As we approach the ninth annual Heart of the City Music and Arts Festival, I am pleased to say the organizing team is filled with energy, super pumped and ready to bring another two day festival of epic local talent. Though we are sad to see Anna Rambow, our fiery art-starter, and Mike McLocklin, our suave and song-filled former Music Director, both leave the festival society board for a sunnier clime on Vancouver Island, there is no shortage of excitement as we welcome new board members Rachael Roberts and Patrick Marchand-Smith.

In 2012, Heart of the City (sometimes known as HOTC) will happen on June 2 and 3 and will carry on the momentum of our last few years producing it as a two day festival. As you can imagine, there are many amazing volunteers, business sponsors, and organizations that get behind our locally renowned shindig, including the Edmonton Arts Council and the Edmonton Folk Music Fest, who contribute a sizeable chunk of funding and in-kind donations. That being said, we also spend a few months every late winter planning our signature HOTC fundraiser, and last year we were able to raise over $2000!

As it turns out, our team has so much motivation that we’re planning two fundraisers, each geared at a different audience, both meant to support the festival and promote the bands who regularly support our endeavours. On Saturday March 10, at Newcastle Pub & Grill (6108 90 Avenue) we are holding our first event, including our popular silent auction. The evening will feature local blues favourites Paula Perro and No Foolin’, the sweet songs of Dana Wylie, indie rock troubadour Andrew Scott, and the folky bluegrass fusions of the Big Sky Gliders. Doors open at 7 p.m., music at 8 p.m. $10 admission.

In 2012, Heart of the City (sometimes known as HOTC) will happen on June 2 and 3 and will carry on the momentum of our last few years producing it as a two day festival.

And then on Friday March 16 we’ll showcase some fresh punk and hip hop acts down at Towers Pub, the campus bar at MacEwan University. This event is aimed at a younger audience and as always stays true to our hallmark style of supporting upstart local talents. The bill for this show is ferocious! KazMega, Maintain Status Quo, Kemo Treats, Görgön Hörde, and Locution Revolution will all bring the noise as HOTC reaches out for new audiences and stretches the bounds of our existing fandom. This one’s an early show, doors at 3 p.m., music at 4 p.m., $5 cover – worth every rockin’ penny.

Stay tuned next month as we kick off auditions on April 12, 14, and 15 to select performers and artists to be part of our 2012 spectacle! Interested in performing at Heart of the City? Contact heartcitymusic@gmail.com. Want to sell art at Heart of the City? Contact heartcityart@gmail.com. For general information about Heart of the City, check our website: www.heartcityfest.com, or email heartcitymedia@gmail.com.