Special Projects Highlights + Full Schedule



Sappyfest is more than a music festival! Read below about the full slate of special projects rising from the magic of the swamp: art, performance, installation, poetry, dance and storytelling will delight and dazzle Sappy festival-goers of all ages!

Art-lovers will want to make sure they check out performance duo New Suns Collective who create a conversation through improvised violin and movement; the experimental organ performance by Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo; AND you won't want to miss tween musical theatre sensations The Drama Queenz kicking off the festival with their new hit CHIPS: The Musical.

*You heard it here first* new additions to the music line-up include Wares' Cassia Hardy performing solo, and Fredericton's Chillteens. 

For all of this and MORE explore the full lineup, schedule + grab your passes today!

Photo Credit: OSO

Struts Gallery x Sappyfest


Struts Gallery is co-presenting several exciting Sappy art projects this year! 

WEave, a large-scale participatory weaving installation by Halifax design studio OSO will take over the Struts Parking Lot. 

Sappyfest for Dummies consists of community-made life-sized self-portrait body doubles installed in the Mt Allison Library Theatre. Facilitated by superhero artist team Shary Boyle, Steven Lambke, and Graeme Patterson. 

It’s Giving by Toronto-based performance artist Lisa Smolkin is a screening and performance that examines and satirizes contemporary wellness culture. 

Mellow Yellow Bench is an interactive sculpture by Sackville-based artist Alex Keeling which will be floating around town, you can't miss it!

More information can be found on the Struts Gallery website! 

Photo Credit: Canada.gov.ca

Storytelling Stands Out at Sappy 19


Canada.gov.ca is coming to Sackville for the first time ever!? Don't miss your chance to see John Batt, the infamous and hilarious New Brunswick-born internet sensation, bring the more obscure side of Canadian history and culture to life.  Sunday August 4th, Royal Canadian Legion, 5:30PM

Universal Dawn is an annual showcase of writers that offer their gifts to the Bridge Street Stage. Prepare to be transported to fantastical planes by Colleen Coco Collins, Phoebe Marmura, Erin Brubacher, and Sue Goyette: poet-writers-artists-performers that weave fascinating webs of words. Sunday August 4th, Bridge Street Stage, 1PM

Start making plans and grab your day and weekend passes now!

Photo Credit: Amber Helene Müller St. Thomas

Artist-in-Residence Rita McKeough


Sappyfest is excited to bring back our Artist-in-Residence program with illustrious performance artist Rita McKeough! 

Rita McKeough is an installation artist and musician whose work focuses on the environmental impacts of resource extraction and demonstrates her desire to use sound to create a rhythmic voice of agency to articulate forces of resistance in the natural world. 

Artist Talk:
Sunday August 4th, 11AM
Sackville Commons

Rita's performance Felt Noise is a site-specific multimedia collaboration with artist-musicians Julia Rigby, Alec Brilling and Ursula Sokół. Felt Noise asks questions about empathy and interspecies relationships, navigating systems, and reconnections.
 

Felt Noise Performance:
Saturday August 3rd, 5PM
Mount Allison Chapel

The Artist-in-Residence program is generously supported by the New Brunswick Arts Board. 

Umbrella Collective play Saturday night on the Bridge Street Stage

The Full Schedule is Here! Get your Passes now!


Join us for three days of live music, performance art, readings, installations, artist talks, screenings plus the legendary Sappy karaoke, our Zine & Craft Fair and Sappy Street Market, Kids Corner Power Jam, and so much more!
 

Check out the schedule and visit our lineup page to learn more about these special artists.

Start making plans and grab your day and weekend passes now!

Check out Schedule here!

Check out the Line up here!

Grab your Tickets here!

List of Accomodations to Plan your Stay

REMINDER: Dance Party!

We hope you enjoyed the Very Amateur Comedy Night and Trivia! Come to Ducky's on Friday to dance the night away AND support the festival at the same time!

SAPPY SAPPY DANCE PARTY
Date: Friday July 26 at 8PM
Location: Ducky's Bar
Cover: $2 (or $3 debit)

 


Make new friends! Reunite with old ones! Earn free tix!

 

Volunteers and Billet hosts are the heart of Sappyfest.  You are the reason things run smoothly and that everyone from audiences to artists are happy, comfortable, fed, and having fun! 

Call for Volunteers

Volunteers are needed for a variety of crews, including bar, box office, band food, doors, merchandise, stage support, recycling, transportation, site set-up, band food, the safety squad,  and more.  Youth volunteers are welcome with a signed permission form. 

Working one volunteer shift gets you a day pass for the day you work, and three shifts entitles you to a full festival pass!

Sign me up to Volunteer!

Call for Billets

We are looking for Billets hosts who can provide clean, comfortable, and safe accommodations for our visiting artists.  Each year, we depend on the generosity of Sackville residents who kindly open their homes. We billet artists according to their needs and the needs of the host, ensuring appropriate matches. 

Billet hosts receive a full weekend pass!

Sign me up to Billet!

SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

We'd like to thank our community partners and sponsors Struts Gallery ,  Bagtown Brewing, Ducky's Bar, Victory Pool, Mount Allison University, CHMA 106.9 FM, Community Forests International, 4imprint, Exclaim! and Sackville Cinemateque, Sackville United Church  for their financial, technical, and emotional support! We couldn't do this without you!

 

If you would like to get involved as a Sappyfest sponsor, please contact us at productionassistant@sappyfest.com


In addition we would like to thank the Canada Council for the Arts, The Department of Canadian Heritage, The Government of Canada,  The New Brunswick Arts Board, The Government of New Brunswick and Town of Tantramar for their support of Sappyfest 19.

The Schedule is Here! Day Passes are on Sale!


 


The schedule is LIVE for Sappyfest 19, featuring three days of live music, performance art, readings, installations, and artist talks, plus the legendary Sappy karaoke, Zine & Craft Fair and Universal Dawn Reading Series. Sappyfest is also excited to unveil more additions to the lineup including acclaimed poet Sue Goyette, ASKO - electronic music that echoes nêhiyaw life and ways of living, and Pop-Up Dark Room spearheaded by photographers Natalie Baird and Jonny Lush.

These exciting additions join previously-announced acts from Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo to All Wild Things Are Shy - a super group with super special guests performing the last album written by Richard Laviolette, musician, songwriter and dear Sappy friend who passed away in 2023.
 

Check out the schedule and visit our lineup page to learn more about these special artists.

Start making plans and grab your day or full weekend passes now!

 

Watch for weekly newsletters + updates as we get closer to Sappyfest19
 

Check out the Schedule here!

Check out the Line up here!

Grab your Tickets here!

List of Accomodations to Plan your Stay

Photo Credit: Rita McKeough

Art Happenings Abound!


Sappyfest is indeed a music festival, but it is also an adventure in experimentation and art-making. Renowned performance artist Rita McKeough is Sappyfest's Artist-in-Residence! On Saturday August 2nd in the Mount Allison Chapel, Rita will be joined live by Californian sound artist Julia Rigby for their project Felt Noise - an experimental collaboration that asks questions about empathy and interspecies relationships. Rita will also be giving an artist talk, check the schedule for details.

There is still time to participate in Sappyfest for Dummies, facilitated by artists Shary Boyle, Steven Lambke and Graeme Patterson. This community craft project consists of making a life-sized seated dummy of YOURSELF or a friend to be exhibited at the Mount Allison Library Theatre during Sappyfest! All dummies must be received by August 1st. 

Check out the schedule and start making plans! Grab your day and weekend passes now!

Grab your Tickets here!

Reminder: A Very Amateur Comedy Night
This Friday! July 19, 2024

Doors at 7:30pm, Show at 8pm
$15 Cover
 

Back by popular demand! Come support Sappyfest! Grab a beverage with your friends and neighbours while watching a choice group of them test out their comedic chops for the first time!
 

Hosted by the ever-charming Klarka Weinwurm and Geordie Miller, A Very Amateur Comedy Night features local first time stand up comedians (and brave souls!)

Watch for more special programming leading up to the Festival!

Trivia! Dance Party! Come out and Support Sappyfest!

We have lots of fun things planned in the weeks leading up to  the Festival. Come gather as a community and support the festival at the same time!


SAPPYFEST TRIVIA NIGHT
Wednesday July 24
Bagtown Brewery
Doors at 5pm, Trivia at 7pm
$15 cover

Be your best know-it-all self and impress us with your Sappy-deep-cuts.

SAPPYFEST DANCE PARTY
Date: Friday July 26
Ducky's Bar
8pm
$2 cash or $3 debit cover

Show off your moves and dance the night away while supporting Sappyfest!


Make new friends! Reunite with old ones! Earn free tickets!


Volunteers and Billet hosts are the heart of Sappyfest.  You are the reason things run smoothly and that everyone from audiences to artists are happy, comfortable, fed, and having fun! 

Call for Volunteers

Volunteers are needed for a variety of crews, including bar, box office, band food, doors, merchandise, stage support, recycling, transportation, site set-up, band food, the safety squad, and more. Youth volunteers are welcome with a signed permission form. For more information and to register, click the button below!

Working one volunteer shift gets you a day pass for the day you work, and three shifts entitles you to a full festival pass! 

Sign me up to Volunteer!

Call for Billets

We are looking for Billets who can provide clean, comfortable, and safe accommodations for our visiting artists. Hosting an artist not only supports the festival but also offers a unique opportunity to connect with creative individuals and be a part of their festival experience. Each year, we depend on the generosity of Sackville residents who kindly open their homes. We billet artists according to their needs and the needs of the host, ensuring appropriate matches. For more information and to register, click the button below!

Billet hosts receive a full weekend pass!

Sign me up to Billet!

Call for Vendors!

We are excited to invite vendors to participate in Sappyfest 19 this August 2nd-4th, 2024. The Sappy Street Market is an essential component of the festival experience. It provides an opportunity for festival goers, residents and visitors alike to check out regional food, craft, and products in the heart of our festival grounds on Bridge Street. 

If you're interested in selling food or other goods at Sappyfest, please find rates, details, and a registration form on our vendor page here: sappyfest.com/vendors

Link to Vendor Info Page + Registration Form

SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

We'd like to thank our community partners and sponsors Struts Gallery ,  Bagtown Brewing, Ducky's Bar, Victory Pool, Mount Allison University, CHMA 106.9 FM, Community Forests International, 4imprint, Exclaim! and Sackville Cinemateque, Sackville United Church  for their financial, technical, and emotional support! We couldn't do this without you!

 

If you would like to get involved as a Sappyfest sponsor, please contact us at productionassistant@sappyfest.com


In addition we would like to thank the Canada Council for the Arts, The Department of Canadian Heritage, The Government of Canada,  The Government of New Brunswick and and Town of Tantramar for their support of Sappyfest 19.

SAPPYFEST AGM - APRIL 23, 2024

SappyFest Inc. would like to invite its membership and those interested in becoming members to the 2023 Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, April 23rd at 6:30pm ADT. To RSVP and receive the Google Meet login information please email producer@sappyfest.com ahead of the meeting.

This is an open meeting with presentations from staff and board members on the organization's activities, financials, as well as elections to the SappyFest Board of Directors. Voting in elections to the SappyFest Board of Directors requires a $20 voting membership, e-transfers accepted.

The agenda, last year's minutes, current bylaws and the agenda, are available by request.

Key agenda items will include:

-- Elections to the SappyFest Board of Directors (2 year term).

-- Approval of 2022 Financial statements.

-- President of the Board of Directors statement.

-- Creative Director's statement.

-- Questions from the floor.

And don’t forget, we are currently seeking new Board members! Please share our call for Board members widely to anyone who may be interested in contributing to a beloved community event. 

Hope to see you all there!

SappyFest is looking for new board members!

Do you love music, art and fun? Are you interested in contributing to a beloved community event? You’re in luck, because the SappyFest Board is looking for new members!

About the Board

SappyFest is an annual independent arts and music festival held in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada. SappyFest is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. SappyFest relies on the Board for expertise in areas such as development, grant writing, community outreach, marketing etc. Board meetings involve high-level discussions about strategic goals and conversations about operations. Board members are expected to support the festival on the ground during the festival dates.

The Board of Directors meets approximately once per month throughout the year, and twice per month leading up to the festival (June - August). Board members serve on the Board for a two-year term and may be re-elected for another two-year term. 

We are especially looking for individuals with knowledge in the following areas: fundraising, grant writing, finance, and board governance. Digital administration infrastructure, organizational resilience, human resources, accessibility, and strategic planning are other helpful areas of expertise.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Act as passionate advocates for SappyFest

  • Engage in fundraising efforts including grant writing and special events

  • Provide guidance and oversight to advance SappyFest

  • Engage in high-level discussions about strategic goals and operations

  • Review and approve organizational governance policies and procedures 

  • Guide and assist the staff

  • Financial management

  • Ensure effective community relations

  • Support festival operations during the festival

Review Process & Contact

SappyFest’s Executive Committee will review the applications and contact interested members. If you have any questions, please email producer@sappyfest.ca with the subject “Board Member Application.“

SappyFest values diversity and inclusivity in our community and is committed to anti-discrimination and anti-racism. We encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and other racialized people; members of the 2SLGBTQIA+community; Deaf and Disabled people, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.

We also encourage nominations. If you know someone who would be a good fit for SappyFest, please share this post with them.

We look forward to your submissions, and thank you!

Please take a look at the SappyFest By-laws here: CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS of SappyFest INC.

For the application form, please follow the link below.

https://forms.gle/BJhGxf7wnLDgACWT7

Please submit by Tuesday, April 9th at 11:59 pm ADT.