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West Kelowna World Music festival goes this weekend

The free outdoor concert Saturday will feature several world music groups and other entertainment.
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Vernon’s Chipko Jones will be one of two headliners—with Kym Gouchie and the Ellis Avenue Band—at the annual West Kelowna World Music Festival Saturday in Memorial Park. —Image credit: contributed

West Kelowna is inviting the public to experience the Okanagan’s cultural diversity at its World Music Festival, Saturday, Aug. 26, from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Memorial Park.

This year’s free, outdoor concert will feature two headline acts, performing at the Annette Beaudreau Amphitheatre, next to Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre. Chipko Jones is an Okanagan-based band that writes, records and performs reggae and African rhythm based music that is upbeat and dance oriented. Singer, songwriter and hand drummer Kym Gouchie and the Ellis Avenue Band combine elements of traditional, folk and roots music to deliver their unique sound.

Opening acts include: Krystal Withakay, an Okanagan First Nation artist; the Ootn’ Oots, a Western Canadian Music Award-nominated rock band for kids, full of eclectic twists and turns, ripping guitar solos, comedy, and heart; Waking Cal.li.o.pe, a locally based acoustic, indie/folk duo; and, Los Riveras, a Latin and Spanish flamenco band.

Off stage, the audience will get to enjoy the gravity-defying group Kinshira – an electrifying arts troupe that delivers eye-popping LED and stilt walking performances.

And for the kids, Interior Savings presents KidZone featuring free activities such as circus yoga, face-painting, hand-drumming, story-telling, bouncy castle, and more. Kids activities take place from 4 to 8 p.m.

Vendors will be on site for those wishing to purchase food and refreshments.

The West Kelowna World Music Festival will wrap up an the series of free summer performances at Memorial Park that have been running since the end of June. They have included the popular Music in the Park concerts, hosted by the City of West Kelowna, produced by Creative Okanagan and presented by Re/Max; and Westside Daze, hosted and coordinated by the Westside Celebration Society.