The Crisp is Pender Island's music and arts festival — three nights of concerts plus a full weekend of workshops, panels, poetry, visual art, and apple-themed food, all run by around 50 volunteers under the Southern Gulf Islands Community Resource Centre. Now in its sixth year, the festival has grown from a small community harvest event into one of the Gulf Islands' best-loved gatherings, bringing touring musicians together with local Southern Gulf Islands artists for a weekend rooted in the land that sustains the community.
Friday, October 2 — Joel Plaskett & Leeroy Stagger
Nova Scotia songwriter Joel Plaskett opens the weekend, joined onstage by Leeroy Stagger and a local opener — and maybe a surprise guest or two.
Saturday, October 3 — Reuben and the Dark
Calgary-born, Victoria-based indie-folk band Reuben and the Dark kick off their national tour right here on Pender, with support from Q. Brooke Bachand and Charlie Gannon.
Sunday, October 4 — Fiona Bevan & Adam Beattie, with Luke Wallace
UK singer-songwriter Fiona Bevan — who's written hits for Ed Sheeran, One Direction, and Aurora — teams up with Scottish folk artist Adam Beattie, plus Vancouver's own Luke Wallace, to close out the festival.
Evening concerts are $35 at the Pender Island Community Hall, 4418 Bedwell Harbour Rd. Daytime programming — panels, workshops, poetry, visual art, and Sunday's free daytime music — is free. Pender Island is a ferry ride from Swartz Bay (Victoria) or Tsawwassen (Vancouver) via BC Ferries, so plan your sailing ahead.
Find the full lineup, schedule, and tickets at thecrisp.ca.
