Cathedral Village Arts Festival returns next week with flair

The Cathedral Village Arts Festival returns next week, and organizers are more than enthused to welcome thousands back into the streets to indulge in local art, music and community connection.

“The arts is a wonderful way to celebrate that which is treasured to us,” said planning committee chair Cam Fraser.

In the midst of last-minute touches before things get underway on Monday, Fraser took a moment to break down the importance of the theme this year: home.

“For six days, we get to imagine how we want to live the rest of the 349 days of our year.”

The enthusiasm to be back in person is still palpable, he said, even in the festival’s second year rebounding from the switch to virtual through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“So many people have formative experiences of being at home in Cathedral, that are associated with this festival,” he said.

“It is, I think, a huge part of what it means to be the Cathedral neighbourhood, and to welcome the entire city and beyond into this place that we love,” he added. “It’s a beautiful glimpse of the neighbourhood and the world that we want to live in.”

Local artists are arranging a series pop-up galleries in their garages around the neighbourhood, alongside other exhibitions from Slate Gallery, the Art Gallery of Regina and more.

Rock the Block party, hosted at the Mercury Cafe and Cathedral Village Community Centre will return for a second year, with local punk and alternative rock acts to alternate stages all evening.

Various stages throughout the week will host acts including beach punk powerhouse The Definitelays, hip-hop artist Nige B, folk-rock group Andino Suns, Regina-born bilingual four-piece Indigo Joseph and, headlining the weekend, nationally acclaimed hardcore punk rockers F***ed Up.

Overall, the musical talent on the schedule ranges from end to end in genre, added Fraser, from classical mandolins to bluegrass to experimental audio art.

“I don’t know if there is a genre that we don’t have covered,” Fraser said. “We hope that we people will find their new favourite band, new genre that they didn’t know they loved until they heard it here.”

Theatre productions include a provocative exploration of the experience of BIPOC youth, from Luther College High School students, and a play from award-winning theatre company Breaking Down Barriers.

All festival events are free to attend, a core mandate that has prevailed through the event’s 30-year existence. Fraser said the continued success comes down to the willingness of donors, volunteers and performers to make it possible.

A full list of events is available online, and Fraser said organizers are excited to see crowds back on the street of Cathedral next week.

lkurz@postmedia.com