With the Festival of Words ready to begin next week, organizers are excited to be able to offer a new twist to one of the virtual events — the live-streamed concert from Regina band Andino Suns.
On July 18, Andino Suns are set to take the stage at the Mae Wilson Theatre as this year’s live entertainment for the Festival, using a live stream to share the concert for free with all of the folks at home.
But with the province lifting more COVID-19 restrictions over the past few weeks, organizers have decided to open the theatre up to an in-person audience through a ticket giveaway.
The Festival has 76 tickets that will be available to win through various social media giveaways, hosted on their own Facebook page, as well as from the Moose Jaw Multicultural Centre, Andino Suns, and various other sponsors.
“We’re kind of telling people to keep their eyes out for ticket giveaways in the next few days,” said executive director Sarah Simison. "Or people can contact the Festival office directly if they want tickets desperately, [we'll] see what we can do."
The giveaway draws will be finalized on July 15, with winners asked to pick up their tickets at the Multicultural Centre Box Office during operating hours.
The concert will still be streamed online, as originally planned for the virtual festival, but the band is looking forward to having some faces in the audience during the show.
“The band has been so lovely working with us and trying to figure out technology and accessibility, [and they suggested] that as musicians, it feels more natural to have an audience in front of you that you can interact with, so is there any way we can get a few people in the theatre?” said Simison. “We decided that to have an in-person audience would be a fun way to promote the event.”
The Festival isn’t selling tickets, partially because space will be limited to ensure proper social distancing, but also because this year’s Festival is entirely free of charge for attendees and they wanted to honour that decision.
Andino Suns will be putting on an hour-long show, and in-person attendees will have to follow a number of health and safety guidelines when they take their place in the theatre — including proper social distancing and hand hygiene protocols, and following staggered seating arrangements.
Those who get their hands on some in-person tickets won’t be required to wear a mask at the show, but they are encouraged to attend only with people from within their household bubble.
“We also want to be really careful that people are aware that we’re going to have some pretty strict social distancing protocols, because we want to be sure it’s safe for everybody,” said Simison.
For everyone else enjoying at home, Simison assures that the streamed concert will be just as enjoyable on the screen as in the theatre.
“Andino Suns are a really high energy band. Their music is fantastic and we really want people to live stream it, dance in your backyard, invite your friends over from within your bubble, have supper, dance along,” said Simison. “They’re a lot of fun and they don’t disappoint. They put on a great show.”
The Andino Suns concert is just one of the many virtual events that the Festival of Words has arranged for their annual literary event, taking place from July 13-19.
More information on upcoming workshops, readings, and panels can be found on the festival website.
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