The final push is on to see who will take the prized for Searchlight, Canada's Best Music Festival. To give you a sense of our ten finalist, we sent out questionaires to the remaining festivals. We'll post them as we receive them, so please check them out, and don't forget to VOTE!

How long has Evolve been in operation?
Evolve is celebrating its eleventh year in 2010 in picturesque Antigonish, Nova Scotia!
 
What is the mission statement of your festival?
Evolve's mission statement is to have a 3-day summer celebration of community, music, art, wellness, sustainable living, and social awareness; while making the wisest eco-minded choices.
 
What makes your festival site special?
What makes Evolve so special is its location and sense of community. The venue is on a 225 acre farm that has a million dollar view of the coastline. Within a half kilometers walk is a staircase waterfall which some say is half the reason for coming. Many people that have moved away from the Maritimes plan their summer's return home around Evolve's dates.

What is your favourite festival moment of the past?
Wow... favorite? I have so many: The Be Good Tanyas and their beautiful harmonies at sunset, the musical insanity of Man Man followed by Battles, Xavier Rudd dancing on stage with his son...I love when everyone arrives, seeing the faces of people smiling everywhere knowing that they can leave their worries at the door.
 
Name one artist that is playing this year?
Rich Aucoin. Rich played 3 sets last year. Rich creates magic. Rich's new album is gold.
 
Why should we vote for your festival?
I think Evolve needs and deserves it. Evolve is a small grassroots festival that has no corporate sponsorship or government funding. It is the labour of love of Evolve's producers, volunteers, and community that has allowed for this festival to exist. Evolve is festival with a young demographic in the conservative town of Antigonish. I told Grant Lawrence in a Radio 3 interview, "...it feels like Kevin Bacon in Footloose sometimes." It would be cool to read in the local weekly, The Casket, that Evolve is Canada's best festival, and that CBC Radio 3 was coming to cover the weekend with a live broadcast.

posted by John Paolozzi on Mar 08, 2010