2021-08-25
Mini Hank Snow Tribute Festival ends on a high note
by KEVIN MCBAIN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Mini Hank Snow Tribute Festival that was held August 13 and 14 ended on a high note with organizers and audiences alike.
"What a weekend we had! It was out of this world," said Vina Moses, acting administrator at the Hank Snow Home Town Museum in Liverpool. "The musicians were fantastic. The volunteers and the board members worked so hard. It was amazing. I would have to say it was a huge success."
Nearly 20 acts from across the province took to the stage on the Friday night and Saturday, despite the temperatures hovering near 30 degrees. The capacity for the event of 250 was reached both days. People came from across the Maritimes and as far away as Ontario to attend.
The musicians all volunteered their time and were more than ready to participate despite having just four weeks' notice. The acts were randomly chosen from the applications received.
The mini-tribute was a substitute for the much larger Hank Snow Tribute that normally attracts more than 2,000 fans and 35 musical acts. The tribute began in 1991 and had to be cancelled in 2020, and again this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Plans are to host the tribute, the 30th. It will feature Carroll Baker, who stopped in at this year's mini-tribute on the Friday night for a visit.
"It was a break that everybody needed to get over the COVID-19, where musicians couldn't play in front of people," said Moses. "Here they had the opportunity and there was a great mix of young performers and older ones as well. They all did a great job."
Community members canvassed the area for donations for a couple of raffle boxes. As a result, more than $800 worth of gift cards and prizes were available for each of the two raffle baskets, and there was enough left over for four consolation prizes.
Just as the regular Hank Snow Tribute is used as a fundraiser for the museum so was the mini-event.
Thanks to the support for the tribute and this summer's Wednesday music and barbecue noon-hour series, Moses estimates they already have raised enough funds to keep the museum going until the next big Hank Snow Festival.
