Weayaya is back after a three year hiatus!
Much has been learned, and changes will be made,but the focus remains the same:
Alternative Energy plus Alberta Talent
BACKGROUND
The Weayaya Solar Powered Music Festival
is a family friendly, community based
event located on the banks of the
Blindman River in Central Alberta.
Weayaya is the only solar powered music
festival in Canada. Festival power is
generated by a grid-tied solar array on
site, and demonstrations of various
applications of solar technology and
information are presented.
All talent appearing at Weayaya must be
Alberta based. There is an enormous
amount available in this province, from
fledgling to famous. Not genre-specific,
the variety of acts ranges from harps to
hip-hop, gypsy jazz to jukebox
favourites.
The festival is held in early July each
year, Saturday noon - 11 pm and Sunday
noon - 6 pm. Free camping is available
with purchase of weekend pass.
Beer Gardens open at 11 am Saturday &
Sunday. Festival and artists'
merchandise booth. more TBA...
HISTORY
Belief in solar power as a viable option
in fulfillment of current and future
energy requirements led to the choice of
a music festival as the means to
demonstrate this. An event of this
nature would demand a considerable
amount of electricity to produce, and if
successful, could attract an audience to
witness, first-hand, the potential of
the sun to generate clean energy.
The festival launched in 2013 as a
"party in the yard". It was necessary to
assess the capability of the solar array
to provide the necessary power, and to
engage community interest and support.
The "stage" was a flat-bed truck, the
sound system was rented, and friends and
neighbours volunteered as workers and
performers.
In 2015, Weayaya made the leap from
"backyard" to "big time" with 15
mainstage acts and professional sound. A
solar powered yard light was donated to
demonstrate an off-grid application. The
festival has presented an amazing array
of talent since then, and the solar
component now includes a mobile off-grid
unit.
This event could not happen without:
Community support. Thanks to all who
have devoted the better part of a decade
to Weayaya, those toddlers are now
teenagers!
Alberta musicians.
Your enthusiasm and
energy for this project, to say nothing
of stellar talent, has put the "wind
beneath our wings". We are so fortunate
to have you on board.
PHILOSOPHY
The Weayaya Solar Powered Music
Festival was established to promote
solar technology as an alternative
energy source.
Maintaining Alberta as a major energy
producer requires a shift in focus on
the sources of that energy. "Spreading
the load" to decrease dependence on
fossil fuels opens up new fields of R&D
in business and industry, resulting in
more employment opportunities. "We
should spend every spare dollar on
developing ourselves as a new energy
province, so that when the time
comes....we can be ready."* Weayaya
exists to encourage the development of
environment - first alternative energy
sources, offering proof of viability.
The festival was also expressly designed
to promote Alberta-based talent,
providing an opportunity for newcomers
and emerging acts to perform in a
festival setting and expand their fan
bases in Central Alberta while featuring
established acts as headliners. We feel
that there is no need to look beyond our
borders to present high-quality
entertainers in a wide spectrum of
musical styles.
Music is an integral part of the concept
of the festival. It possesses the
ability to draw souls together; it
inspires, uplifts, rejuvenates and gives
us the courage to move forward,
harnessing the power of music with the
energy of the sun. As Pete Seeger said,
"there is a lot of good music in this
world, and if used right, it may help to
save the planet".
*Corb Lund, "The Long Run"by Shannon
Phillips, in "Alberta Views" October
2011
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