Midcoast Morning

Now in its ninth year, demand for the Woodstove Music and Arts Festival seemingly hit new highs, with organizers saying that the initial round of tickets sold out almost immediately. The non profit community festival took place last weekend across 16 venues in the village ranging from community halls, to the museum, to tattoo parlours and hair salons.

In recent years, many summer festivals have faced challenges. 

Earlier this year it was reported that the Regina Folk Festival had permanently shut down due to financial struggles, and that the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival faced an uncertain future, with this year’s edition potentially being the last. For the first time in 30 years, there was no Vancouver Island MusicFest, with organizers citing economic challenges like decreasing sponsorships, a lack of local funding, and reduced ticket sales. Those are just some examples of a nationwide trend that’s been reported on by the CBC, The Globe and Mail and others.

Midcoast Morning attended this year’s Woodstove and spoke with artists and organizers to try and understand what has allowed the festival to seemingly thrive amidst a climate of wider economic challenges for arts festivals.

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Podcast Cover Photo: Cat Clyde (Joe Pugh/CHLY 101.7FM)
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Creators and Guests

Host
Joe Pugh
Host and producer for Midcoast Morning, and is a journalist with CHLY 101.7FM's Nonprofit Newsroom Project.
Editor
Jesse Woodward
Executive Director / Executive Producer / Managing Editor at CHLY 101.7FM

What is Midcoast Morning?

Typically running 28 minutes, Midcoast Morning covers local news and current affairs happening in Nanaimo and on the Salish Sea. Midcoast Morning largely focuses in on one big story per show, interviewing reporters about their stories, as well as those making news and those impacted by it. We also feature the curators and creators in our local arts and culture scene.

Midcoast Morning broadcasts and podcasts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at 8:30 AM.

Tune in at www.chly.ca/listen or CHLY 101.7FM in Nanaimo and on the Salish Sea. Find the podcast at www.chly.ca/podcasts alongside other podcasts from our station.