More than 100 people, with some coming as far away as Calgary, turned out July 15 for the seventh annual Flatbush Rocks concert hosted at the Flatbush Hall.
In past years, the event has featured rock bands like April Wine, Trooper and Honeymoon Suite, along with tribute bands for the Tragically Hip, Bon Jovi and AC/DC.
This year, however, Kandee Stadnyk and the Flatbush Community League decided to go with more of a country theme as country singer Kory Wlos was the headliner.
“A lot of people told us that if it’s country we’ll come,” said Stadnyk.
“This is the first time we’ve had some of the more senior members of Flatbush here.”
Confirming that statement were concert-goers Darlene Auch and Audrey Byer.
“We’re here ‘cause it’s country,” they shouted.
Also, instead of having multiple rock bands, Stadnyk decided a single act featuring country singer Kory Wlos and a cabaret theme was the way to go.
“It’s tough to get the bigger bands out here and they’re just getting so expensive,” said Stadnyk.
“We booked Trooper for our first year and tried to book them again in our fifth, but they were three times the price.”
Price seemed to play a major role in deciding to go the country route, but it also allowed the community show to be priced at half what it was in previous years, with tickets only costing $20 a ticket instead of the usual $40.
“We felt that having a $50 to $60 dollar ticket price was outside of what people could pay for the event,” said Stadnyk.
While the event did draw from outside the area, the biggest mix of people was from Fawcett, Jarvie and Flatbush.
Country rocker Sheila Kerik joked that it was going to be her new annual night out.
“I have two kids at home, but when I heard it was country I just had to come,” said Kerik.
This was Wlos’ third time playing Flatbush Rocks.
“I just love coming out to places like this, it’s the people, they remind me of my years growing up in Boyle,” said Wlos.
But being a musician isn’t Wlos’ only job; he’s also a teacher in Fort Saskatchewan and has a 10-year-old daughter.
“I think being a teacher is a great job to have while you pursue music, you can do gigs on the weekend and be free in the summer.”
Those who enjoyed Wlos at Flatbush can see him again this summer at the Boyle and Smoky Lake rodeos.
Wlos had the floors shaking with stomping feet of original music and much-loved covers all night, playing four sets over the span of five hours in heat that topped 30C.
“They gave us fans on stage, but wow, is it hot tonight,” said band fiddle player Chris Leslie.
There was one other snag that evening around 11:05 p.m. The band just finished their second set and were taking a break when the food truck from Slave Lake packed up and left the site.
As this was the only source of food, this created a problem for the hard party crowd.
While the organization team quickly rallied with a plan of action and the party kept on country rocking, there were a few surprised comments.
“Every single bar in Edmonton and Calgary has a food truck outside around at this time, because this is when people leaving the bar want to buy food,” said Damond Stadnyk.
Dave Hall, who runs the Hallywood Jamboree at Jarvie, joked, “If a food truck left my jamboree, I’d be chasing it down the road to have words, but luckily it’s my mother in-law, so I don’t have to worry.”
Luckily, Flatbush General Store Debbie Brenneis offered to head to the store to pick up sandwiches and sell them for about $6.
“Each one has about half a package of meat on them, and considering I paid $6.50 a few hours ago for cold fries ...” Brenneis let the comment hang in the air, motioned to Stadnyk and the two set off on their mission.
The festival has struggled to run most years, but this may be the last in its current state.
“Next year we’re thinking about combining it with the Flatbush festival, but things are still in the works.”
With the future looking a little uncertain for the festival, residents of Flatbush and fans of the rocking good time have to wonder what form will it take, if any, in 2018.
