Area 506. Image: Liam Floyd / Huddle.
Musicians and entertainers from across Atlantic Canada are getting ready to descend onto Saint John’s Long Wharf over the next five weekends.
The AREA 506 Waterfront Concert Series kicks off Friday night with comedians James Mullinger and Nikki Payne and musicians Grand Theft Bus. Saturday’s show will feature musicians Ria Mae and Jenn Grant.
Founder Ray Gracewood says that he’s looking forward to welcoming New Brunswickers back to the festival after a canceled year due to the pandemic.
“When I look across Canada, there’s not a whole lot happening in terms of large-scale music events and I think New Brunswickers have done just an amazing job of recovering from this whole Covid-19 phase,” he said. “The fact that we can put on a show for 800 people outdoors every weekend for the next five weekends, I think it’s a real testament to all the work that we as a population, as a province has done over the last 15 months.”
As the province continues with its recovery plans, the festival has some differences this year. The event is spaced out over five weekends rather than compressed into one to maintain smaller crowd sizes, festival-goers are assigned “pods” with their close contacts to maintain social distancing, and food and drinks will be delivered to pods by members of United Way.
“With Covid-19 regulations and just general comfort, we want to try to create as much of a touchless environment as what we can,” said Gracewood.
To get food or drinks delivered to their pods, attendees can place orders through Area 506’s mobile website. They can also use the application to place merch orders. Orders can begin to be placed six days before the concerts.
The pods themselves are gated areas for each group of attendees. They come in two sizes: 10 feet by 10 feet for six-person pods and 14 feet by 10 feet for ten-person pods. There are also VIP pods that include an 8-foot picnic table and four chairs. Attendees that are not in a VIP pod are encouraged to bring their own chairs if they want to sit.
A work-in-progress look at a VIP 10-person pod. Image: Liam Floyd / Huddle.
“A lot of the feedback we’re getting is that it creates a little area for you and your friends, which I think is unique, and it’s kind of cool,” said Gracewood. “At the same time, it allows us to create a pretty comfortable and responsible environment, just to encourage social distancing.”
Performers over the next five weeks include big regional names Alan Doyle, Bahamas, Matt Andersen, Matt Mays, The Joel Plaskett Emergency, Classified, David Myles, Ria Mae and more. Local performers will also take the stage each week including Jamie Comeau & The Crooked Teeth, The Hypochondriacs, Tomato/Tomato, Mike Biggar, and Kylie Fox.
“AREA 506 is always about supporting local and we do that through music and culture and goods,” said Gracewood. “I think this year we’re excited because when we look at the lineup over the next five weekends, we’ve got 10 headliners that are just amazing talents from here in Atlantic Canada, openers that are from New Brunswick with a real kind of focus on Saint John talent.”
Liam Floyd is an intern for Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
