Arts and Culture

WATCH: Final countdown to big concert in the mountains

Show will have some big names

  • Arkells are headlining
  • Thousands of people expected to attend

After two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, Altitunes is finally back at Big White Ski Resort on Saturday.

For Mitch Carefoot, with Thick As Thieves Entertainment who are organizing the event, it’s been a long time coming.

“It absolutely feels surreal at this point, given what we’ve all been through over the last two years,” Carefoot told Kelowna10. “The hospitality entertainment industry was essentially decimated… the businesses that are here today, the artists that are coming, and especially Big White and our team, really had to pull together to bring this back to life.”

The event will be held in Happy Valley at Big White. The headlining band will be the Arkells, with guests Lights and daysormay.

“They’re excited to get up to the ski hill,” Carefoot said, referring to all the talent that’s been lined up. “A lot of them are going [skiing], we told them we’d prefer them going out on Sunday because they’ve got a big performance to put on [Saturday].”

A DJ will be playing music before the bands hit the stage in the evening. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase at this 19-plus event, where nearly 4,000 people are expected to attend.

“I believe that a lot of people have been a little bit couped up for two years and are looking for a release, and out here at Big White, we have a lot of open space,” Carefoot explained. “I think this field here is going to turn into a party.”

Carefoot said his advice to concert goers is to bundle up because it may be spring in the valley, but it’s still winter conditions up in the mountains. Shuttle services have been sold out and he advises people to drive up with friends, but to be cautious of road conditions and not drink and drive.

As for the crews of around 200 people who have been preparing the big show, he said the logistical challenge with having a concert up at Big White is the rapid climate change and the winding roads since they have big trucks that transport the equipment.

“Thankfully, all of the service providers and all of our team have really pulled together for this one.”

Click here for more information about Altitunes.

Published 2022-04-01 by Jordan Brenda

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