he says.

Where the Forest Songs Are, Sept 8 at Island 22 Regional Park, 45695 Cartmell Road.

Tickets $20 at wheretheforestsongsare.tumblr.com or at the gate. All ages. No alcohol. Gates open at 1 p.m. and the show runs until 10 p.m.



Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering the arts, city hall, as well as Indigenous, and climate change stories.
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